BAND CONTESTS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21404, 21 February 1935, Page 6

BAND CONTESTS

FURTHER RESULTS AT CHAMPIONSHIPS SOLO CLASSES (SPECIAL TO TgE PRESS.) I TIMARU, February 20. To-day was the quietest day so far of the New Zealand championship brass band contest, the judges being occupied in' the morning with solos and having the afternoon free. The weather, which had been brilliantly fine for the first two days of the contest broke, and cold showers of rain fell during the day. Only two classes were judged, the B flat cornet solo and the tenor trombone solo, the first being won by E. Pheioung (Oamaru Municipal) and the second by Leo Carruthers (Greymouth Municipal). Results were as follows: B FLAT CORNET SOLO. Open to those who have not won a championship. "Valse Caprice," by P. Code. First prize, gold medal; second prize, silver medal. E. Pheioung (Oamaru Municipal), 84 points . . ■ • . . 1 i{. Colvin (St. Kilda Municipal), 83 points . . ■ ■ . . 2 K. Simpson (Woolston), 82 points 3 Also competed: V. McHerron (Wcstuort Municipal), 81 points; W. D'Ath (Queen Alexandra's Own), 78 points; K. Svkes t-Taranaki Regimental and New" Plymouth Municipal), 80 points; 1 Bassetl (St. Kilda Municipal), C. T. J. Leslie (Ashburton Silver), 74 points; T. Fleetwood, 73 points; R. 'Malhio.son (Timaru Municipal) 81 onints; T. Beswrick, 77 points; R. Cumining. 79 points; and R. Milligan (TiI mam Municipal >, 79 points. The iudge, Mr A. H. Bade, said he was unable to state that he was oleased with any player. The solo might be regarded as difficult, but from another angle it might be looked on as simple. The solo had been written by a champion cornetist, one of the best players in the world, who had not composed it because there was nothing in il. ft was a stylish solo to play and a performance of technical ability should be able to paint a beautiful picture of it. The composition was melodious, with good phrasing and good periods, but some players had breathed after every bar. Phrasing was the biggest fault in the perlormiuices. It stopped the flow of melody and caused tho piece to be played in a stodgy manner. Only one movement called for technique, and praclicr.My all the players, with one inception, had fallen down on it. The winner had good technical ability and ,", good lone, and though he played in one tone throughout the judge overlooked this, because he was the only played who gave a good descriptive reading of the piece. TENOR TROMBONE SOLO. "The Conqueror," by .1. Lafoni. First prize, gold medal; second prize, silver medal. i./'o Carruthers (Grey Municipal), 9(5 points . ' 1 G. I.angridge 'Timaru Municipal), 90 points . . . . ■■'■'- K. U:i)l (Kaikorai). 89 points . . ': ,1. Glennio (Wellington Boys' Institute), 89 points . . . . '•' Also competed: L. Abrahams (Wellington Garrison). 87 points; G. Hand;ov (Queen Alexandra's Own), 87 points; J. Marshall 'St. Kilda-Muni-cipal). 88 pemls; R. Miller <St. Kilda Municipal). 88 points,: D. Moore (Ashiiurton Silver). 82 points; R. Woods Palnr.TSton North Garrison). 81 mints: A. M. Wills < Invercargill Civic), 88 points; W. F. Campbell (Timaru Municipal). 8M ooints: Ft. Osten • Palm-rslon North Silver), 8(1 points; .aid H. .1. Kay d'aranaki Regimental and New Plymouth Municipal), 84 points. The judge. Mr E. Sehnaci-. said thai there was no doubt that the section •a as thf best lie had h r> ard in Ihe contest. He was slightly disappointed villi the first' few p'nyers, who. in tact, were inclined to be monotonous, lie thought there was nothing in the solo until the "artists" appeared and nought out its beauties. Regarding the performance of the winner the judge .aid lhat he did not know what to do when the player stopped. He did not like In penalise him, because (he fault might have been that of the accompanist or it might have been lhat of the performer himself. However he had played so well that lie could not be put out. The second placed performer also showed himself to be a good trombonist, possessing good tone, (lis nerformnnce. however, being short of that of the winner. Because of rain which fell during (he flay, making conditions unpleasant at Eraser Park, the A grade first test selection was taken in the Theatre Royal, which was crowded. The bands played in die following order:—lnvercargill Civic, Queen Alexandra's Own, Por'. Nicholson. St. Kilda Municipal. Timaru Municipal. Oamaru Municipal, and Palmci'slnn North Garrison. No decision was a-mounced. the scaled points being retained until Friday night, when the second A grade test will be played. The president of the New Zealand Brass Bands' Association, Mr E. Palliser, said (hat it was disappoint)**' that after practising for so long for an open-air performance the bands had at short notice to play indoors. The judge. Mr A. H. Bailc. said lhat he had enjoyed every minute of the evening. The selection was a most difficult, one. abounding in technicalities and occupying 20 minutes in the playing. He had that night listened to three of the finest bands he had heard They were outstanding, but that was not to say lhat the other four bands were bad. The three he referred to had played consistently throughout the evening, and what mistakes were made he would describe as accidental ones. Mr Bade said he had been asked what he thought of the standard of bands in New Zealand and Australia as compared with those in England. His opinion was that there was no such thing as a standard between these bands. Before he had taken his own band to England a few years ago he had been told that he would be wise to keep away from the contest field, but within six weeks of arriving there he had, won a contest, and later won another contest by an even greater margin. The bandsmen were to be found in New Zealand and he would say that properly led, New Zealand bands were as good as any in the world.