BBC Young Musician 2016

[Tom Audustus]

Absolutely agree. Given that it's all on BBC4 now, which is supposed to enable greater coverage of 'the arts', without risk of contaminating the general public, why could we not have had a separate documentary style programme with all the background stuff to complement the finals, freeing up time for all five to participate.?
I'm so pleased that Jackie Campbell got the Walter Tod award, richly deserved.
Reading through the lists of past finalists and winners makes for interesting reading - there are some notable 'non-winners' who have gone on to do quite well for themselves, Benjamin Grosvenor for instance - and I think that is one of the good things about this competition. There is the opportunity to compete at the highest level, but not lifting the final trophy isn't the end of the world, and for the younger competitors there's the chance to try again.

The temptation to dumb-down will always infect the BBC while we have this silly idea that serious music is too 'difficult' for the proles.

[MrGongGong]

The temptation to dumb-down will always infect the BBC while we have this silly idea that serious music is too 'difficult' for the proles.

I think many folks seem to be missing what TV does well.
Nothing to do with "serious" or otherwise more that for those who want to sit down and listen to music uninterrupted then there are plenty of places where that is possible. YMOTY has always been about creating "stories" around the "characters" in the competition from Nick Daniel onwards.
I didn't watch this BUT realised that I did know the winner as he had the same cello teacher as my daughter so probably will watch it on the iPlayer (I seem to remember him being rather good as a 7 year old).

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

If only the saxophonist had chosen e.g. the Glazunov concerto then we would have heard her 'lyrical style' rather than her 'forced style' in the Nyman.

Of course, she could have amply demonstrated both "styles" if only she had chosen Birtwistle's Panic.

[MrGongGong]

Of course, she could have amply demonstrated both "styles" if only she had chosen Birtwistle's Panic.

Now you are talking

[ardcarp]

I can't stand the honking of the soprano sax

Shudder all ye Earlie Musicke fans, but if (for Monteverdi's Vespers for instance) you can only find 1 decent cornetto player (just one cornetto?) then the soprano sax, played sympathetically, makes an amazing partner...often difficult to tell them apart at 100 paces. Or just use two soprano saxes. (They're in B flat...most players can transpose at sight.)

[BBMmk2]

#75!!!! I do wish people will stopgoing on about vibrato in the brass band. There is no such thing these days. Plus the fact that quite a lot of the musicians have gone through music colleges such as the Royal academy and the RNCM and the Royal Welsh School of Music & Drama. So please, in future Hornspieler and anyone else, woe betide you if you say this again!!!!

[ardcarp]

...but I like a bit of tasteful vibrato in a cornet solo.

[Zucchini]

... a milk flake is much more tasty

[BBMmk2]

Goodness what a load of tosh!

[ostuni]

Shudder all ye Earlie Musicke fans, but if (for Monteverdi's Vespers for instance) you can only find 1 decent cornetto player (just one cornetto?) then the soprano sax, played sympathetically, makes an amazing partner...often difficult to tell them apart at 100 paces.

Yes, wasn't it Anthony Baines (writing at a time when it was virtually impossible to find any cornett players at all) who suggested that soprano sax was the best substitute? I well remember Alan Hacker's Matrix group doing Frescobaldi canzonas with 2 sop saxes - sounded marvellous. As a university student, I rather enjoyed playing both instruments (though usually in very different contexts).

[Hornspieler]

...but I like a bit of tasteful vibrato in a cornet solo.

So do I - and even more so on a euphonium, but it makes an orchestral horn sound like a saxophone.
Keep a lookout for a repeat of one of those delightful Fred Dibner (steam locomotive enthusiast) programs which have a gorgeous euphonium playing with vibrato in the background

What a wonderful accompaniment to a most fascinating TV series.
HS

[pastoralguy]

Just been watching the BBC Breakfast News where the winners of YMotY and the equivalent jazz competition were interviewed. While it's good to see their achievements be acknowledged, I couldn't help motive the interviewers using sports analogies ("That was quite a workout") and then comparing their ethic with sportsmen.

Sport, sport and more sport...

[Nick Armstrong]

So do I - and even more so on a euphonium, but it makes an orchestral horn sound like a saxophone.

HS

What's the view (of HS and others) about Herr Damm's performance? Because I think it's dammed good!!

[Barbirollians]

Splendid but I should always go for Dennis Brain and Sawallisch in both Strauss concertos .

[Mary Chambers]

Just been watching the BBC Breakfast News where the winners of YMotY and the equivalent jazz competition were interviewed. While it's good to see their achievements be acknowledged, I couldn't help motive the interviewers using sports analogies ("That was quite a workout") and then comparing their ethic with sportsmen.

Sport, sport and more sport...

Plus the usual "Do you lead a normal teenage life?"