BRASS BAND CONTEST

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 128, 24 February 1938, Page 12

BRASS BAND CONTEST

Port Nicholson Win First A Grade Test A. MORTON AGAIN CORNET CHAMPION Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, February 23. * Awarded the highest marks given by the adjudicator in New Zealand, a blind boy, Allan Morton, of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind Band, for the second time won the B-tlat cornet championship to-day in tiie New Zealand brass baud contest. Morton won the championship at New Plymouth in 1936. His playing to-day was warmly praised by the adjudicator, Mr. E. P. Kerry. “He fairly made the blood in my veins churn a little,” he said. "1 would like to congratulate him on his treatment of the solo, and his tone was at times really that of a champion.” The judge’s decision met with the wholehearted approval of a large audience, which applauded loudly for some time.

The trombone trio was won by the Timaru Municipal Band with 78 points, the E-flat tenor horn solo by R. Francis, St. Kilda Municipal, with 80 points, and the B-flat or 88-tlat bass solo by 11. C. Urwin, Wanganui Garrison, with 81 points.

Seven bands competed in the A grade first test, which was held at the Showgrounds to-night in perfect weather. The test was won by the Port Nicholson Silver Band, with last year’s winners, Wanganui Garrison, second. The points will not be announced until the conclusion of the second test on Friday night. Results were as follows: — B Flat Corftet Championship. (Judge, Mr. E. P. Kerry.) (Selection, “From the Shores of the Mlglfly Pacific.” Clarke.) Allan Morton, New Zealand Institute for the Blind, 92 points 1 C. Gardner, Ist Battalion, Auckland Regiment, 84 points 2 H. F, Vincent, Port Nicholson Silver, 78 points 3 N. D'Atli. Palmerston North City. 11l points. 4; Lloyd Lee. Te Awamutu Munieipal, 75 points. 5; .1. McGrath, Wanganui Garrison, and R. Thomas, Ashburton Silver, 74 points, equal, 6; J. Herd, Wanganui Garrison, and Vaidrldge. Waalston Brass, 73 points, equal, 8: W. Kay, Port Nicholson Silver, and George Kaye, Lower Unit Municipal, 72 points, equal, 10: R. Milligan, Timaru Municipal. 71 points, 12:’B. Register. Palmerston North Garrison, 70 points, 13; L. Fox, Hawera Municipal, and IL J. Simpson. Timaru Municipal. G 9 points, equal. 14; J. Farrell, Wanganui Garrison. Its points, Hi; R. A. L. Taylor, Taranaki Regiment and Municipal. (16 points, 17: G. Hookway, Auckland Artillery. 58 points. IS

"Undoubtedly the winner put up a most outstanding performance,” said the judge. "He really had the correct treatment ot the rondo caprice. Many players did not realise the meaning of this solo. Mainplayers also have the idea that I am stond deaf. This elass of player I cannot tolerate for one minute.

A Grade First Test. (Judge: Mr. E. P. Kerry.)

Selection: “Il Croelato in Egitto" (Mererbeer).

Port Nicholson Silver (Mr. J. J. Drew) 1 Wanganui Garrison (Mr. R. Francis) .. 2 Timaru Municipal (Lieutenant R. J. Simpson) 3

Wellington Municipal Tramways (Mr. E. Franklin), 4; Auckland Artillery (Captain G. Buckley), 5: Palmerston North Garrison (Lieutenant C. Pike), «: First Battalion Auckland Regiment (Lieiitenant G. W. Bowes), 7. "The playlug has been of a representative A grade character,” said the judge. "The winning band has given a first-class performance—a performance I sat back and thoroughly enjoyed. It is a fair distance ahead of tiie next band. I must congratulate them on such a fine rendition aud ou their tone and precision.” E Flat Tenor Horn Solo. (Judge: Mr. T. Goodall.) Selection: “Enchantment" (Telierepnine). R. Francis,"St. Kilda Municipal, 80 points 1 L. Fl Ornirod; Port Nicholson Silver, 79 points 2 H. Parsonage, Port Nicholson Silver, 78 points 3 K. Gould. Hawera Municipal: W. Borrie, Onehnnga Citizens: P. Abraham. Wellington Municipal Tramway: and L. Scrivener, St. Kilda Municipal. 77 points, equal 4; R, Carlyle. Palmerston North Garrison; E. R. Perkins. Westport Municipal: A. Buck, Institute Silver (Wellington) : and J. D. Miller, Ashburton Silver. 70 points, equal 7: G. Taylor, Westport Municipal, and P. Glen,' Kaikorai. 75 points, equal 11: B. Boyer Invereargill Civic, 72 points. 13; A. S. Williams, Dannevirke Municipal. 70 points. 14: W, Bicknell. Auckland Artillery, 05 points, 15. The judge said the solo was very difficult tn three respects, pitching, rhythm and staying capacity. Most of tiie players lacked rhythm throughout. The tempo was very faulty ami all failed to finish on tiie

long note toward the close. There were so many avenues for trouble that only three players negotiated the rhythm notes and got into their respective positions.

Trombone Trio.

(Judge: Mr. E. P. Kerry.) Selection: “Lady of Beauty” (Giffin)

Timaru Municipal/ 78 points . 1 Dannevirke Municipal. 76 points .. .. 2 Port Niehokson Silver. 71 points 3 Auckland Artillery, 68 points. 4: Christchurch Municipal. 67 points, 5: Feildiug Municipal. 6*4 points. 6. “The playing was quite creditable, but there wan a tendency by some players to do things which were all right only in jazz.” said the judge, “and definitely I don’t like jazz.” B Elat or BB Elat Bass Solo. (Judge: Mr. T. Goodall.) Selection: “When Love is Kind’* (Round). H. C. Unwin. Wanganui Garrison. SI points 1 E. I>. Withell. Ashburton Silver, 80 points 2 W. Wilkinson. Feildiug Municipal. 79 points a R. Shakleton, Palmerston North Garrison, 78 points. 4: G. Blooiqfield. Ashburton Silver. 77 points, 5: R. Scott. Waipukurau Town. 76 points. 6: H. Kendrew. Christchurch Municipal, and H. Booker, Palmerston North City. 75 points. 6. equal: T. Murphy, Timaru Municipal, 74 points, b; L. Jacobs, Wellington Boys’ Institute, 73 points, 9. The judge said the playing was better than last year and was very even. Most of the players dropped a number of points in the last movement di rough notation. Only one competitor produced true tonal quality.

QUICKSTEP ON SATURDAY

The second B tes’t, in which ten bands are entered, will be de.ided this evening on the showgrounds, che feature event of the championship, however, will be the military quickstep, which is to take place on the showgrounds on Saturday afternoon. Seventeen bands have entered for this spectacular competition, which will be followed by the. massed bands. Special arrangements have been made for reservations.