MUSIC FOR BANDS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 770, 23 April 1954, Page 5

MUSIC FOR BANDS

Sir,-Peter J. Heawood expresses surprise at the fact that no one has found fault with cheap and trashy performances of the classics by brass and military bands. I am sure the reason for this is that few, if any, serious-minded musicians regard the brass band arrangements and performances of the classics as "cheap and trashy." When an arrangement of classical music is performed by a swihg orchestra, More often than not, the original work of the composer is changed to a great extent. The melody is often altered to fit words which make little sense; at times the rhythmic pattern is changed altogether; the original chording of the work is not kept, the arranger usually substituting a poor harmonic structure. An example is given in the swing version of Tchaikovski’s second subject of the first movement of his sixth symphony, known as "The Story of a Starry Night." To lovers of good music, these changes the modernists have brought to the classics are intolerable. On the other hand, when one of the classics, or even light ballads of the present day, is arranged for brass band, the original music-that is, the melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic. structure-is adhered to throughout. The only difference is the change from orchestral score to a full brass score. This, I think, is an important factor-the originality of the work remains the same; it is only presented by a different style of musical combination. Granted, there is some classical music which is not suitable for the brass band. The brass band has not the tone colour and range of a symphony orchestra. Arrangers for brass band are fully aware of the fact, and so strive in their arrangements of the classics to cater for the limited scope in the all-brass ensemble. I have listened, with much attention to detail, to classical performances of some of the finest orchestras in the world; also I have heard some fine brass bands playing these same pieces; and, taking into consideration the vast difference in the instrumental combinations and tonal colour, I would say that the brass band acquits itself admirably. Let me inform Mr. Heawood that the repertoire of the brass band is by no means inadequate; marching music is only one of the many forms of music played. Many original works for brass have been written by men who have far surpassed Sousa-men such as Eric Ball, Denis Wright, Hubert Bath, Henry Gheel, Sir Edward Elgar, Granville Bantock, John Ireland, and many others, who are not "men of the brass" only, but men who have had a practical knowledge of the symphony orchestra, and who can see the good which lies in the brass band movement.

P.S

M.

(Christchurch).

(Abridged.-Ed. )