AndyCat said:
I brought this up with a member of the Test Piece Selection panel 2 weeks ago, so the problem has been raised with them.
Slightly difficult one though, as John Ireland is unavailable at present!
Yes, John Ireland is no longer with us - but his original hand-written score should be: somewhere in the bowels of R.Smith & Co.
Before Claudio Abbado recorded the complete Schubert symphonies he checked with Schubert's original scores in the archives of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna - with some startling results, and produced outstanding recordings of Schubert's intentions.
This goes back to my point that it's part of a conductor's responsibility to ensure the composer's intentions are faithfully communicated (and not just to band contest adjudicators).
It's not a huge job with a little 12 minute piece to proof-read the published score and parts against the original score (if it's available) and issue errata. In our band contest scene this would be best done by one competent person (on behalf of all bands). Just make sure a musician does it.
On the other hand - why select a test piece riddled with errors? (Beyond the irony of the title).
Did the selection panel know of the errors before choosing Comedy? If not, why not?
I think we should be told.
If they did know, surely an errata sheet should have been issued by them at the earliest opportunity through Contest Management.
Any complaints about it should be sent to Contest Management - your Regional Committee.
Good luck.
Ian