Comments ~ 2008 June

24-Jun-2008

From the NSW President; Well done NSW; Open Adjudication; Stretch the Best; Test Ideas; Test for Australasian Open?...

From the NSW President

A Big Congratulations to all the starters and winners at the 2008 NSW State Solo and Party Championships.

There was some really terrific and special performances over the weekend and I know that everyone worked hard to achieve the results they achieved.

A Huge congratulations to our Secretary Don Callaghan who had to hit the gound running with the organisation of this event and who has worked tirelessly to make sure that on the day everything went as smoothly as could be possible.

Also a Big Thankyou to the many Volunteers, Adjudicators and Accompanists who worked with us over the weekend to make this a very successful event. Without your support these events just wouldn't happen.

The level of entries and low level of scratchings in the Junior and Juvenile events was great but without the support of 2 Bands in particular, Gunnedah Shire and Barker College, the level of entries would have been almost as poor as the level of entries in the Open events.

Even poorer were the entries in the Duet and Ensemble events and the entries in the open Concert Band Instruments wind and reed events were very poor indeed, which begs several questions:

Are our bands training young people in the art of Solo playing and if so why are they not entering the State Championships?
If our Bands are not training soloists, why?
Why are our Junior Soloists not continuing on and entering the Open events once they have left the ranks of the Junior events?
Why are Bands not encouraging the participation of small goups playing together?
How can the Association help to encourage more entries in the events at the State Solo and Party events?

I have a few ideas, but I would be interested in the constructive and well thought out ideas of some of the readers here.

I am particularly interested to hear from those who were regular entrants as to why they no longer enter, from those who are conducting or teaching as to what their thoughts are and from those still competing regularly as to what they enjoy most about what they do.

Please also feel free to send me an email to president@bandnsw.com

I look forward to reading and hearing your thoughts,

Thanks and Best regards,
Jeff Markham
President
Bands Association of NSW

NSW State Solos

Congratulations to the Band Association of NSW on a well run solo weekend.

It was enjoyable both as an audience member and competitor. Keep up the good work.

Bruce Myers

Open Adjudication

I would like to highlight again the issue of placing the adjudicator behind a screen at local entertainment contests.

I have just attended and played in "The Best of Brass" at Maryborough QLD on 7 & 8th June 2008.

Music is more than just sound. It is also the experience of performance. I would like to see adjudicators able to embrace this in future contests, I feel it is well overdue.

Imagine having the judges behind a screen in programs such as Australian Idol? It would seem antiquated wouldn't it? Brass band need to get more with it.

Just as a closing comment Brisbane Excelsior's presentation in the gala concert was magnificent, Paula Russell's and Ashley Gittin's solo's with the band were also surperb. Howard Taylor certainly has an eye for entertaining his public.

Thanks very much.

Ros Shaw
Brisbane

Stretch the Best

Further to Chris Bowman's list of potential tests for FABB, I would throw into the mix "Revelation" by Phillip Wilby.

That 'll test 'em.

Mark Ford
Melbourne

Test Ideas

It's always exciting to hear, during periods of "progression," someone calls REFLECT! REFLECT! Chris Bowman's suggestions for test repertoire will probably strike up a huge debate between bandies, however I wish to go on record as saying Chris has the right idea.

The pieces suggested are not just pieces played by bands post-WWII or from the dusty archives of the band library. The pieces Chris actually nominates are still jaw droppers, eye openers and still stimulate more bandie's minds than a double shot of expresso!!! They have all the technical requirements, but have the added advantage of being so famous they are now infamous within our subculture.

No doubt the organisers in FABB Central are probably thinking "the new adventures of brass banding" repertoire suits. Having played Journey, I wasn't overly wowed, but Music of the Spheres, Dances and Alleluiahs - all damn fine pieces! I won't be surprised if a newie is chosen. But I would hope that one of Chris Bowman's classic suggestions does make the final draft list before being given the flick!

Chris Allen

Test for Australasian Open?

It's an interesting question - just what to set for the inaugural Australasian Open.

This event is unashamedly designed to enable the cream of our brass bands from Australia and New Zealand to strut their stuff. As a new event, however, there is a fine line to tread between a popular choice - which strengthens the likelihood of success - and a piece that tests the best which might not be so popular. Seemingly straightforward works still create challenges on the day - look at some of the overseas events for examples.

Personally, I'd like a classic to be chosen. Here are my "classic" suggestions: Connotations (Gregson), The Year of the Dragon (Sparke), Paganini Variations (Wilby), Energy (Simpson), The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (Bourgeois), James Cook: Circumnavigator (Vinter), Le Roi d'Ys (Lalo/Wright), Sinfonietta - The Wayfarer (Ball), Fantasy for Brass Band (Arnold), Un Vie de Matelot (Farnon), Contest Music (Heaton), Odin (Butterworth), English Heritage (Lloyd), etc.

But here's my pick: Blitz (Bourgeois). It has everything.

Regardless of the decision, the cream always rises to the top, so almost any test should separate the bands on the day.

Chris Bowman
Southbank, Vic.

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