BANDS AND THE PUBLIC

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 125, 23 November 1923, Page 8

BANDS AND THE PUBLIC

TO IBS KDIIOS.

Sir,—l have to thank yon for yonr footnote at the end of my previous letter, which shows that you are ceuaimy m sympathy with anything which will place our bands on a higher standard, and 1 am convinced that if the matter is taken up in a sympathetic and business method much good will be done for the thousands of people who do get not only great pleasure but a wonderful help and strength from the municipal concerts. What can be more uplifting and helpful for the citizens than to gather together on a beautiful afternoon in the magnificent surroundings which we have in some of our reserves and listen to the sweet melody from our own bands? The whole secret lies in the fact that it brngs the whole community together into a huge brotherhood, and for that time we as citizens are one together, no matter what our ideas, aims cr creeds, and this alone should be worth consideration.

The cost of the concert to the band hcwever, is something that we mußt take into consideration, otherwise how can we carry on with the good work? The music alone for one municipal concert will cost the band something like £2 Is as the programme-is made up of seven items and which will cost as follow— Selection, 10s; 1 Overture, 6s: 2 Marches, 4s 6d, 9s; 1 Waltz, 6s; 2 Extras, 10s. Now, against this the band gets the sum of £3 17s, which leaves a balance of £1 16s, to pay rent of bandroom, repairs to uniforms and instruments, lighting, salary to conductor etc. So you see that it is impossible fo- a band to exist without calling on the public for help and financial assistance. Mr Hulbert,in his letter, comments on changes, etc., and mentions as an instance the passing away of the old church organ; and although hw lettei does not (so I think) call for any comment, I would like to say that he is quite right in regard to the church, as the old-fashioned 'church organ can now m many cases, be found in the old sec-ond-hand. shop, as the pipe organ baa taken.it« place, but judging from his letter I should imagine that he has not taken the trouble to become a master of any brass instrument, which is a pity, r* he appears to have the one great qualification required to be a player of a wind instrument.

- Sydney is sending its band over M the Contest once again, and we have no reprepresentative attending the Contests, and this seems a pity, but it i a gratifying to find that other towns in this Dominica can afford to gee that their bands rttond, and it is to be hoped that the impire City will some day awake to the fact that it is being left behind in the matter of players and musicians, seeing the general public have not the interest of the bands at heart. I maintain that we in Wellington simply find the bands a valuable asset when we want them to givs or to do something, but when they want anything it appears that then they are to be shunned as a nuisance, Auckland has its own Municipal Band, and we generally like^to pat ourselves on the back and gay, "We lead, others follow," If we want to know where our lend is taking us to, it ia sufficient for us. to look up the names of the towns who have entered their bands for the coming Contests, and then ask ourselves the question, "Where is' Wellington?" Nuf sed, —I am, etc., BETIEED TROMBONE, 21st Jfeyenjbei^ _,