BANDS AND BANDSMEN

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 221, 15 June 1934, Page 15

BANDS AND BANDSMEN

Activities in Full Swing CAPTAIN HERD RETIRES (Conducted by “Kncller Hall.") The retirement of Captain T. Herd, V.D., from the couductorship of Wellington Artillery Baud will be received with general regret. He lias been an outstanding figure in the musical life of the community, and after half a century as conductor of brass bauds, orchestras, aud druimand-life bands, is entitled to a well-earned rest. He will be remembered by many as conductor of the old Wellington Garrison Band, which, under his baton, established an Australasian record by winning in New Zealand, for over eight years in succession, every selection contest in which it took part, besides being awarded on four occasions the maximum points for its rendering of different test selections. We cannot call to mind any other band this side of the line which can pride itself on such a record. Under Captain, Herd’s baton, the Artillery Band has carried off the honours at the last two selection contests in which it has competed, as well as annexing several minor awards. He has received messages of appreciation from many quarters, and letters from staff officers and others connected with (he Defence Forces, by whom he was held in very high esteem. The writer of these notes first became acquainted with the retiring conductor many years ago, when the latter was adjudicating at a contest down in Southland, and since then has had opportunities of improving that acquaintance, receiving many courtesies from. him. And now, when Captain Herd has laid down the baton to enjoy a respite from the arduous duties of conducting, he can rest assured that the best wishes of all go with him in his retirement, with the cordial wish that useful years still lie in front of him, and that his interest in brass bands will never slacken, even though active participation has come to an end.

. Mr. 11. Burmester, of Stratford, has resigned from the secretaryship of the Taranaki Brass and Pipe Bands Union Members spoke well of hie services during the past year, and voted him an honorarium of £5/5/-. The general public have rather a hazy idea of the cost of forming and maintaining a brass band, so some light on this aspect was thrown at a recent meeting of the Christchurch Bands Association. Instruments run from £7OO to £BOO, ami uniforms cost about £2OO, besides which music has to be paid for. As instruments and uniforms have at their best only a comparatively limited existence, replacements aud renovations have to be taken into account. A. speaker at the above meeting mentioned that some of the instruments used in several bands should have been thrown away long ago. Bandroom Chat.

An innovation in the- form of a band contest takes place at the Manawatu A. and P. Show in Palmerston North tomorrow. -Several bands have entered for the selection, and t'he solos, quartets, and hymn test sections are well filled. Mr. T. Goodall, of Wellington, will adjudicate in the selection and hymn test, while Mr. J. Berryman, of Palmerston North, judges the quartets and solos. Members of the Defence Department will officiate in the marching section, and much enthusiasm is evinced in the venture. The record for attendance ab band functions must surely rest with Mr. G. Morrin, of the Hastings Citizens’ Band, who, out of 164 meetings for various purposes held during the year by the band, only missed four times, and Mr. E. Ashton was second with 158. The former also won a special medal given by the conductor (Mr. C. Bryant) for a solo contests held during the year. The Mayor (Mr. G. A. Maddison) presented Mr. 11. C. Unwin with the gold medal won as champion in the B fiat solo at the last Dominion contest. There is a prospect of a queen carnival being held in Auckland with the object of raising funds for the bands of the northern city. The suggestion emanates from the Auckland Watersiders’ Band, and support has been promised by the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, the Auckland Racing Cluj), and various sporting bodies. A meeting was called for last night, when the views of the respective bands were to be discussed. The carnival will probably be held in about three months' time, with a display at Ellerslie Racecourse to bring the effort to a close. It. is proposed to include a C grade competition at the Tlmaru championship contest in February’ next, and the matter will be thoroughly gone into at an early date. On the eve of his departure for Melbourne, where he will reside in future, the conductor of the Birkenhead (Auckland) Borough Band, Lieut. T. J. Lighten, was tendered a farewell last week by the bandsmen and supporters. He was presented with a case of pipes by the chairman of the band committee. Mr. G. A. Huddleston, who referred to the services rendered by the departing guest, covering several years, and wished him success in bis new sphere of action. Lieut. Lighten leaves, Auckland to-day for Australia. Fort Nicholson Silver Band gave the second of its winter recitals ab the De Luxe Theatre last Sunday evening, and presented an enjoyable programme. The band numbers were rendered in fine st vie, and assisting artists, including Mr. Paul Cullen at the Wurlitzer organ, lent tlie requisite variety. Tlie queen carnival recently held at Hawera returned a net profit of £l7OO odd, and the effort's, of the Municipal and Pipe Bands contributed in no small measure to that result.