N.Z. BANDS FESTIVAL

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 127, 22 February 1939, Page 10

N.Z. BANDS FESTIVAL

St, Kilda Win Own Choice Selection HEAVY PLAYING IN TEST COMMENTED ON By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, February 22. Nd recalls were announced for the first A grade test selection. ••The Valkyrie” (Wagner, arr. Hawkins), played tonight at the New Zealand brass bands championship festival. There were only four entrants —Port Nicholson Silver. St. Kilda Municipal. Wanganui Garrison, and Woolston. "I am sorry to say that 1 was surprised and disappointed at most of the performances.” said the judge. "I really did expect better treatment of the test piece. Thojigh the music of Wagner laid itself onen to such treatment, the amount of heavy playing heard was remarkable. “There is no necessity for .the bands to try to lift the roof off as they did tonight',” he added. "They should modify the volume of sound they produce. One of the thijigs which has damned bands with the public in the past is that they blow too hard. Remember noise is not music.” Following are the results of the own .choice selection for A grade bands: — St. Kilda Municipal, "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep,” 130 points 1 Port Nicholson Silver Band, "Rossini Selection” (arr. Owen), 120pts. 2 Woolston Brass Band, “Magic Flute” (Mozart, arr. Rimmer), lOOpts. 3 Wanganui Garrison Band, “Lorenzo” (Keetley), 99pts 4 Captain SJtugg said that in judging this class he had one of the funniest jobs he had ever undertaken because of the wide contrasts in the selections chosen. Solo Classes. “The specially written pieces for bass drums ami side-drums were extremely difficult, ”~said Captain Shugg, who judged these sections. In the circumstances, he said, the competitors bad done w_ell. “I have been advocating the compulsory use of drums in all band competitions,” said Captain Shugg. "I cannot imagine a band getting anywhere without its percussion section. Because of their being cut out year after year, except for marching, drummers have Jieen discouraged, but every bandmaster will agree that they arc a great acquisition. If they are given as much consideration as the brass instruments they will deliver the goods.” The planings were : — Bass Drum. —A. Kilmartin (Wellington Municipal Tramways), 85 points, 1; CFrew (Ashburton Silver), 82 points, 2; 11. Sayer (Dannevirke Municipal), 78 points, 3. Side Drum. —,1. Lees’ (St. Kilda Municipal), 85 points, 1 ; K. K..Selioe (Danneyirke Municipal), 82 points, 2; J. McLellan (Port Nicholson Silver), 80 points, 3. Announcing the results’ of the B flat cornet solo, amateur, for which the selection was “La Chaste Suzanne” (Verroust), the judge, Captain Shugg, at. the New Zealand brass bands’ festival today, said there was apparently a tendency in New Zealand toward poor tone in cornet playing. Thin, wheezy tone was 100 common. Most of the players had quite good technique. Ou the whole they had done quite well and he had been surprised to hear them play ,so well. The placing* were: —-J. Rennie (Tiniaru Municipal), 91 points, 1; N. Hewitt (Wellington Municipal Tramways), 89, 2; E. Pheloung (St. Kilda Municipal), 88, 3. The bass trombone solo, for which the selection was ‘'Bonnie Bank o’ Locfh Lomond” (arranged by Ord Hume), was judged by Mr. James Dixon, who said only three of the eleven entrants had really impressed him.. The winner's tone was as fine as any he had heard, and he was the only player to give an artistic rendering with correct phrasing practically from start to finish. The were: —B. Redmond (St. Joseph’s Orphanage), 90 points, 1; S. Smith (Kaikorai), 88, 2; E. Wells (Port Nicholson Silver), 86, 3. There was nothing outstanding in the playing of “How Merrily We Live” (.Short) by the trombone trios, said Captain Shugg. Great benefit could be derived from trio playing and bands should take it much more seriously. His placings were:—Kaikorai. 84 pointe, 1; Christchurch Municipal, 82 points, 2; Port Nicholson Silver, 81 points, 3; Wellington Boys' Institute. SO points, 4; St. Kilda Municipal, 78 points. 5; Dannevirke Municipal, 76 pointe, 6. Placings in the tenor horn solo were:— R. Francis (St. Kilda Municipal), 94 pointe, 1 ; D. Day (Auckland 'Waterside Workers’ Silver), 92 points, 2; W. Borrie (Auckland Artillery), 91 points, 3.