Young Musician of the Year 2018

[Dave2002]

Just watched the percussion final. Absolutely gobsmacked by them all. Incredible musicianship from all 5. I don't know how the judges could put a cigarette-paper between them.

I am inclined to agree with you though others, and the judges obviously didn't. It wasn't obvious to me that the eventual winner was going to emerge. Perhaps the judges see more, and have very specific things to look out for.

One thing I (we?) don't know is if the players ever all have to play the same pieces in front of a judging team. That would perhaps at least reduce some of the uncertainty in the ranking. More or less the whole of the competition is based on false or dodgy comparisons and has been for years. How can one possibly compare a hosepipe player in an obscure piece by a reclusive hermit composer, against a digeridoo arrangement of Bruch's violin concerto (apologies to hosepipe and didgeridoo players here ...)? It is held that the choice of programmes is also a factor, reflecting the personal preferences and personalities of the performers - which I suppose is fair enough, but still makes comparisons difficult.

In the percussion section comparisons seem even more difficult than for the other parts of the competition, as the variety of instruments used seems to be far greater.

Also you mentioned "musicianship" and there is perhaps a related word "musical". While there are clearly some less competent players who might be deemed to lack musicianship or be less musical, I am not always convinced that being "musical" is an objective assessment. I think styles and fashions come into play, so one person might judge that another is not "musical", but another might have the opposite opinion.

[MrGongGong]

More or less the whole of the competition is based on false or dodgy comparisons and has been for years. How can one possibly compare a hosepipe player in an obscure piece by a reclusive hermit composer, against a digeridoo arrangement of Bruch's violin concerto (apologies to hosepipe and didgeridoo players here ...)? It is held that the choice of programmes is also a factor, reflecting the personal preferences and personalities of the performers - which I suppose is fair enough, but still makes comparisons difficult.
.

I think you are fundamentally misunderstanding it, the idea that there is some kind of "objective" standard is rather odd.

Within the scope of a competition it is relitively easy to compare things.
Nothing "false" or "dodgy" just a group of people who know about things making a judgement on the day based on what they hear.

[ardcarp]

a digeridoo arrangement of Bruch's violin concerto

...the sort of thing you hear on Breakfast?

Also you mentioned "musicianship" and there is perhaps a related word "musical".

I get the distinction. I thought they demonstrated both in spades.

[Nick Armstrong]

My stomach turned during the introduction to the woodwind programme - the perpetually-grinning presenter listed the instruments to be heard, at the end slowing down and with a rising inflection saying "..... and - a - bassOON!!". It wasn't just Blue Peter style, it was more Play School... The whole tone of the presentation was the same.

I did then think that perhaps the idea is that young people will be watching this Young Musicians competition, and I shouldn't be too harsh.

But will any likely viewer benefit from a presentation style that seemed to me appropriate for the under-5s?

[Mary Chambers]

But will any likely viewer benefit from a presentation style that seemed to me appropriate for the under-5s?

No, I dont think so. The presentation is embarrassingly bad. The young musicians are still good, though, and deserve better.

[ardcarp]

Passing over the BBC-babble, the standard was, I thought, extraordinarily high. Of the non-wiiners...and how awful to have to choose...the bassoonist seemed a very complete musician. The excellent clarinettist might have been better advised about his programme, perhaps.

[LMcD]

No, I dont think so. The presentation is embarrassingly bad. The young musicians are still good, though, and deserve better.

I was just wondering whether the coverage of this competition has been entrusted to the same bunch that brought us the Winter Olympics - another occasion on which the contestants deserved better?

[oddoneout]

I was just wondering whether the coverage of this competition has been entrusted to the same bunch that brought us the Winter Olympics - another occasion on which the contestants deserved better?

I didn't watch the Winter Olympics so can't comment on that aspect but the cynic in me does feel that the YM production team has been given a remit(possibly not explicit) to gradually kill off the whole thing by burying it away at random times in little accessed places such that viewing/listening figures become derisory and a target for culling.
Promoting and supporting genuine talent appears to be a no-go area now, in favour of talentless, ephemeral, pop wannabes. Those of us who are not sport watchers can live with the airwaves being taken over periodically, so why can't the same happen with 'culture'. Given the enormous quantity of alternatives to view would it really be catastrophic to take up a(very) few substantial evening chunks on BBC2 every couple of years for the likes of YM and Cardiff Singer?
And we are supposed to believe that dumbing down isn't happening? Or is it fear of culture contagion - some viewers might happen on these events, get interested and start demanding more, shock horror. It is the most appalling insult to the participants that they are not considered deserving of decent coverage, but I suppose it's in line with the current establishment line that culture is no part of education or the wider life of our young people.

[BBMmk2]

I agree with Mary Chambers about the awful presentation! I thought KD was bad!
Btw, does anyone know what that Piazola piece was called?

[Stanfordian]

I agree with Mary Chambers about the awful presentation! I thought KD was bad!
Btw, does anyone know what that Piazola piece was called?

I'd like to see the audience figures for this series compared to previous years. I might be wrong but I would imagine the figures are increasingly down over the last decade. I rarely tune in these days but I did for a short time to see what the presentation was like. I found it embarrassing and soon switched off.

I'm doing a lot of moaning today. Must have got out of bed the wrong way this morning.

[ardcarp]

BBM. I think the Piazzolla piece was Tango Escualo. Not sure if it was written especially for the Sax or whether it was an arrangement.

[LMcD]

I'd like to see the audience figures for this series compared to previous years. I might be wrong but I would imagine the figures are increasingly down over the last decade. I rarely tune in these days but I did for a short time to see what the presentation was like. I found it embarrassing and soon switched off.

I'm doing a lot of moaning today. Must have got out of bed the wrong way this morning.

Sadly, there's plenty to moan about!
There have been many recent examples of ratings for a TV series dropping dramatically after the first programme: SS-GB, Ordeal By Innocence, the revamped Generation Game, to name just a few.
It was at a conference not that long ago that a BBC executive was met with derision when he said that before long a programme that attracted 5 million viewers would be regarded as a success. You only need to read the Radio Times to see that he was right.

[BBMmk2]

BBM. I think the Piazzolla piece was Tango Escualo. Not sure if it was written especially for the Sax or whether it was an arrangement.

Thanks, ardcarp. I think it was an arrangement for sax.

[BBMmk2]

No comment about the brass final yet? Some very good performances but the one that stood out for me and MrsBBM was isabelle Daws. First on and the best. I think she is the daughter of the legendary cornet player David Daws. So sure in her recital. She beat the others hands down and plays with Friary Guildford band as well(when she can!)

[teamsaint]

No comment about the brass final yet? Some very good performances but the one that stood out for me and MrsBBM was isabelle Daws. First on and the best. I think she is the daughter of the legendary cornet player David Daws. So sure in her recital. She beat the others hands down and plays with Friary Guildford band as well(when she can!)

Just heard the first two performances.
Both excellent, and some interesting music chosen.