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Re: Test Pieces

To: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Test Pieces
From: gfosibb@xxxxxxx (George Foster)
Date: Sun, 7 Jul 1996 15:25:03 -0500
Priority: low
Reply-to: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

>In response to J. Alexander's posting on test pieces.

It is interesting for me to read some of the comments on test pieces.  I
have been listening to brass bands for only 5 years.  In that time I have
discovered a number of wonderful test pieces and they are my listening
preference.  The Gregson, Wilby, Graham, Ball etc. compositions are great
music.  I believe that many of the new compositions for brass band are far
superior to that being written for Orchestras.

Our band probably wouldn't stay together if we only played light summer
music.  We need the challenge of new difficult test piece music to
stimulate the development of the group.  I have great difficulty in
understanding why anyone playing in brass bands would not like to play the
best of the test pieces.  We generally include one test piece in most
concerts we play during the concert season with a conversion to light fare
for the summer concerts

I hope the opinion of Mr. Alexander is not held by many of the brass band
players in England because if it is,  the movement is in serious trouble.
There are many terrific brass bands in England and as I read the history of
brass bands it is always mentioned that the reasons for the development of
the great brass bands are the Championlships and the amateur status.
Without the newly commisioned test pieces, we might only have the music of
the 1880's and 1890's to play

George Foster
Founder, The Illinois Brass Band


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