BAND CONTEST

Auckland Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3606, 1 March 1882, Page 2

BAND CONTEST

(To the Editor.)

Sib,—Will you kindly allow me space to answer tho remarks by ''Fair Play" in your issue of last tiight re my Band Contest to be held at North Shore next Saturday. With all duo respect to him, I i beg to state that the subject he speaks of was fully'discussed at the mooting of bandmasters held at the Koyal Mail on Wednesday last, the 22ad iust., and allow me to state for his interest and the public in general that all the bandmasters of tbc competing bauds gave the assertion that was thrown out to the effect that some of the bauds intended to play at the contest with strangers and people who were not members of their respective bands a flat denial, and each bandmaster said in their turn that everyone who competed in their band at the contest would bo boua lide members ot their bands, and I have no occasion to doubt their word, and I don't think that any bandmaster will allow themselves or their band to be open, to disqualification by doiDg co, as any sensible man will remember that one or two players does not constitute a band. The other suggestion thrown out by "Fair Play" to the effect that the selected' number of playera should be thirteen, I cannot agree -iwith. For instance, supposing that a band was only sixteen strong, and »11 equal players, how would "Fair Play " like to be one of the three that would have to stand out? Then, again, supposing there were three young performers in a band intending to compete, it would not be fair to make them stand out on account of their yonth if they v/ere capable players. If I made such a rule as that, instead ot increasing tho interest of music among the bands it would be the means of breaking them up. At all events, I don't think anyone will have cause to grumble, as to one baud being stronger than another, for iv my opinion, and from tho statement of the bandmasters competing, no band will number less than }G or more than 20, and allow me to state that if a band wishes to pluy with 10 men they, are just as likely to «am a prize as 20 performers if tho gentlemen who are appointed to judge think them worthy of it," and all 1 hope is that tho contest will end in an agreeable and beneficial result to all the competing hands and all bands in Auckland in genera), aud that the two best bands will win.-1 am. etc., W. A, Thompson, Promoter Band Contest.