Australian Concert Bands

Hornist wrote:I heard a long time ago that Queensland couldn't give a stuff about concert bands and this may go somewhere to proving it.

It's not just Queensland. It seems to be Band Associations the country over. The Concert Bands are always on at a very inconvenient time, they just plonk them wherever they can because they have to. Monday night of Easter weekend is just as stupid a time as Friday. And that's where it's been for the past few years.

Would it be to much to have the Concert Bands on a different weekend or just at a different hall at the same time as the brass bands?

Diff weekends would a lot of ppl going up for both but still the same weekend in two different halls. Most Major citys have two or more places that can host a contest event.

If they had both concert bands and brass bands on at the same time, i think that they would be competing for the same audiences, and quite a few players play in both types of bands.

true true

I was thinking of heading up and seeing the concert bands, but as there are no c grade bands i dont think i will. I really wanted to hear how some bands handled the test piece for the Nats

MattL wrote:

Hornist wrote:I heard a long time ago that Queensland couldn't give a stuff about concert bands and this may go somewhere to proving it.

It's not just Queensland. It seems to be Band Associations the country over. The Concert Bands are always on at a very inconvenient time, they just plonk them wherever they can because they have to. Monday night of Easter weekend is just as stupid a time as Friday. And that's where it's been for the past few years.

Wait until you see the Sydney 2009 Schedule. That should put a smile on your face.

Hey all ill be going to the nationals this year and it shall be good! Ill be competing in the open quintet playing baritone (my main instrument is flute and clarinet but thought hey why not play baritone this time!). Our group will be representing the only South Australian concert band there! (Unley concert band oh yeah) Grr the bloody QBA need to relize that the nationals are not just about brass bands. The concert band competitors have to take two days off work and school to compete this year and its a bloody joke, no wonder there are only 12 soloist (concert band section) (may be less due to withdrawls) this year and such a small amount of concert bands. ok ive had my whinge now.

Im going to attempt to watch all the bands on friday so wish me luck!

Lets keep concert bands alive!




Steve.

Unley Concert Band SA

p.s look out for our fugly band uniform, its a blue vest and blue tie, we look like a qantas flight attentent in blue! make sure to come up and say hey to us. Thats if you see us on monday

Heya Flutesy!

Good luck in the solos, and also to Unley at the comp! What grade is Unley in? Looking at the list posted by Hornist earlier, i couldnt see them!

Heya unley is in B grade but were only just competing in the open quintet and quartet this year. The band is saving up to go to Nationals in Sydney next year (maybye in A grade as we came 2nd out of 7 bands in melbourne last year) and a europe trip also in 2009.

Steve.

It seems QBA do have a bit of problem with concert bands.
Lat time the Nats were in Brisbane there was a huge blow up about the test piece Harrison's Dream. It required a harp and also 2 celli, and the QBA wouldn't allow the use of Electric keyboards to cover the harp. Well after a lot of emails flying back and foward between the various conductors and some threats to pull bands out they finally relented.

As for putting the bands on Friday or Monday, both are very bad times especially for those who have to work on either side of those days.
I don't know why they can't put the concert bands back on Sundays like they used to be years ago.

Another thing with the QBA is they have a knack for picking excessively difficult works for concert bands.
Just look at the Open C grade selection. It's almost as difficult as the open B grade test.
Speaking of which, the B grade test for this year is another dumb choice. Very nice piece of music but not suitable for a test piece. The test, Poldnice (The Noon Witch) is an orchestral piece by Dvorak and been transcribed for concert band. Lots of work for the woodwind, lots of silly violin and celli lines that just don't go well for wind instruments. The brass only play a bit. Most of the brass don't play for at least 60-70 bars at a time. Also the piece has to have an A clarinet used 9noy usually used in a CB.
As for percussion, it's almost a waste of time putting them in their as they are practising resting for most of it.

Any way thats enough of my ranting.
At least NSW has a better idea when it comes to selecting concert band music.

white stick waver wrote:At least NSW has a better idea when it comes to selecting concert band music.

Hope so considering that the 2008 Music Selection sub-committee includes conductors of Concert Bands!

Good to see some good test pieces in the last couple of years.

Ascentium (2005 state d grade test) is a great piece, and is still in our playout folders. Same with 07 C grade nats piece, The Saint and the City. Cant say i was a fan of 07 C Grade state test Kelly, BUT it was a real 'test' piece with quite a few intricate passages that test the band

Any idea when the 09 nats pieces are announced (yes i know im a bit early!!!)

Good to see some good test pieces in the last couple of years.

Ascentium (2005 state d grade test) is a great piece, and is still in our playout folders. Same with 07 C grade nats piece, The Saint and the City. Cant say i was a fan of 07 C Grade state test Kelly, BUT it was a real 'test' piece with quite a few intricate passages that test the band

Any idea when the 09 nats pieces are announced (yes i know im a bit early!!!)

bensimon wrote: Any idea when the 09 nats pieces are announced (yes i know im a bit early!!!)

September. Seems to be the chosen month for releasing test pieces for nationals.

Well - the whole concert band situation for Nationals 2008 is very disappointing, both for band and solo events. Here's hoping that Sydney in 2009 will be much better.

I think a combination of adverse scheduling, an awkward positioning of Easter vs. school holidays, and the sheer cost of getting to Brisbane has diminished the profile of the concert band events.

So - come on everyone - let's make a REALLY BIG EFFORT to get our bands to Sydney and have a REAL National Championship in 2009!

Jubey