Recent content by Pete Meechan

I rarely post on here, but when I read things like this it is very hard to not post. I have known Les for 12 years, and can honestly say that I know of not one thing Les has done that could be described as "shameful". He is one of the finest musicians I have ever met and worked with, who has...

Have used Keith (KMJ Recordings) several times and can happily back up all the positive comments about KMJ. In one recording, we were a little unfortunate to have a change in flight paths at Heathrow, and ended up with 747's coming over the top of the band's recording venue - not that you can...

I think that there is a flip side to that coin though - if you want younger and/or newer compositional voices writing for the brass band maybe bands need to provide a platform for their music other than contests (by which I mean concerts!). There are many different combinations of instruments...

Well, if one of the other composers who has been mentioned on this thread had a piece picked there would no doubt be plenty of people moaning about that too, that they are too contemporary, squeaky gate etc. etc. It is a natural composer-preservation instinct that comes out in me every now and...

No need to feel sorry - there is no right to be commissioned by anyone, and whilst it would be great to have a piece used at a contest such as the Nationals, to a composer it isn't (at least shouldn't be!) the be all and end all. There's a big wide musical world out there, and part of the fun of...

I agree - I think these kind of pieces, which are written for players of a very high standard, are often best written in conjunction with a player.

I think it was a little more than a partial joke! However, what is exciting when writing for great players, and there seems to be a wealth of stunning euphonium players at the moment, is pushing them to their boundaries. And the euphonium players that I have been fortunate enough to work with...

I'm going to continue in the pub quiz style of things...it seems a serious enough way to discuss serious subjects....so here's my answers: So I guess the clue for question 1 is that you have quoted someone in your answers - so I'm going to go for answer B. As for the 2nd question - is the...

Wow - Jan, you may find this hard to believe, but I reckon that the various wars and conflicts going on around the world involving British troops are a pretty important topic to discuss. However, whilst I appreciate that it is off topic, surley breaking the thread up, and letting people talk...

mod edit: off-topic things removed However, I have a point about the the Army bands etc... Just because they are professional, it diesn't always mean they are better...for example...how many professional orchestras in this country have people sitting on the back desk of the 2nd violins who are...

Not sure this is fair. Whatever the faults of the Forces "top brass" you have knowledge of (I really don't know one way or another), our troops don't deserve anything other complete respect. The way I see it, there are people fighting wars in far away places to make our lives safer and many...

Couldn't agree more - have had more than a couple of great days out with scratch bands - and the crowds always seemed to love them a lot more than a lot of the bands at the contest!

What an ill thoughout post this is. Very poor. The thing is, you're right. Except, you're not. You couldn't be more wrong. Freedom of speech is a basic human right. However, those of us in the world who are lucky enough to have the opportunity to express ourselves through free speech have...

That's all that is required - I don't think it's beyond the call of human decency to apologise for the comments he made, and that is all that I'm asking for (And I don't appear to be the only one). Of course, you have the basic human right to choose to read a post or not - as you are...

As a moderator, I was hoping that either yourself, a different moderator, or all of you would be taking some kind of action here. So far, none of you seem to have made comment on the behaviour of an individual - seeming that maybe you agree, or at least, on this subject, are willing to turn a...