Adjuditcating

[pjaye]

Here's something i dont really properly understand. If you are in the hall and although your behind a screen is it perhaps possible to tell which band is playing... can the audience sometimes give it away? or perhaps i'm over thinking on this but it was something i have always wondered i mean over the years a band will develop its individual sound which surely can be recognised especially the more well known bands. does this make it biased then towards some bands and other bands are left out where they could play just as well if not better?

[smaca]

There are more experienced men/woman on this forum than I am(in fact there are some who have adjudicated) but I am sure that on some occasions(not all occasions) adjudicators may have an idea
what band is playing.I think in terms of listening, adjudicators may be more inclined to recognise an individuals sound, rather than a band sound. For example, Roger Webster when playing with CWS must have been recognised, or Philip McCann playing with a band(who has a sound that is recognisable).Other areas where adjudicators may know who,s playing is;

1. Adjudicators hearing chat(unintentionally) before contests about who,s playing what.

2. Adjudicators sitting in box and hearing audience chatting and coming out with comments like "whos, next on Nessie?", when another loud spoken person replies " Its the Co-Op, and they have Steven Mead on Euph".

After saying all that I am sure regardless of what adjudicators may know prior to or during contests I am positive they will judge on what they hear on the day, and adjudicate on what is performed on the day.

[dafyddapiago]

Firstly, I have to state that I don’t consider myself to be an experienced brass band adjudicator; more an experienced musician, as my preference was to be conducting one of the bands. For two simple reasons firstly it’s more fun, and secondly it’s more profitable ( I can visualize many saying mercenary B******).
We have to believe in the integrity of the adjudicator which I believe happens 95% of the time; although I have been on the receiving end of an adjudicator’s revenge, when he put the band I was conducting last, by 5 clear points. I was hurt at the time, not for myself, but the 28 players who had performed well for me. My conclusion was that this gentleman’s mind was that small it would fit into a walnut.
Yes one can recognize individual players who are known to you, but if you’re attention is drawn to their playing for too long you are not listening to the performance of the whole. As to comments one overhears from the audience, it used to make my hackles rise and make me more determined to give a fair result.
I think that Alan Morrison’s adjudication formula sounds very good, and should be an asset to all adjudicators.
Harry Mortimer had a very good saying, “the winners can smile, the others can please their B***** selves”, TRUE!

Dafydd ap Iago

[euphantastic]

I agree with you Stuart.

Adjudicators could probably reconise a players sound.
i would guess that a principal cornet would be the easiest , as it is more of a solo part.
But i think 9 times out of ten it would'nt make any odds.
If the band plays really well, i cannnot imagine a judge would place that band well down the placings. I mean afterall it is a job , and if they don't perform properly , then they won't get asked to do it again.

[James McFadyen]

All I'll say is this:

Yorkshire Regionals 2006 -

Grimey: OK performance, superb principal cornet.

Black Dyke: Superb performance, a few tiny slips, but on the whole, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It was simply awesome to watch.


The winner: Grimey.

Draw your own conclusions.

[smaca]

jamesmcfadyen said:

All I'll say is this:

Yorkshire Regionals 2006 -

Grimey: OK performance, superb principal cornet.

Black Dyke: Superb performance, a few tiny slips, but on the whole, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It was simply awesome to watch.

I,ve also seen the same principal cornet being on the receiving end. Contest was Whitburn, CWS walked the contest are were placed first. Only one cornet player played a solo that day(it was RW) his performance was awesome as per usual, but when adjudicator handed out " best cornet" award he never got a mention.When the award for "best soloist" was mentioned he also never got a mention. Wonder who the adjudicator was???

[craigyboy]

jamesmcfadyen said:

All I'll say is this:

Yorkshire Regionals 2006 -

Grimey: OK performance, superb principal cornet.

Black Dyke: Superb performance, a few tiny slips, but on the whole, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It was simply awesome to watch.


The winner: Grimey.

Draw your own conclusions.

Surely you mean awesome to listen.
Adjudication which is influenced by the eyes is usually way of the mark. 4barsrest are often accused of this.........and sometimes their live commentary where name bands are praised is found wanting come results time.