April 2021 ISSN 1173 6089
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The Official Journal of the Brass Band Association of New Zealand Volume 67 | Issue 3 | April 2021 ISSN 1173 6089 New Zealand Mouthpiece is proudly sponsored by JP Musical Instruments | www.musicways.co.nz | 09 477 0384 | [email protected] Celebrating 90 years of our Association In 1931, the New Zealand Brass Band including the separate North Island and brass band movement. Under the leadership Association (now known as Brass Band South Island Brass Band Associations. of Mr Ernest Palliser, the association quickly Association of New Zealand) was formed, established itself as a highly effective “In 1929, the North Island Brass Band thus beginning our 90-year history. administrative body. Association staged its last contest, and You probably thought the Association is a year later, the two island associations The association staged its first national older than this, as we count our contest combined to run the 1930 contest in contest in Wellington in February 1932.” history back to garrison band contests from Dunedin. (Extract from Challenging Brass – 100 years 1880. With the emergence of municipal/ The formation of the New Zealand Brass of brass band contests in New Zealand 1880 community bands from 1890 onwards, the Band Association in 1931 heralded the – 1980 by S.P. Newcomb.) contest was organised by different groups, beginning of a new era in the history of the 1 2 Doing Things Differently Oral History Thank you, everyone, catch up with friends and colleagues and for your feedback on measure myself against our country’s Project last month’s column. best has motivated me to do whatever From Evan Sayer, BBANZ Life member. To be honest, firstly, I it takes to attend contests for over 40 Over my banding lifetime and for some was pretty surprised years. However, as highlighted in recent time before that, authors have written that anyone reads my articles submitted to The Mouthpiece, it books and articles about brass banding in columns but secondly, is an increasing challenge for bands to New Zealand. But it is some time since the that the topics justify the effort and cost to transport contribution of brass band musicians to the covered motivated and accommodate a full brass band and performing arts in New Zealand has been you to make contact. I really appreciate its significant equipment to this four-day updated. Several years ago, the Brass Band hearing your thoughts, so keep them event in a different location each year. Association became aware that Archives coming. There is also the environmental impact New Zealand was tasked with storing New of the contest in its existing format with This time last year we had just received Zealand’s history in an oral format. Many the large carbon footprint due to air the news that the Australian National people from various circumstances were travel. We understand these issues and Band Council had cancelled its National to be interviewed, and their memories difficulties for bands; however, finding an Contest. The cancellation of that event recorded, stored and made available to agreeable solution for the majority of our less than a month before its staging future generations for research and study. members is not easy. We are, however, led to significant financial losses for This project seemed like one the Association blessed with intelligent and passionate many Australian bands. Along with the should get involved with. people so let us keep this debate and general uncertainty around COVID-19, dialogue going as the contest remains a In 2012 a number of the BBANZ it was a crucial factor in the National key event for our movement, which we management committee and others took Band Council of Australia electing to run cannot afford to see slowly die from lack part in an initial training session for oral the 2021 Easter weekend contest as an of attendance. historians at the Alexander Turnbull Library. Online Band Festival. By the time you The Association subsequently purchased read this column, this exciting event will Businesses have discovered that the the recommended analogue recording be complete, and hopefully, many of you challenges of operating under COVID-19 device, and a second device was gifted took the opportunity to watch it online. presented new positive opportunities, to the Association by the Auckland Bands which in many cases will become the Entries for our own National Contest Association. The training was geared towards new normal. The web-based sessions are now open. Based on the responses the one person carrying out the interview currently run by our Education Officer received to our recent questionnaire, this and also operating the recorder. This set-up David Bremner are an example of this for contest is likely to be well attended by was probably the most significant barrier to BBANZ. Perhaps the Online Band Festival New Zealand bands. Being one of only a us starting interviewing. However, once we being held this Easter in Australia is a handful of countries with the opportunity decided to use a second person to operate glimpse into the future for us too? After to run a complete national music contest the recorder, we got underway. Too many all, our own online solo contest during or festival with an audience is a reward prospective interviewees had passed on, contest week last year was watched by for the significant sacrifices made by so and their stories could be lost forever if we many in New Zealand and overseas. many New Zealanders. That said, we didn’t act quickly. are working in a fluid environment, and Yours in banding, However, once trained and with the although it is the strong desire of your proper equipment available, the task Association to hold the National Contest, at hand was still quite daunting. Before it must be safe and practical to do so. each interview, research is undertaken, The National Contest has always been John Sullivan – President and questions prepared. Then there is the a highlight of my year. The chance to Brass Band Association of New Zealand interview itself recorded over an entire day. After that, the recording is listened to and annotated in a format prescribed Friends of the National Youth Brass Band: by Archives New Zealand. Once those Peter and Kylie Adams, BJ Aldridge (in perpetuity) E Aldridge (in perpetuity), J Aldridge, recordings are deposited with Archives, Auckland Bands Association, Canterbury Provincial Brass Band Association, Stephen and Claire they will be maintained in such formats to Clayton, D and M Dawson, JW Edmondston, JB and NC Hollick, I Levien, AG Lewis, meet future requirements. There are some JR McGough, O Melhuish, D Miller, G and C Moseley, North Shore Brass, NZ Army Band, legal requirements to fulfil to ensure that B and M Platt, E Sayer, M Smith, J and R Sullivan, The Estate of Joan Norma Morris. researchers and other interested parties can listen and form their own opinions on If you would like to support the activities of the National Youth Brass Band please contact the subject matter that may be of interest. Executive Officer. Life Members of the BBANZ As a youngster, I was well aware of the Graeme Aldridge MNZM, Trevor Bremner MNZM, Tony Cowan BEM, JP, Trevor Cudby Kevin Dell activities of the 1962 National Band, having ONZM, Beverley Kench, Ian Levien QSM, Stephen Leader, Tony Lewis MNZM Bill Platt, Evan known some members and attended Sayer Dianne Smeehuyzen MNZM JP, Rodney Sutton MBE JP, Murray Warrington. concerts by the band. However, for me and some of my banding colleagues, there Life Members who have served BBANZ was always some mystery surrounding JF Allen, GH Bailey, RE Belgrave, A Brieseman OBE JP, RM Brooker, W Currie, Graham Dick, the first National Band in 1953. While the J Drew, RJ Estall, HCA Fox, WL Francis, NG Goffin QSO , EJ Gohns, T Goodall, Drummer Hall, band and tour were hugely successful from ER Holden, RB Hean, A Homer, KL Jarrett MBE, Mrs C Kendall, JC King, WS King, GB Knowles, a contesting and performance aspect, the WP MacLauchlin, Riki McDonnell QSM, H Nielson, E Ormrod (sen), JG Osborne, E Palliser, conditions they endured was the stuff J Rafferty, WV Siddall, R Simpson, P Skoglund, KGL Smith MBE, T Taylor OSM, LE Thorne QSM, that made them legends. One of our first FJ Turner, RS Waterston. 3 interviews recorded by BBANZ was with Alan Francis. Alan was the number two solo cornet in the 1953 National Band and sat next to the band’s principal Dave Christensen. Alan provided us with some great material, including two Raymond Cox diaries by band members, and answered many questions that had been lurking for a good number of years. 1929-2021 To date, we have recorded the memories of seventeen of our members. By Helen Holt Rodney Sutton MBE, Invercargill. Euphonium in the 1962, 1965, 1967 National Band and Musical Director of the 1980 National Band. Alan Francis, Wellington. Solo cornet in the 1953 National Band. Riki McDonnell QSM, Auckland. Member of the 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013 and 2017 National Band and winner of 43 national solo titles. Trevor Bremner MNZM, New Plymouth. Cornet player in the 1962, 1965 and 1985 National Band and winner of many cornet solo titles. Stephen Leader, Christchurch. Drum Major of the 1985 National Band, manager of the 1992 National Band. Member of the BBANZ management committee and Chief Military Judge. Tony Cowan BEM, Wanganui. Member of the 1967 National Band and Drum Major of the 1974, 1976 and 1978 National Band. Member of the BBANZ management committee and Chief Talented brass player, typical Englishman championship with Hawera Municipal Military Judge.