BANDS and BANDSMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 36, 10 February 1906, Page 10

BANDS and BANDSMEN.

(By Presto.)

Perhaps one of the most promising bands in the Auckland district at the present time is the Onehunga Town Band. In addition to having no less than 35 members, they are receiving every encouragement from the residents of Onehunga, and already are in j a very fair "financial position. As a i proof of how Mr Hulse (conductor) is bringing them on, when they Were only ■ twelve months old they competed in a•■ contest against the whole of Auckland's best bands, and succeeded in finishing ahead of a hand that has been in existence for the last eight years. This is certainly a creditable performance for the youngest contesting band in New Zealand, and, as it has been the means of creating a fair amount of interest in band circles here, I have decided at the request of several Onehunga citizens to give the judge's remarks on their playing at the contest in question:— "ROMEO AND JULIET." Moderate—Attack moderately good, though tone is soroewhact coarse. Here we have reeds, though strictly in tuneLast crochet pushed at 12 by cornets and other instruments. Not Sufficient distinction made between Mf and FF. Tune by no means first-class, evidently a young band. Cornet, cadenza* .moderately well played.., ."-.-' • Larghetto.—AGComps. not .strictly in -tune; Conception very good notwithstanding. Solo cornet plays with rather a hard tone. Solo horn a little coarse at 15 to 17, and phrasing is wrong at 17. Solo cornet is playing somewhat blatantly at 18 to 24. Accomps. still a little out of tune. Too heavy ior P at 25 to 29. Cres. only fairly good at 32, and same remark applies to dimn. at 33.At 46 and 49 several notes split by solo cornet. Tone of inner instruments rather coarse. Movement moderately well played taken as a whole. ... Andante Maestoso.—Trombones, euph. and baritones not strictly in tune from 2 and on, nevertheless a very good attempt. Cres. only moderately well done at 14. " Allegro Vivace.—Tone rather coarse, moderately well played. Cornet cadenza very creditably given. On the whole the movement very well given. Maestoso.—Solo cornet's intonation at 8 is somewhat faulty. This band is certainly being trained on the proper lines, there being many commendable features, though the intonation in places is somewhat at fault. Ito 18 moderately well given. J.u Vivace too heavy for "P. Cres. not well balanced. Solo cornet playing much better in the repeat. Horns very slightly out of tune. Reeds rather on. Piu Vovo: Ad Lib: Very well done cannot hear enough of him. Reeds are more effective in repeat from bars 1 and on. Piu Vovo: Ad Lid: Very well done at 15 for cornet and euph. The crotchet at 16 a little too short. On the whole the movement really creditably given. Presto.—Tone of solo cornet somewhat harsh, cannot hear piccolo distinctly. Moderato well played. Andante.—Trombone is playing with fair tone, though the style is a little stiff. Accomps slightly out of tune. Moderato.—Euph. should play a little more legato, notes are chopped too much, plays with fair tone nevertheless, and doubtless in time will make a very fair player. Bar 15 quaver and semiquaver made the same length by euph. Semiquaver indistinct and weak 17 to 20. Alovement on the whole fairly well played. Piu Mosso.—Tone much better tone more compact, and balance much better than before; in fact, the movement well rendered on the whole. Vivace.—Attack and release of notes very nice, balance very fair indeed. General Remarks.—Whilst no doubt handicapped by the paucity of brass on account of the presence of reeds, the balance was very fair indeed as far as the bra_ss was concerned. The tone of the whole was moderately good, for what is evidently a young band. The tone of solo cornet is somewhat harsh—l would advise him to go in for close study of tone production. The band, generally speaking, has been better in tune than No. 1 Band, and the conception of the piece under treatment has been much better. After going into detail very minutely, I think that this band is better than No. 1 Band to the extent of one point. On the whole a very creditable performance. The conductor of this band (if it is a young band, as it sou-tda) evidently understands trainin» young musicians. 83 points. • Lieut. T. Herd (judge), after making up his notes on receiving them from the shorthand writer, writes as follows: "I wish it to be distinctly understood that I hare confined myself strictly to finding faul~, in order to give correct decisions! and also to curtail my report as much as possible. Were I to mention the many good features in each performance I am afraid that it would co6t too much to jr-int ray report, -w-herears at present it xtsaas little ca* no work, 5 '