Here at Obiter we try to present a diverse and well rounded representation of the world. After focusing so much of our attention on what we know - sports, we felt we needed something to add balance. Now very few are aware of this but Christchurch is actually home to a thriving brass band scene. As a member of this group I am privileged enough to reveal some insight into what goes on behind closed doors and how brass music unites people.
However, I will start by addressing the elephant in the room. The fact that brass bands cannot play jazz. Ask any brass band player and they will dispute this as a myth, but having been a member of the award winning jazz band at high school I can testify that they are not the same. The awkwardness one feels while being a band that can’t swing rivals that of being asked a question in LAWS110. The analogy doesn’t end there though because as musicians, and on the whole competent ones at that, there is no reason they should not be able to swing. The same applies to the baffling silence faced by lecturers, because we all know the answers yet the silence ensues. While I didn’t intend to compare brass bands to law school I’m not ashamed of this development. Back to the issue at hand, a lack of swing. I can't really put my finger on the issue but all I know is that when the notes start becoming jazzy our collective minds seem to implode and the result is a stilted attempt at swing. Even when the groove appears to be on, the quavers just don’t seem to ‘do wop’ like they did in the jazz band. I am proud to say that my band, while not permanently disproving this well known fact, did somewhat dispel this while performing at the Canterbury Provincial contest. We played not one, but two pieces with jazzy origins and both pieces were received very well while a large majority of the members boogied on the stage. The tears welled up in my eyes as each section contributed to the feel we were after. So I guess, while you may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, you can teach a brass band new swing. Brayden Cottom
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February 2023
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