THE CHAMPION BAND

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 47, 24 February 1934, Page 6

THE CHAMPION BAND

A. SURPRISE WIN

PALMERSTON- NORTH < GARRISON.

AN EXACTING TEST

' The Palmerstou North Garrison Band —fifth in the first A grade test and first in tho second test decided last evening, with aggregato points , 290—is New Zealand's champion band till displaced at a future contest. Tho runner-up is the Port Nicholson Silver Band, Wellington—second in' tho first test and fourth in the second test played last evening;

The 'judge's, decision camo as a com-1 pleto surprise toot only to ,the audience | but also to most bandsmen. There! imißfhave been very few who looked upon Palinerston North as likely to carry off championship honours, but it must be borno in mind that tho judge at'a contest listens critically to tho various performances with a scoro in front of him, and that points aro deducted wr faults -which aro imperceptible to the ordinary listener, whose judgment Is largely based upon the general, effect of a band's playing,-without knowledge of tho hundred and one details which may gain, or lose, points for a, contestant. • « . ' A HIGH STANDARD. . ' At no previous band contest in New Zealand has such a uniformly high standard of'band playing been evident as in the contest which concludes with tho quickstep today. And probably on no occasion in the- history of band playing in the Dominion has thero ever been, an evening of finer brass band perfofmances-than thoso'of the elevon bands who competed in tho second A g-rade test in tho Town Hall last evening. Although , the test selection, Granville Bantock|s symphonic prelude "Prometheus Unbound" was an exacting ono hnd vcalb<t' for completely clifferont treatment from the work for the first test, there was no one performance which could .hot be described as superlative, compared' 'with contest playing of even a fow years ago. Those . of tho audience who were making their first acquaintance with band contesting whilst they probably found it next to impossible to discriminate between th 3 various performances fro*-- the vlew--point of technical excellence, must have had a liberal education in the manner m which a set pieco can bo differently interpreted by different conductors. The variety of tonal effects must have also1 been apparent—somo bandslgetting a loose, open tone while others were noted for a closely-moulded, compact tone. JUDGE'S COMMENTS. . At tho conclusion of tho test the judge, Captain Buckley, briefly addressed, the audience, telling them that at every contest there were surprises. .The-result of. the A-Grado test this year would doubtless come as a surprise to many, he said, but-it was his unbiased opinion that the band placed first was unquestionably the' winner of the tes,fe. Its performance that evening was,the best of the whole contest. The playing of-all the'band's had-been excellent, but somo had spoiled their chances by nntunefulness' andvlack' vof attention to detail. Ho commended the officials for- tho- manner -in which the contest had been conducted, and made special rcferenco t'd,"Mr.JG'c6rge Russell, who had proved a. most valuablo as-, sistani to 'him' as stenographer. 'en--abling- him 'to ■ hand the .bands'his detailed notes on their performances •at tho conclusion of 'each' evening's playing. _ - - ,„- ■> , Mr. H. -p v Bennett, retiring ' president of the Now Zealand Brass Bands' Association., and Mr. E. Palliser, the newly-elected president, also spoke, appreciation'• of the mariner an wTrich the contest had been conducted and commenting on tho high standaid of the perfpimances given. • THE TINAIi PLAOINGS. ' . # The following, table shows, the .placing of the"'bands in the tw"o tests, in the order in which Jhey were placed in the championship:—

. -i , .. . i Ist 2nd Test. Test . _Palnverstoa Xortll Garrison .... 5 1 "Port Nicholson 1 '-'2 4 .' Imcrcarglll Civic i '.."...-4 ' 3 ' -St Ktlda ~ ~...\ 3 ' 5 , Wangamil Girrisoa ....< -, 1 7, Queen Alei.iindrn's Oym■■;'.'.".".■..".' 10 '> 2 Tlm.iru Mnulctiuil ...-..,......- 6 g Auckland Witcrsiders- J - 9 c Welllngtoii Trnmirays; .i..i,;...,..7 ~; !)' Nelson Uarrlson ~, ~. 8 II) H.iwera Municipal 11 11 A special gold medal awarded by Mr. AY. P. Gordon, of Jscw Plymouth, for the best horn-playing in ' tho tests, iirespcctive of grade, was won by AY. M. "Wills, of Invercargill Civic. • .■Following are the points gained by the A-Grade bauds in the two tests, together with the aggregate:—

The prizes won. during the contest will be presented in. the. Town Hall this evening, following a demonstiation concert by the prize-winners.

1st 2nd Test. Tcii. Abb Palmcrs.tpn North 1)3 147 2'M ' Tort Nlcholaotr :..;..-146 -Hi '286 InvcrcargiH Clric .... 14 i If) 287 St,' Kllda 113 11L 28S WnnBarml- Garrison .... 147 . , 1J9 IW Queen Alexandra's Own 133 111 'iii. Tlmaru Municipal I1J . 138 -'SO Auckland Waleraidcra . •-■■13B 140/' 279' Wellington Tramways . Ill 3S7 278 Kelson -Garrison....... 140, 13G 27G Hawcra Municipal .... 137 13j 111