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Re: Geographic Breakdown

On Mon, 22 Jun 1998, Rick L. Brookens wrote:

> Two well known festivals, (well-known to BB enthusiasts),  in all of the
> United States!! 

Two festivals where the attendance has been constantly growing since their
inception, not just in attendees but in bands as well. Two festivals that
have inspired the start of many bands across the States. Two festivals
that have introduced countless people to the brass band here, and two
festivals that will be responsable for the start of many more...

> 
> >Once again, you're not looking hard enough. I bought Dyke's 'Champions 
> >of Brass' from Best Buy!
> 
> My point again!  One British BB and one British CD!

At a retail chain that doesn't often carry "specialty" items like that.
But, the fact that I can go to darn near any music store and find a
vareity of brass band CD's and the fact that I can go to a public library
and find a LARGE selection there says that CD's _ARE_ readily available to
anyone who wishes to purchase them.

> You missed my point completely!!  Brass banding is bleak in regard to the
> overall music scene.  When you consider all the music produced in the
> United States, from the symphony orchestras to drum corps to community
> bands to the local garage rock band,  brass bands are indeed a very, very
> small percentage of the overall music scene!   Drum Corps International
> has a much larger following than NABBA.  And a large percentage of the
> musical population do not know about DCI.

Note: DCI does not define drum corps, as NABBA does not (as much as it
would like to believe it does) define brass bands. Also, attendance at
drum corps shows has declined to the point of near free fall whereas the
numbers of attendees at brass band festivals, concerts, and the NABBA
champinoships has grown exponentially in the past 15 or so years...

It's agreed that the brass band hasn't made a major impact on the overall
US music scene. But you must remember that the brass band isn't quite the
cultural institution that the wind band (thanks to Sousa), the orchestra,
and drum corps is to America. In that same vein, it is reasonable to say
that the brass band movement IS growing in leaps and bounds. 

New bands are starting all over the US. The playing standards of the
estabilished bands has risen to heights no one thought possible at NABBA
I. Sure, we're not anywhere close to being a mainstay of society yet, but
we are unarguably getting more and more acceptance in the musical world
every day. 

> 
> You said many bands.  How many compared to the UK?  Nearly every
> community in England (it seems that way from reading the list!) has a
> brass band.  And England is much smaller geographically.

You did a fine job of ignoring the point I made in my original post that
the brass band is as much a cultural institution to the Brits as baseball
is to us Yanks. But look at the list of bands now and compare it to the
list 10 years ago. Look at some of the musicians involved in US brass
banding. Steven Mead. Paul Droste. Keith Wilkinson. Tell me now that US
bands aren't making inroads into the overall music scene.

> Not enough people know about, let alone hear, brass bands.

But that is slowly changing. Would you rather say bands are doing bleakly
or would you rather say the brass band is gaining acceptance slowly but
surely? Would you rather say the brass band means nothing to American
music or that the brass band is making more and more contributions to the
US music scene every day?

> What is your definition of "many bands each year at NABBA"?  Weren't 
> there just two or three in the Championship Section this year?

Six. But remember, NABBA does not define the brass band movement here. It
is only part of it.

> I don't
> question that they play "with an extremely high level of musicianship and
> 'quiet melodic playing'".  What I am saying is, it is a very small
> percent of musicians that participate in brass bands and _overall_  the
> US has no concept of brass banding compared to the Brits, where BB's seem
> to more prevalent than the local high school band in the US.  ( And their
> population is less than ours.)

That's not the point I'm arguing. I'm saying that you came right out and
said the situation in US brass banding was "bleak" compared to the overall
music scene and I am out to say it is most definately not. 

Your right when you say not enough people are listening to the brass
bands. You're dead wrong when you imply that bands aren't making inroads
into American musical culture by calling their situation "bleak".

> The reality of the situation is that brass banding in the US is facing an
> up-hill battle.  We are making progress!  But too many people do not know
> about brass banding; musicians first, then the population in general.  I
> am trying to change that in Fort Wayne, but it is not easy!  (Pulling
> teeth or squeezing turnips might be easier!)

Maybe so, but don't give up! And if we're making progress, how can that be
bleak? 

> How about some of the better US  bands getting national recognition?  Say
> NPR? or Performance Today?  Saint Paul Sunday Morning?  Prairie Home
> Companion?

I know the Varsity All Stars have played live on the radio in ColumbusThe
BBC also gets occasional airtime. How many MD's around here have tried to
get the airtime? As soon as one of them is willing to try, then we'll see
how well the brass band is recieved.

Sorry, but I fail to see the "bleakness" of the current brass banding
situation in America. Drum corps' situation is much "bleaker" than ours,
considering there are probably only 100-150 more drum corps in existance
than brass bands (and there used to be two thousand corps in the '60's!!!)

Regards,
Matt LaFontaine


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