NORTH ISLAND BAND CONTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 52, 2 March 1909, Page 6

NORTH ISLAND BAND CONTEST.

'By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

HASTINGS, Saturday.

The final selection took place last night before a very large audience, and resulted in the Wanganui Garrison winning the championship and the Besson I Challenge Shield in the A grade, and I Petone Citizens winning the first prize and the Boosey Challenge Shield in the , B grade. The same rule was followed las was adopted in the first selection, viz., B grade bands playing first. The music .played last night was'"own choice," the | Order of playing and their selections being as follows:—Stratford, "Satinella"; Gisborne, "Mercandante"; Hawera, "PiIra, tes of Penzance"; Petone Citizens, "Poluito"; Manaia, "Mercandante"; and. Hastings, "Le Domino Noir." The re-i suits for the playing of these selections placed Petone Citizens on top with a < score of. 184 points, Gisborne City being! second with 176, and Manaia third, with 171 points. There can be no doubt that, Petone won, as their playing was head' and shoulders ahead of the other bands, but it is impossible to understand why the judge put Hastings down with 166 points, or 14 points below Petone. They put up a good performance indeed, certainly not as good as Petone, but next to it. However, other opinions do not affect the results, as that is governed by what the judge thinks. The points gained in both selections, and one point in five in the march, count for the championship and Boosey Shield. On being totalled, the results were announced as follows:—Petone Citizens, 362 2-sths, 1; Hastings, 348 3-sths, 2; Gisborne City,: 345, 3; Manaia, 323 4-sths, 4; Hawera, 304 l-sth, 5; and Stratford last with 298 3-5 ths. ,

Coming to the A grade, Newton played' first with "Halevy," Wanganui following with Alex. Owen's (conductor of thel Besses) famous "Heroic," Palmerston foi-' lowing with "Gems of Haydn." The issue was never in doubt as to who would ] Win this grade, because Wanganui's su-l periority was so marked. The maximum points allotted by the judge in 'both, grades was 210, being 10" points more' than the previous selection, on account of it being own choice. Wanganui were awarded 200, Newton 190, and Palmers-' ton 177, or seven points less than Petone. Xewton played first, and put up another fine performance, special solo work being done by Biyant, solo cornet, and Findlay on the trombone. Both these players are young, but have very bright futures ■before them. The performance was loudly applauded. Wanganui had set themselves a difficult task, as "Heroic" takes 25 minutes to play, and its difficulties are such that every man must be an artist. The cornets were again l the weakness, and again one must rfefer to the absence of George Buckley. Judged by the standard of their first night's playing, they were found wanting to a. certain extent, and the judge evidently was of the same opinion, for on the first I night he gave them within 6 points of the possible, but last night they were 10 points off. Palmerston's performance) was very ragged, and calls lor no special comment. In summarising the contest, one is confronted with two outstanding features, the first being the average poor solo playing, and secondly the average good band playing. These statements may appear contradictions, but they are facts, and one is led to ask the question whether the interest in solo playin* is waning, or whether conductors are insisting that soloists shall give more attention to the hand work, as many claim that too much of the men's time is taken up with solos during the contest, and very little rehearsal for the band. From a financial standpoint the contest has , been a success, and the local committee should have a surplus of about £50. Too much praise cannot be given to the I Be oretary, Mr. Hartshorn, and the com- ! mittee, for the excellent manner in which they carried out their duties.