BBC Young Musician 2014

[Nick Armstrong]

Agreed, at least on the basis of watching both pianist and recorderist and catching a mere glimpse of the percussionist in the recap.

I'd be concerned about the limited repertoire available to a recorder player (has her concerto choice for the final been announced?), and much as I adore percussion and appreciate that there are many fine works available for a talented exponent, my money is on the pianist. His technique is phenomenal, and it is allied to a remarkably mature musicality. His semi-final choices formed a fine programme and displayed his command of widely different styles (the movement from the Barber sonata was incredible — just imagine how he'd handle Prokofiev).

Agreed - although I've managed to miss any coverage of the recorder player. The percussionist also seems a terrific little lad from a great family, I liked his long-suffering kindly parents particularly!

[amateur51]

His technique is phenomenal, and it is allied to a remarkably mature musicality. His semi-final choices formed a fine programme and displayed his command of widely different styles (the movement from the Barber sonata was incredible — just imagine how he'd handle Prokofiev).

Yes but could he edit the Guardian as well as Mr Rusbridger does too, DublinJimbo

[ardcarp]

Going back to the brass final (I've been offline for a couple of days) the standard, as I heard it on the radio, was mixed. Certainly they picked the right one to be winner who interestingly chose a 'serious' and heavy-on-the-lip programme. Her Mum was pretty deft too! But the 13-year-old lad played with a great deal of musicianship, and I hope he'll have another crack at it next time.

I can remember wetting myself watching George Chisholm on TV. That dates us a bit, doesn't it?

[Lento]

Stephen Hough's year (1978, inaugural) apparently included Michael Collins, Barry Douglas and Malcolm Martineau and was won by Michael Hext (trombone).

[Mary Chambers]

Benjamin Grosvenor was beaten to the title by Nicola Benedetti in 2004. He was eleven years old.

[pastoralguy]

Seems bad planning to follow a percussion concerto with a recorder concerto.

[MrGongGong]

Seems bad planning to follow a percussion concerto with a recorder concerto.

errr why ?

[Vile Consort]

Seems bad planning to follow a percussion concerto with a recorder concerto.

On the contrary. An overall structure of big - small - big is good from an audience POV.

[MrGongGong]

On the contrary. An overall structure of big - small - big is good from an audience POV.

That's what I would think

Motorhead > Feldman > Les Noces > Clavichord solo

[visualnickmos]

Please excuse my brief posts. The point I have in mind is that Classical Music is principally the preserve of the middle classes, and in particular classical music education is the preserve of Public Schools and specialist schools that are able to fund subjects other than the three Rs. There may be the occasional musician that originates from a classless background, but that does not alter the centre of gravity of the whole matter.

Yup. That's Britain for you. Social and 'class' background seem to more or less override pretty much everything.

[Barbirollians]

I thought that young percussionist was superb. The piece was a right ragbag but he made some sense of it and unlike percussionists sometimes he played with such delicacy too .

[marvin]

A very leaden ROATOP so far - disappointing.

[teamsaint]

Please excuse my brief posts. The point I have in mind is that Classical Music is principally the preserve of the middle classes, and in particular classical music education is the preserve of Public Schools and specialist schools that are able to fund subjects other than the three Rs. There may be the occasional musician that originates from a classless background, but that does not alter the centre of gravity of the whole matter.

Well quite.
But if sometimes things have to be reconciled, with difficulty,in ones mind.
These kind of issues bothered me a great deal, for a long time, and to my detriment.
Similarly,If you love football, you have to deal with issues like insane wages, and stupid ticket prices.
But a day when class issues matter less in classical music, is to be looked forward to.

[ardcarp]

Well if Martin and Rach/Pag don't win I'll eat my hat...but if we had to judge the music chosen, well...er, any contest there?

[Quarky]

Well quite.
But if sometimes things have to be reconciled, with difficulty,in ones mind.
These kind of issues bothered me a great deal, for a long time, and to my detriment.
Similarly,If you love football, you have to deal with issues like insane wages, and stupid ticket prices.
But a day when class issues matter less in classical music, is to be looked forward to.

Yes I look forward to that day. But levering myself up into the position of BBC Director General, the Visual Arts and the Spoken Word must seem much more likely candidates for implementing the aim of "Art for Everyone".