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Contests are essential

Kaye Greaney wrote:

>CONTESTS ARE OUR QUALITY CONTROL. Who would go to a concert of a band that
>had not demonstrated excellence( unless you were a relative)?


I have been to countless band concerts given by lower section and
non-contesting band and have thoroughly enjoyed myself. Word of mouth
locally was usually enough to let me know what I could expect. On the other
hand a band I used to play for were so wrapped-up in the contest scene that
there was little time to prepare for concerts and as a result the programme
of the concerts was dire and repetitive, even if the standard of playing was
good.

>MUSIC IS WRITTEN FOR US because the band form has been stable for over 150
>years making it worthwhile for composers to write for us- a huge range of
>styles. Composers also take us seriously enough to compose test pieces for
>us.

Music is written for brass band because it is popular as a medium for
listening and for participation. If we could travel back 100 years or so how
familiar would we be with the band of that long ago? I venture to suggest
that we would be able to fit in quite well and that things have not changed
too much during this time. Sure standards of playing in the very top section
bands are much better, but is this the case in lower sections? probably the
greatest advances in recent times as far as the brass band is concerned is
in the use and variety of percussion available.

Now move on 100 years into the future. How would we (as the players of
today) fare in the band of 2100? I think we would fit in without too much
trouble and that we might even recognise some of the pieces. And that I
think is the problem. The brass band movement is constrained by the rules of
contesting and is not pushed forward by them. For example a composer wants
to write a piece that includes a section of four trombones (and lets face it
you cant have too much of a good thing) but when would it get played?
certainly not as a test piece. What about the extra tone colour from a few
trumpets or French horns? would this really be a bastardisation of the
movement or an opportunity for development?

>Without contesting the brass band movement would not exist.

Oh yes it would. If contesting finished tomorrow bands would still continue,
brass instrumentalists would still want to play music together for the sheer
joy of making music and for the fellowship to be found in a band.

Regards, Asbestos underpants at the ready.

Kevan Lomas
Bass Trombone

remember: Nil significat, nisi oscillat.


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