EXHIBITION BAND CONTEST.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14903, 17 February 1914, Page 5

EXHIBITION BAND CONTEST.

DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THB

JUDGE.

(I'ItESS ASSOCIATION* -TLEGRAM.)

AUCKLAND, February 1(3

Several of the bands which competed in the contest at the Exhibition last week expressed dissatisfaction with the judging of the test selection and the quicksteps. This resulted in an unfortunate incident-on Saturday.

At the conclusion of the quick- | steps in the cricket ground, the massed bands wero announced to play the march ."Jniporator." under the baton of the judge, Captain Bentley, of Sydney. The bands duly massed at the far end of the cricket ground and swept towards the grandstand. making strange sounds on their instruments. When Captain Bentley took his stand, baton in hand, some of the bands continued to play tunes Avhich were certainly not in the music of the march. When silence was restored. Captain Bentley motioned tho hands into the strains' of "Imperator," but presontlv some swung off into other refrains till confusion became 'worse confounded." - A member of the Contest Committee appealed to bandsmen to "play the game," and not be discourteous to the judge, and thereafter the march was played according to programme. The muster of bands for the concert in tho Exhibition ground in the evening was very disappointing, many' of tho bands-which had failed to win prizes absenting themselves. Tho rea-" son given'by some of the v i for challenging the judge's decisions is that somo of the bands which were considered the crack bands of New Zealand havo been given comparatively low marks.

Ihiriug an interview Mt Bcntley took occasion to remark that his musical knowledge extended back forty years. It was rather idle for competitors who had been, perhaps, only few years studying music, to question tho decisions of a man who had be<_-n educating himself musically for a lifetime. It was a matter of opinion, but opinions on music ought to be formed on mature tr.iininp. ana experience, and not from little knowled-*- of the art. A littlo knowledge in music was often a dangerous thing.