Schools’ band festival

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32976, 24 July 1972, Page 14

Schools ’ band festival

The Riccarton High School hall was again well filled on Saturday evening for the second night of the Christchurch high schools’ brass band festival. There was also the same warm reception for all participants — and a rather disconcerting continual buzz of conversation from the rear.

A further six bands played, those of Bumside High School (conducted by Mr D. Goodman), Christ’s College (Mr R. Beswarick), Hillmorton High School (Mr C. Potter), Mairehau High School (Mr C. Earle), and Shirley Boys’ High School (Mr D. Williams), together with this year’s guest band, Marlborough College, under Mr G. Hope. The Riccarton High School band (Mr J. Rafferty), as host band, reappeared. Although the two items for massed band were well done, the general standard of playing was not as high as on the first night of the festival; and possibly the fine quali-

ties of the Marlborough College band would have been better appreciated had it appeared the previous Saturday. The selection of music also was poorer than on the opening night. Surely pupils’ interest can be retained by means other than arrangements of popular melodies. Admittedly, the diversity of individual ability within a band poses problems but greater venturesomeness in selection could be shown. It was obvious that the most effective pieces were those written by composers who knew and understood the brass band. In such pieces, even the inner parts have important roles to play, not just monotonously syncopated rhythms — and to retain their interest, all players must be made to feel that they have a significant place in the total ensemble. The usual technical faults were apparent in the Christchurch bands; conductors

might profitably concentrate on the intonation problems of the lower-register instruments. A strong cornet section is all very well but it must have adequate support. Perhaps remedial ear-training could be undertaken?

The representative band, trained by Mr R. Young and conducted by Mr W. R. Hawkey, which had already given a fine performance a week ago, on Saturday evening excelled itself. Perhaps extra rehearsals had added an extra finesse, for certainly the flair and polish in the band’s playing were outstanding. Even “Colonel Bogey” seemed revitalised, and Bela-Keler’s overture “Lutspiel” produced excellent tonal qualities and spirited, yet well-disciplined, playing. It is a shame that this group will now disband. The band was joined bv two pipers, Messrs G. Sehreit and D. Rusbaitch, and a vocalist. Miss J. Bellingham, in an arrangement of “Saving Grace.” —B.W.P.