www.britishbandsman.com Issue no. 5589 – 28 November 2009 Bramwell Tovey a true maestro Price £1.25 Foden’s and Les Neish recordings honoured in BB’s annual awards BB 1.indd 1 25-11-2009 12:45:30 " " " !" "" """ " "" " " "" " """ " )!$!)!#)"!) & !) )&)!))" ))$!)!)$& ! ') ) !")&"))%))")! )))) )& "!)!)! )$)#)!)))!)!)!))))#) !") )!))!)!)$)) !) () & !) )"#) !)" )!)&" ")!))) )&) BB 2-3.indd 2 25-11-2009 12:38:51 NEWS ABBA re-opens ‘Meadgate’ debate Spring Festival to continue at Having apparently closed the door on any future meetings over the matter Blackpool despite sponsorship loss (as reported in BB 5586), the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators (ABBA) In announcing the test-pieces for the 2010 Spring Festival, to be held at has re-ignited the recent debate over standards in adjudication with an Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on 15 May, the organisers, Martin and Karyn attack on Steven Mead. In a press release entitled ‘Mythical Meetings’, Mortimer, advised of the withdrawal of sponsorship from Leisure Parcs, ABBA Secretary, C. Brian Buckley begins: ‘As Secretary of ABBA, I am at a which has supported the event since it moved to the Lancashire town. It loss to understand why Steven Mead continues to assert that a meeting is understood that this was a result of the loss of grants from Blackpool had been agreed between himself and ABBA. As far as I am aware, I am the City Council to Leisure Parcs and the Winter Gardens. only member of the Executive Committee that has been in direct contact Speaking to BB, Martin Mortimer commented: “The loss of sponsorship with Steven Mead since he published his untimely and largely rhetorical produces a shortfall of around £12,000 in terms of the cost of the running comments in the article (subsequently and rapidly amended by him) that of the three contests and the hire of the halls. However, this will be appeared on his personal website following the conclusion of the British met by the combination of additional capital from the British Open, Open event at Symphony Hall, Birmingham in September 2009.’ a reduction in running costs and an increase in the entry fees for the The statement continues: ‘This article was obviously influenced by Steven’s competing bands.” intense disappointment at the placing of the band he had prepared for, Martin Mortimer added: “Obviously we are disappointed that Leisure and directed at, this event. Given the nature of the content of his article, I Parcs has withdrawn its support at this late stage, but we thank the telephoned Steven late on Sunday morning, the day after the British Open. Company for its vital sponsorship over many years at Blackpool. We He expressed discomfort about the possibility of meeting the Executive strongly believe that, having spent a number of years building the Spring Committee of ABBA, indicating that he would only want to meet the Festival into a serious contest, it has encouraged strong interest from Chairperson of ABBA, a surprising disclosure given the original text of his the competing bands, as well as achieving a high standard of music. The article. Since he was busy preparing to leave the UK later that afternoon to competition must continue and we have managed to achieve this by, fulfill a series of overseas engagements and would not be returning to the in effect, acting as our own sponsors and asking for the support of the UK for several weeks, it was left with Steven to contact me on his return. bands. The Spring Festival is not a profit-making event, but we run this We could then discuss the possibility of arranging a meeting between for the bands and to provide a strong qualifying platform for the British himself and ABBA should this be considered a productive step forward!’ Open Championship. We have decided to keep the contest at the Winter Brian Buckley further contends: ‘To date, Steven has not contacted me Gardens, with its three halls, cafes and bars enabling this to be a sociable neither by mobile or fixed telephone, e-mail or “snail-mail”. So I find event at which supporters and bands can listen to the music and meet it quite remarkable that such a busy and obviously well-organised with friends and family. We thank the bands for their continued support professional person publicly contends that he has written to ABBA twice and look forward to seeing them in Blackpool.” without reply. Following our September Sunday morning telephone The test-pieces for this year’s qualifying contests are: discussion, I was expecting him to make contact. This has not happened. Grand Shield: Rococo Variations (Edward Gregson) Likewise, I have not been made aware of any other ABBA member Senior Cup: The Year of the Dragon (Philip Sparke) having had contact with Steven on this matter. Without having made Senior Trophy: Le Roi d’Ys (Lalo arr. Frank Wright) arrangements for such a meeting to take place, it is inconceivable that (according to his most recent commentary on this matter, as published on his website) he has “prepared copious information comparing a range of adjudicating systems from many different spheres of music contests,” - all this in preparation for a mythical meeting between himself and ABBA that could not take place until he had contacted ABBA. He also highlights that he has prepared “considerable analytical data from systems used for marching bands, ice skating and gymnastic events.” Perhaps these assessments are more appropriate for application to visual, rather than aurally assessed competitions. Disappointingly, much of Steven’s recently published comments are again largely rhetoric in style, being short on factual statements, but littered with rather imaginative phrases. The role of ABBA is not to address changes that Steven contends are “needed with regard to the current set up of the brass band movement’s contests,” but merely to address the adjudication process - in January 2003 ABBA carried out an exercise on criteria based marking at its Annual CPD session. It would be helpful if Steven could let ABBA have sight of his evidence that supports his contention that the adjudication process can be improved to benefit all participants and those who administer and officiate at competitive events. It would also be a constructive initiative if Steven could obtain permission from “the leading lights in the brass band world” who have provided him with “some quite superb systems,” to release their identity to ABBA so that discussions leading to meaningful conclusion can then ensue. Not surprisingly, ABBA is wary of creating an illusion of progress, but are committed to making genuine progress.’ Speaking to BB in response, Steven Mead stated: “I did write to ABBA by email on 15 September and again ten days later after receiving no reply. I also agreed that I would attend a meeting with ABBA and 7 October was initially put aside for this, although I explained that I would prefer to speak with ABBA’s Chairman, Derek Broadbent beforehand.” He added: “As I had no reply to my emails, I presumed they had changed their mind, but I carried on collating information in respect to my concerns as I clearly stated I would.” BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 3 BB 2-3.indd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indd 4 25-11-2009 12:39:40 NEWS Parliamentary Group reports parity for brass bands Westoe victory at Peterlee Members of the British Federation of Brass Bands (BFBB) Executive Committee who attended the recent meeting of the All-Party Brass Band The Durham County Brass Band 5. Marske (A. Prest) 181 Group at the House of Commons were delighted to hear that, during the Association Contest took place at Best Middle of the Band: Murton past 18 months, bands have become increasingly successful in applying East Durham College in Peterlee Best Percussion: North Skelton for grants from Arts Council England (ACE) and that bands are now just as last weekend, with Chris Wormald Best Solo Cornet: Wansbeck’s successful as other art forms with their funding applications. sitting in judgement of the large Ashington In his address to the Group, Alan Davey, Chief Executive Officer of Arts entry of