BAND CONTESTS AND JUDGING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 75, 29 March 1905, Page 3

BAND CONTESTS AND JUDGING.

(To the Editor.) ' Sir,—Though I agree with, your cdr« respondent, Mr Laidlaw, onithe thee* retical knowledge required for.-.adjudi-cating, yet I think greater stress should have been made on instrumentation, aa the judge is required to not only, inter pret, but read from the score, which contains about 16 lines, and only those who live in a musical atmosphere and are familiar with instrumentation can hope to read one. I cannot imagine a candidate aspiring to the office of judge who does not live by music and possess a good knowledge of theory, though I can quote an instance of one wlio possesses a thorough knowledge of theory, yet when judging at a band contest his decisions drew from one of the leading competing bandmasters a most scathing criticism, which proved that something more than theory is required when. judging a contest. The judge should also be proficient on the side drum, as that instrument either makes or mara the music of the march, and apparently; —with the exception of Mr Ord Hume —our judges have been deficient in the technique of that instrument. The last test piece for the side drum wad simply a catch one, on rolls and rests, with a painful absence of technique. The crux of the whole matter is system, for -without one no judge—even iC he is a theorist—can successfully adjudicate at a band contest. ■ The system which I advocate has appeared in the columns of the "Auckland Star" of the 25th inst. To one who ,can dissect _ score and apportion the marks to each section (according to importance) the value of this system will be appreciate ed; but only a musician ■ can understand and successfully use it. As contesting should be educational, howl many of our judges give advice to bands on "how to remedy mistakes"? I fean • very few. This pointing out errors and; how to overcome them is the custom im England and France. Should the judge at the next contest give satisfaction, by not only placing the bands in their order of merit, but have his remarks coincide with the number of marks awarded, then I think h& will have honestly earned a certificated- Should he at any contest be found guilty of conduct not conducive to the welfare of contesting, then his certificate should be endorsed accordingly or cancelled. —I am/etc, ,7 , a* EUGENE HULSE, Late Royal Marine Band. T |