The Brass Band Forum

So was the 1st section result the travesty it's being portrayed as? Whatever, well done all prizewinners.

Since moving to the Isle of Arran in October 2004, it has been my wish to set up a brass band long weekend. Not a 'school' as such, but an opportunity for an ad hoc band to get together, enjoy a weekend of playing, socialising, and the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Iale of Arran this coming Eas...

To add to the post in Nigel's own arrangements thread regarding Villanelle and the fact that its composer (Paul Dukas) went out of copyright at the beginning of this year, there are other composers where the majority (I'll explain that bit in a minute) of their works passed into the public domain on...

I'm no expert sop player, but Nigel's original reply was right. It will take months, possibly years to 'get used' to a soprano cornet, particularly as in this case, you've come off 2nd cornet. There's the development of the high register to consider (whilst not losing any ability in the low register...

I should clarify a point I made in my original reply, having re-read it! When I said it was a job to convince certain players in Arran Brass to use the 4th valve etc. that wasn't meant to imply they were unwilling to learn! Far from it, it's just something that they had not tried before and it's tak...

It's also generally more in tune and less 'splitty' than playing it on 1st valve which on most instruments I've played, comes up flat. And yes, high C# is better on 2nd valve. I think there is a 'gap' in many (not all) lower section bands in knowledge or lack of willingness to try alternate fingerin...

And to you, Nigel. Very best wishes for 2006.

DP

Why do some bands overlap breathing all through a hymn tune verse? It makes a verse sound like just one phrase! It’s unmusical. It’s dire. It’s diabolical. No self-respecting choir would ever sing a hymn that way. Even organists phrase hymns properly, leaving gaps where the singers breathe. And org...

Having just read the 4br review of Glyn Williams' latest CD, can he really be that good on all those instruments? I haven't heard the CD yet but intend to get it soon but it got me thinking. Let's take Iwan Fox's review as read (and there's no reason not to) but if you remember the likes of John Fle...

With everything but wall to wall violin concerti by the same 3 composers. Maybe I'm just unlucky, but every time I casually tune in to Radio 3, it largely appears that they're playing string works too. Still, don't get me started about our serious music broadcasters and the lack of brass appearing ...

On the subject of Classic FM, I often think about starting a spoof radio station called Classic mf , where I'm the sole presenter and introduce and eulogise about great Classical masterpieces whilst making it obvious I don't know what I'm talking about (a la David Mellor), but taking Classic FM's po...