32 Bands Competing For New Zealand Titles

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 40

32 Bands Competing For New Zealand Titles

Thirty-two bands from all parts of New Zealand assembled in Latimer Square yesterday morning for the official opening of the national brass band championships by the Mayor (Sir George Manning).

To open the ceremony, which was held in bright sunshine, Mr K. G. L. Smith, of Lower Hutt, a former conductor of throe national bands, conducted the massed bands in the playing of the march, “Invercargill.”

Sir George Manning Mid that from the early history of Canterbury, bands had played their part in the development of the province and the standard of performance had always been high. He welcomed competitors from other parts of the country and said he hoped the high standard attained in past competitions would be surpassed and that the competitions this year would be an oustanding event in band history. Sir George Manning refer red to the success of the National Band both in New Zealand and overseas and

Mid the competitions should encourage younger players to emulate the standard of the National Band. Band members and official guests were welcomed by the

deputy-chairman of the local committee organising the competitions (Mr L. West), and a reply to the Mayor’s welcome was made on behalf of the New Zealand Brass Bands’ Association by its president (Mr P. M. Brooker). After the official opening 14 of the bands, led by the St Andrew’s College Pipe Band, marched along Hereford and Manchester Streets to Cambridge Terrace. Hundreds of people lined the streets to see the bands, and Sir George Manning took the salute in front of the City Council Chambers. Girls of the Christchurch Giris’ Marching Association led each band with a placard naming the band. The winner of the street march was Roslyn MillsKaikorai, a point ahead of SkeUerup Woolston. Events for B grade and C grade bands were held during tiie day, and in the evening A grade bands competed, each band playing the first test piece and a hymn.

The test selections were judged by Mr K. G. Smith, of Melbourne, and the hymn selections by Mr J. Rafferty.

Mr Smith Mid he was a little disappointed in the standard of bands in the A grade section. They lacked refinement in playing, and not enough notice was taken of the markings on the music.

The winner of the test section, Roslyn Mills-Kaikorai, had fewer accidents than the other competitors. The test was a searching one, said Mr Smith, and some of the bands did not measure up to it. Mr Smith sai4 he thought there might have been a higher level of playing in the C grade and that some of the ensemble playing was disappointing. However, the winner of the C grade test selection, the City of Papatcetoe Municipal Band, played a beautiful piece, he said. The winner of the B grade

test the Lower Hutt Civic Band, gave a fine performance and its interpretation of the music was outstanding, he Mid.

In the A grade hymn section the competitors had a good choice of hymns but some of the playing was not up to the standard of the top B grade bands, Mid Mr Rafferty. Some bands spoiled their music by being too ponderous. The winning band, Palmerston North City Silver, gave a performance In which the choral style wu much in evidence.

The choice of hymns by the C grade bands was disappointing, Mid Mr Rafferty and it would have been better if something more ambitious had been tried. He said that tuning was very good and the winner, the Oamaru Municipal Band, gave a wellbalanced performance.

The B grade winner of the hymn section, the Lower Hutt Civic Band, gave an outstandingly beautiful performance, as did the second-place getter, the Wellington Metro Fire Brigade Band. The choice of hymns by the B grade bands was good, Mr Rafferty said. Bezults were:—

Street March.—Roslyn MillsKaikorai, 78. S points. 1; Skellerup Woolaton, 77.8, 2; Invercargill Garrison, 75.4, 3; Tlmaru Municipal. 75.1, 4; St Kilda Municipal, 73.3, 5; Addington Workshops, 70.5. 8; Derry’s Brass, 89.8, 7; Hamilton Citliena, <8.2. 8; Palmerston North City Silver and Skellerup Woolston Auxiliary, <B.l (equal). 8: Lower Hutt Civic, <B, 11; Onslow Brass, <7.1,

12; Tv Awamutu, 88.3. 13; Botorua Municipal, 83.7, 14. A erase Hymn, Own Choice.—Palmerston North City Silver, SI points, 1; Tlmaru. Municipal, 30, 2; Skellerup Woolston and Onslow Brass, 80, (equal) 3; Boslyn Mills Kaikorai end St Kilda Municipal, 87, equal? 3; Derry's Brass, 88, 'First Test ("Jedreil Bank”)— Boslyn Mills-Kaikorai, 138 points, 1; Onilow Brass. 187, 3; Derry’s Brass, 133. 3: St Kilda Municipal, 134, 4; Palmerston North City Silver. ISS/g; TM maru Muticipal, 132, ■l.trek ■ Hymn, Own ' Choice.—Lower Hutt Civic, M points, 1; Lower Hutt Municipal, 88, 2; Wellington Metro Fire Brigade, 87. ft Hawera Municipal and Skellerup Woolston Auxiliary. S 3 (equal), 4; Christchurch Fire Brigade. S 3, 8; Mount Roskill Municipal and Addington Braas, S 3 (equal), 7; Te Awamutu Municipal, S 3, 3; Invercargill Garrison and Blenheim Municipal, 81 (equal), 10; Hamilton Citizens’, 80, 12. First Test (“Gallion's Beach”). Brigade, IM. 2; Mount Boskill Municipal, 123, 3; Skellerup Woolston Auxiliary, 131, 8; Hamilton Citizens’ and Hawera Municipal, 130 (equal), 5; Lower Hutt Municipal, 128, 7; Christchurch Fire Brigade, 128, 8; Te Awamutu Municipal and Addington Brass, 124, 0; Blenheim Municipal, 123, 11; Invercargill Garrison, 121, 12. C Brade Hymn, Own Choice.—Oamaru Municipal. 78 pointe, 1; TakaBuna City Sliver, 73, 2; Upper utt Municipal, 74, 3; City of Botorua Municipal, 72. 4; Ashburton Silver, 71, 5; City of Papatoetoe Municipal and Dunedin City Silver, 70 (Oqual), e. First Teat ("The Land of the Bv»r Young”).—City of Papatoetoe Municipal. 123 pointe, 1; Dunedin City Silver, 120, 2; Upper Hutt Municipal and Oamaru Municipal, Itf (equal), 3; Takapuna City Silver, 115, 5; City ef Rotorua Municipal, 110, 8; Ashburton Silver, 108, 7.