BAND CONTEST.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 444, 1 March 1909, Page 4

BAND CONTEST.

—j — THE I.AST DAY AT HASTINCS. I 1 ETON E CITIZENS' AND WANGANUI ON TOP. (BT TRt.pGUArrt.—srnciAf. rnjrKF^pftS'nKS'T.i Hactin2S, February 28. The final selection took placo last night bo* for<) ft very large .nidienco, and resulted ia Wanganui Garrison winning the championship and the Bcsson Challengo Shield in tho A. grado, and Petono Citizens' winning tho first prize and Boosey Challenge Shield in the B grade. Tho same rule, was followed as was adopted in tho first selootipn, viz., B grado bands playing first. The pirca played last night was marked "own choice" on the mogranimc, tho order of playing and their selections 'beiii" as fellow •.—Stratford, "Satanella"; Gisborne, "Mcrcciidanto"; Hawcra, "Pirates of Penzanco"; Petono Citizens', "Poluito"; Manaia, "Mercendante"; Hastings, "1.0 Domino Noir." Tlio results for the playing of these selections placed Petono Citizens' 011 top with a scoro of 184 points, Gisborno City lining second with 17G } and Manaia third with 171 points. There can ho no doubt that I'etoiic deserved to win, as their playing was head and shoulders above th.it of 1.110 other bands. but it : s difficult to understand why tho judgo'put Hastings down with ICG points, 0r'1.4 points below Petono. The.y put- up a good perfommce indeed, certainly not an good as Petono, but next to it. The points gained in both selections and one point in five in tho march count for the championship Boosey Shield. On being totalled, the results wero announced as follow Pet one Citizens'. 3G9 2-5 points, first; Hastings, 348 3-5 points, second; Gishorne City. 315 points, third; Manaia, 323 4-5 points, fourth; lTnwera, 304 1-5 ' points, fifth; 'Stratford, 293 3-5 points, sixth., T(io A Grade Contost. Coming to tho A grade, Newton playei, first, taking "lialeyy" as their selection, Wanganui following with Alex. Owen's famous "Heroic," and Palmcrfiton succeeding with "Gems of Haydn," The issue waa never in doubt, as Wanrianui's superiority wis so marked. The maximum points allotted by the judge in both grades was 210. Wanganui were awarded 200 points, Newton 100, and P&lmcrston 17T, or seven points less than Petono. Newton played first and put up another fine performance, tsproial solo work being done by Bryant (cornet) and. Findlay (trombone). The performance waa loudly applauded. Wanganui had set themselves a difficult task, as "Heroic' l ' takes twenty-five minutes to play, and its diflicul-, ties aro.such that every man in the band roust lio an artist.. Tho cornets wore again the weak spot} and again tho absence of Georgo Buckley was noticeable. Judged by tho standard of their first night's playing, they wero found wanting to a oertain ox-, tent, and _ tlio judge evidently was of that same option, .for on the first night lie, gavo them within six points of"ilie pnpsihlc. hut last night they wero 10 points off. Palmerston's performance was ragged aild calls for no" : speci'al comment'.'' In silluniar'isiiig" tho. contest one is confronted With two out-' standing features, the first being tlio average poor'solo playing, -and, '''secondly, tlio "average 1 good band-playing. These statements may appear contradictory, hut they ' ' anj facts, and one is led tc ask tlio question whether the interest in solo-playing is waning, or whether 'conductors are insisting that soloists shall give more attention to tho band work, as many claim that too limoli of the man's time is taken up with solos during tho contost, and very littlo l ill rehearsal for the band. From a financial standpoint, the contest has been a success, and the lnc,"l commit too' should have a surplus of about fifty pounds. Praise is &uo to the secretary,"Mr. Hartshorn, and the committco for the excellent, manner in which they carried o\it their duties. History of Pctopa Citizens' Qatid, Seeing that the Petono Citizens' Band has' achieved such success, a brief resume of its history is interesting. Some eighteen months ago some enthusiastic bandsmen, who used' to journey from the Lower Hutt and Petono to Wellington, to play with city bands, conceived the idea of starting anothei' band, composed of members living in tho Lower Hutt and l'etone. That was tlio origin of the present holders of tho Boosey Challengo Shield. The idea was a 1 good one, but needed carrying out. Tho first thing was to get instruments and uniforms. Tp accomplish this a bazaar was held, and closo on £100 was secured as a nucleus for tlio band to work on. They got to work and formed a committee, with Air. T, Gilford, M.P., as patron, and the Mayor of Petono. (Mr. J. W. M.'liwan) as president, and sineo then they havo gradually forged, ahead. Mr. S. A. 11. Sullivan was their first conductor, and he held ofiico until about nino months ago, when ilr. C. 11. Greoning took command. About three months ago tho band decided to eompoto at Hastings in tho "B" or sccpnd-class grade, and when it was understood that they would have to, meet bands like Hastings and Gisbo,ne, who liavo for years been competing in tho "A" prade, it will be seen that their task was a difficult ■one. Almost, about, six weeks ago the hand decided to engage a professional conductor, and Lieutenant Herd was appointed to tho position, speedily elfectiiig a wonderful improvement. T'lierp ,wcro some Wellingtons ians at Hastings who had not heard tho Jjpml sineo Lieutenant Herd, had taken conn m»nd, and they .wero completely astonished at what tho conductor had achieved. Tho result of tl\o contest lias shown tho band's action to have been a wiso ope, although a. good many of their supporters thought otherwise at tho time. Their c:mip)cte record, for Hastings is. as follows Champion - "B" grado band of the. North Island Brass Band Association, holders of the Boosey Challengo Shield and winner of one gold and 24 silver medals. The individual members who carried off chief honours aro F. Walling, gold medal, tenor trombono solo;" Gunner,' gold medal, BB bass solo; W. Francis, silver medal for .soprano cornet solo; Brum-Major Slipper, silver medal for marching. Much credit is due to Messrs. C, S. Mahoney and J. W. Martin, sccris tary and treasurer respectively, who carried out the arrangements in a masterly manner. livery member is a keen sport, anil to do the trip at the least possible cost ,they 'borrowed tents from the Defence Department, and took a cook with them, living entirely under canvas during their stay at Hastings. Such enthusiasm is hard to dampen. Tlio Annual Meeting. A Press Association siWKsajjo states that at the siMHwi meeting of tin. North Island Brass Bands' Association, tliv. report and balaiice-shcot were adopted, The election of officers resulted in tlio re-election of Air. AI, Cohen as president, and Mr. E. 11, B. Hoi. ben as secretary.