BAND CONTEST.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17997, 14 February 1924, Page 15

BAND CONTEST.

PROGRAMME FOR NEXT WEEK.

Years will pass beforo Chrlatchurch it-ill again have the opportunity of hearing such a notable collection of brasu band 3 aa will be present at tho Band Contest l-ext week. Looking over the named of the entrants, one see 3 that tho list includes every band of note in tho Dominion. And from. the. various cities from which these bands come, (he word is sent along that tho band 3 liavo never beioro been in iiuch excellent contest form. All over tho country bandimen are preparing and practising night and day lor ihe big event. Cbwstchurcii bus set out to hold llio Illicit contest • ever held in Australasia; they have oflered record prize money, and every band is straining nerve and auiew to outsnine 11.1 previous successes at tho big ChrUtohui-cli lucl.urc. Woolston, .-Vshburtcn, I'c-rt J>icholsoi! (late Wellington Waterside), Wellington Tramways, st. Kikia tlie Jnvcrcargill bands, Kelson, \\ang.inui, Uaiuaiu, and Clir:ateliurch 'i'ramways, lo mention jusl a lew ot the contestiuits, are eacli of them band organisations vith Dominion-wide, repulaUous for their musicianship, and the. works they have been given to play urc musically worthy of their best cliorU.

"Jiijnon," which is the B Griulc teal selection, to bo played on Tuesday evening next, in tho Barracks, ia a .sparkling and rippling v.or't from the pen of Ambroiac Thomas. Always popular as an opera, "llignon" has lost nothing as it brass band selection The "polacca'' movement ia u veritable "tour-de-lorcc," with great scope for stylish and embellished playing. Tlk; closing bn,r3 o£ this magnificent work give scope- for great tonal display and bring the. selection to u. magnificent organ-liko cloao. Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman" will bo played by the A Grade bands on Wednesday evening' in tlio Barracks. This selection ia splendid, calling for great masses of Wagnerian tone. It ia in every way a classic. Indeed, it Jma boon said that it lakes a brass band to really play Wagnerian music, and Christchurch will have an opportunity to judge the full glory of Wagner's "brass" in this romantic number. Old favourites are bound in predominate in tho fixture wt down for Thursday evening when the B Grade banda contest ia an Own Choip; event.

Glinka is said to lie tho father of Russian music and it i-i a selection from Ilia pell that the A Grade bands will play on •Friday evening of Contest Week. "A Life for tlio Csar" ii u work that has influenced all the later Kussiun composers. It abounds in strong patriotic- themes, and the alluring "motifs" of Russian folk songa. The selection ends in a representation cf tho approach of the Guar. This cection of the music abounds in glorious passages and will stand r.ll tho tone and energy a baml can give it. Saturday afternoon. February C3rcl. ia Quickstep Day. On this occasion the Trotting Cinb's ground at Addington will be agog with the pageantry of sorao 20 bands, eaxA vying with the other in splendidness of appearance and 'military orecision. To the titirrin- T strains of the quickstep maroh, "Sons of tiie Wild," the bands will execute the difficult movements of tho quickstep—a sight calculated to thrill the thousands -which it- is anticipated will he present-. Band Co" left, Week will conclude* on -the evening of Quickstep Day when both A and "R Grad"s will compete in sin own choice Hvmn. Test The box dans for the comnlet" season—six nights—-.'ire now open .at The Bristol. MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. A meeting oE the executive of the Band Contest Committee was held last night, Mr H. I'". Herbert presiding. Correspondence was received in connexion with Band Sunday. Several visiting bands wrote 6tating that they wishefl to havo Sunday free for practice. If was decided to write to tho bands concerned asking them to fall in lino with tho committee and give concerts, as a'l arrangements had been made and advertised. A letter was received from tho Wellington Tramways Band stating that they would be unable to take part in the Hvmn Selection on Saturday, -3rd, unless tho ferry boat were -delayed.

It .-was pointed out that, this suggestion ■was impracticable. A letter was received from Asbburton stating that a, special train had been obtained for the quickstep contest. Thc-eec-retaiy had arranged for the train k> stop at tne Show Grounds, and the. A. and P. Association had granted the right of admission to the grounds It was moved that the secretary be congratulated on his arrangements. Mr Claud Haigh, of the Publicity Committee, reported that everything in conceiv ioti with the advertising and publicity campaign was wcrking smoothly. Captain S. 11. McGce reported that the military authorities had granted exemption frcra drill for bandsmen, provided "they carried out that drill with another unit. A motion or thanks was poised to ilio Christchurch SporU Club for the tise of their platform. A It was decided; that no tax be levied on season tickets.

Tho admission of children to tho contest \Tas tho subject of considerable discussion, and it was resolved to admit children with thc-ir teachers for (id, and other children tundor 16) at half-price. Mr H. Owen reported that ihc radio department was will in;; lo broadcast, and it was moved that this permission to broadcast be granted. A voto of thanks passed to Mr 'luckcr for liis excellent arrangements.