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Re: Contests Utterly Futile??

To: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Contests Utterly Futile??
From: "David Lancaster" <d.lancaster@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1999 12:16:12 GMT
In-reply-to: <3711583B.837@sympatico.ca>
Organization: UCRYSJ
Priority: normal
Priority: low
Reply-to: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"David W. Buckley" hit a nerve again when he wrote:

> the appeal of almost all
> test pieces is about zilch to any but the dedicated brass band bug.

In my experience this just isn't true, and seems to be a 
misconception perpetrated by those who seriously underestimate the 
intelligence of their audience.  Surely the idea of a balanced 
programme implies a mixture of serious and light music to satisfy 
different tastes.

Two examples: last month Black Dyke gave an excellent concert in 
Harrogate which included two substantial works which have been used
extensively in contests (The Force of Destiny overture and Vinter's
Triuphant Rhapsody), along with a well-chosen selection of lighter 
pieces and solos (including the Langford Rhapsody for Trombone).  
There was also a new short piece from Peter Graham. These are all 
good pieces which deserve to be heard by the widest audiences and 
Dyke are to be applauded for presenting this repertoire which was 
certainly well received by a large audience, many of whom would be 
non-specialists, attracted to the event by the band's reputation.

Secondly, over the last weekend The Harrogate Band presented a 
lecture recital on the history and development of band music to a 
conference of music librarians: musicians certainly but not 'brass 
band bugs'. The programme included Labour and Love, Land of the Long 
White Cloud, exerpts from Downland Suite and works by Eric Ball, 
Gilbert Vinter and Torstein Agaard-Neilsen, plus Rimmer's Zauberflote 
transcription, some swing, an Alan Fernie arrangement and a march.   
The feedback was exceptionally positive; many of these people had 
previously dismissed brass bands because their past experiences had 
been been limited to what one delegate called 'musical twaddle'.

If David B. bans us from playing 'test pieces' and Alec abolishes 
contests what are we going to have left?   

David

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