[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index] Australian Nationals
Well once again the Australian National Band Championships have been held
here in Newcastle,N.S.W. Two points I feel that we are brass bandsmen
(persons, for the feminists) could think about and discuss.
In this age of electronics where in horse racing
- photo finishes, and in cricket -
the third umpire by T.V.replay and in rugby league football we now have in
goal touch judges and T.V.replay communicated by headset to the referee
when required. Now I'm not suggesting that we have tape or video replays
for the adjudicators but at least let us be judged by our peers in the
brass band field (art form). To say that a person is a good musician is
not good enough. Would we have a refractories bricklayer construct our
home or a first class house painter judge an art exhibition or in the music
field a harpsicordist judging the brass entrants in a competition? I say
no more on this and await your comments. Now my second point. On a subject
probably peculiar here. In Australia we have the inclusion of a hymn,
march, test plus own choice to determine the winning band. A hymn is no
problem i.e. three verse arrangement from a recognised church hymnal. But
do you think the organisers can decide on a definition of the march and
stick to it! RARELY! So the fiasco continues. Bands spending many
thousands of dollars from their own pockets (no sponsorship here) when
these things are allowed to continue. No wonder brass bands are not being
recognised as a genuine art form.Hoping that some of the contributors to
this page might be able to add some relevant input to these thoughts.
Ron Grice
Newcastle, N.S.W.
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