Armed force musicians need training
published: Wednesday | October 20, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I HAPPENED to turn on my television set on the morning of National Heroes' Day and was deeply disquieted by the appalling state of military music-making at the National Honours and Awards Ceremony at Kings House. The raucous, cacophonous sounds produced by instrumentalists in the band were simply obnoxious. Not even the national anthem escaped.

The performances were hard-toned and perfunctory, rhythmically unsteady and mostly inaccurate. No thought was given to phrasing, dynamic contrast or variety of tone. Intonation was very faulty indeed. The choral presentations were hardly serviceable.

While I sympathise with the cult of ignorance about classical music among the Jamaican middle classes and the parlous state of the economy, the musicians of the armed forces deserve to be properly trained and provided with wind instruments, not destined for the scrap-heap before being exposed to demanding state occasions and ridicule.

I am, etc.,

DAVID JOHNS

djohns@mail.infochan.com