Issue no. 5553 – 21 March 2009 London and Harrogate – the quest continues Price £1.25 Favourites win through as ‘Regional’ marathon nears completion BB 1.indd 1 17-03-2009 18:26:26 MAILBOX HAVE YOUR SAY Time to shake-up the music panel? I write to agree with the point you made regarding the 4th Section in your This year, they have picked some ‘new’ composers - congratulations on write-up on the Yorkshire ‘Area’ contest. I have attended the 4th Section finally having a good idea and good intentions, but the pieces aren’t at many different ‘Areas’ over the years, and it is obvious to me that there actually ‘new’; they are, in fact, second-rate imitations of their favourite is a real problem with picking a single test-piece to suit all competitors. At composers’ style. Why try to copy Sparke, Graham, Wilby et al? They do it that level, bands may be made up of 17 players, mainly aged over 60, who best. attend rehearsals and contests for the social aspect and a fun day out. So where is the original talent? Simon Dobson and Peter Meechan are Others may boast a band full of promising youngsters, while some bands two original voices who are proven in the brass band arena, and Gavin may have only one percussionist or a depleted bass section. Why not Higgins, Lucy Pankhurst and Andy Scott seem to be composers whose cater for them all by allowing them to pick a piece that will suit them and music is fresh, exciting and original too. Anyone who has been to the make the contest own-choice. The system in place is antiquated, and a lot RNCM Festival of Brass over the last ten years or so (as I have been myself) has changed since it was put in place in the immediate post-war years. will have heard plenty of fabulous music from Meechan and Dobson This makes me wonder just how out of touch the Kapitol Music Panel especially, but, were the Kapitol Music Panel members there to listen? is. I am led to believe that Alan Hope, Richard Evans, Brian Buckley and Were they there to hear the new, fresh and exciting music being written John Maines are the people who pick these pieces and I think it is safe today? I am pretty sure that I haven’t seen any of them there in my time, to say that, while they all have their merits, they perhaps are not the and certainly not this year. right people to keep picking them. Who are they accountable to? There So, to those who are responsible for the ‘National’ and its qualification have been too many inappropriate choices in recent years, both in terms contests, please buck your ideas up. You don’t appear to know what of quality and their penchant for picking pieces by a small number of is happening in your own back garden in the 4th Section, and you are publishers. My point here is that there is no term limit on this panel, there equally impotent when it comes to picking good, challenging music. is no rotation to make sure that ideas are kept new and fresh, and this is Neil Clark reflected in the choices. Doncaster BRITISH Issue no.Bands 5525 – 6 September 2008 the leading internationalman brass magazine Issue no. 5552 – 14 March 2009 Price £1.25 BRITISH Bandsthe leading internationalman brass magazine THE LEADING CIRCULATING Rothwell win strikes a blow MAGAZINE IN THE for ‘amateur’ banding The new wizard from Oz Price £1.25 ‘Underdog’ storms to victory as Bradford The man from ‘down-under’ driving Leyland back to the top witnesses thrills and spills galore WORLDWIDE BRASS MARKET ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY AND STAY IN TOUCH WITH OTHERS WHO SHARE YOUR PASSION Telephone 01933 445 442 or log on to our website: www.britishbandsman.com Issue no. 5539 – 13 December 2008 Issue no. 5531 – 18 October 2008 SUBSCRIPTION RATES 12 months 6 months Price £1.25 UK £56.00 £30.00 Europe £75.00 £45.00 Rest of the World £115.00 £60.00 (52 issues per year) A TRUE LIVING LEGEND Price £1.25 Geoffrey Whitham looks back Overseas subscribers can now have the online edition at 70 years of achievement delivered direct to their desktop Convincing victory sees National title on its way back to Queensbury BRITISH BANDSMAN PAGE 2 BB 2-3.indd 2 17-03-2009 18:27:07 NEWS Scottish Open to return to own-choice test-piece format The Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA) has announced that this year’s Scottish Open Championship, which will be held in Perth Concert Hall on 28 November, will revert to the own-choice test-piece format that it employed in 2005 and 2006. Speaking to BB on behalf of the SBBA, Peter Fraser commented: “We are very happy with the progress of the Scottish Open over the past few years, having used pieces specially written for us at the past two events in Peter Meechan’s Macbeth and Kenneth Downie’s St. Magnus. We have future plans for further commissions for the contest, but we also feel that allowing the bands the freedom to make Hugh Johnston Willie Tennant their own choice of music can bring an added dimension to the event and we are pleased to announce that this year’s contest will be in that format. In our previous own-choice events, bands and audiences have responded positively to the challenge and we are sure that the 2009 event will be no exception.” Tameside Open Friends of NYBBW Building on the growing success of the weekend since its move to Perth in 2007, SBBA is also announces line-up commissions considering the introduction of a Friday Gala new works for Concert, of which Peter Fraser added “The The organisers of the Tameside Open have Gala Concert is in the early planning stages, announced the line-up of bands, which will 2009 course and this will be a new venture for SBBA in compete at Dukinfield Town Hall from 9.30am the magnificent Perth Concert Hall. Another next Sunday (29th). highlight of the weekend will, of course, be The full line-up is: The Friends of The National Youth Brass Band our ever-expanding Youth Championships, of Wales (NYBBW) has commissioned two new which featured 21 bands last year and promises Championship Section (draw 3.00pm, start works to be featured in the band’s concert tour to be even bigger and better this time. With 4.00pm) of North Wales during the 2009 course, which these events, in addition to the Scottish Adjudicator: Duncan Beckley will be held from 18 to 24 July. Concerts will be Challenge Trophy and Shield, a great weekend’s Ashton-under-Lyne (M. Evans), Blackpool Brass held at William Aston Hall, Wrexham on 22 July, entertainment is promised for all.” (C. Larder), Mossley (D. Byers), Poulton-le-Fylde St. Asaph Cathedral on 23 July and Pritchard Any bands interested in attending should (G. Westwood), Rainford (N. Samuel). Jones Hall, Bangor on 24 July. contact Peter Fraser at [email protected]. The band will conducted by Dr. Robert Childs The SBBA has also announced that a new award 2nd Section (draw 1.00pm, start 2.00pm) and the featured soloist is Cory Band’s flugel is being introduced at this weekend’s Scottish Adjudicator: Duncan Beckley horn soloist, Joanne Childs. Championships in Dundee. Peter Fraser added: Dodworth Colliery M.W. (E. Darwin), Flixton Speaking to BB on behalf of the Friends of the “This will be the Association’s highest award and (tba), Haslingden and Helmshore (D. Holland), NYBBW, Graham Brill said: “The composers nominees should be persons who have made Middleton (M. Stringer), Skelmersdale (J. commissioned to write new solo works an outstanding contribution to brass bands Ludden), Tyldesley (R. Taylor), Oldham (Lees) (J. for flugel are Rodney Newton, a long-time in Scotland throughout their lifetime, which Collins). supporter and tutor of the band, who is writing is deserving of special recognition. Potential a concerto for flugel horn and band, while Dan recipients could be players, conductors, 3rd Section (draw 11.15am, start 12.15pm) Price, composer of New World Sketches, this composers, teachers, adjudicators or officials Adjudicator: Paul Andrews year’s 2nd Section Regional Championship test- and, due to the very special nature of the award, Boarhurst Silver (D. Ashworth), Coppull and piece, and whose recent works formed part of it will be limited to a small number of recipients Standish (A. Baker), Farnworth and Walkden (P. Cory’s winning programme at Brass in Concert, in any year.” Ashley), Stalybridge (J. Binns), Uppermill Brass will also write a new work for the instrument.” This year, the awards will be presented to Willie (A. Widdop), Trinity Girls (tba). During the recent Welsh Regional Tennant of Kirkintilloch and Hugh Johnston of Championships at Swansea, the Friends set up Dalmellington, both of whom have given over 4th Section (pre-drawn, starts 9.30am) a display to show their work and also to raise 70 years service to brass bands and have been Adjudicator: Paul Andrews funds to support the 2009 band in assisting responsible for a high level of teaching, as well Besses Boys (J. Holt), Blackley (A. Smith), Brindle financially the kitting-out of existing and as service to their respective bands. Peter Fraser (J. Smith), Carrbrook Brass (J. Smith), Darwen new members in new black polo Shirts. The concluded: “These gentlemen, both of whom are Brass (S. Hartley), Denton Brass (G.