THE BAND CONTEST

Evening Star, Issue 19186, 1 March 1926, Page 3

THE BAND CONTEST

QUICKSTEP COMPETITION AUCKLAND ARTILLERY WINS QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S OWN FIRST IN OPERATIC SELECTION W9OLSTON GAIN MUSIC CHAMPIONSHIP The band contest held in conjunction with the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition was concluded on Saturday, when the chief attraction was the quickstep competition for A grade bands, held on the Exhibition Sports Ground .in the afternoon. The final phase of the contest proceedings took place in the Festival Hall in the evening, when the bands took part in the operatic own choice event. At. the conclusion of the playing the prizes won were presented by Mr J. H. Walker, chairman of the Band Contest Committee. The display of the shields and trophies was the finest of its kind ever seen at any dominion band contest, and the recipients of the trophies were enthusiastically applauded. Mr Walker addressed the audience briefly, and, while regretting that the visitors had experienced a very poor sample of Dunedin weather during the week, was glad to be able to state that on the financial side there would bo a fair credit balance.

Quickstep day opened most inauspicious!}'. Heavy rain, which commenced on the previous evening, continued throughout the night, and in the early morning it looked as though a postponement or abandonment of the quickstep would be inevitable. The committee conferred on the matter ami came to the conclusion that despite the weather the quickstep competition would have to he carried through, as most of the bands could not stay in case of a postponement. By nnpn the conditions had improved somewhat, and following the arrival of excursion trains from various parts, and the pouring in of visitors from near-by districts, the attendance at the Exhibition was enormous. The Sports Ground itself was a series of lakes, ami presented a sorry sight for a spectacular marching event of the kind; in fact, the ground was in such a slate that it became necessary to abandon portion of the military movements. The contest officials arranged to have the truck along which the bands marched in front of the stand, ami along which the 100yds test was done, mode fairly firm by a liberal application of cinders, and the going hero proved to be quite satisfactory, judging from the time and pacing test. Once this was left, however, the bandsmen had to enter the water, in many places several inches deep, and the showers of spray thrown from the bandsmen’s feet as they marched along was a strange sight, and a somewhat unique experience in a contest of the kind. Towards the time of commencing the competition the rain clouds became thicker over the ground, and the rain, falling lightly at first, became heavier, ami did not cease up to the time the last band had played. The officials, under the circumstances, had a most trying time, ’but they carried out their duties splendidly, and, as had been the case right through the week, there was not the slightest hitch.

The event was won by the Auckland Artillery Hand, which was successful in the quickstep contest held in Auckland twelve montus ago. The baud gave a magnificent display, the men inarching with machine-like precision, and the various turns, wheeling, and other movements being carried out in a manlier which earned frequent rounds of spontaneous applause irom the thousands of people who, despite the rain, had assembled in the Sports Grounds to watch proceedings. The reputation of the band bad preceded it, and its movements were followed with the utmost interest. From the moment the first man entered the ground until the last had left after the quickstep, the Aucklanders were alert, and gave an exhibition- of discipline and military movement which was of an instructive and entertaining nature. The playing of the band was also very lino, the musical points as disclosed by the judge confirming this, the allocation of points, 9U out of IUU, representing a high grade rendering of the march, ‘.London .Pride 1 (Moorhouse;. The merit of the band’s performance in the military section will bo realised by the very high, marks it gained—namely, lih'H out of a possible 2UO, a percentage which, on a dry ground would have represented a superb display. The pacing was perfect, the 100yds test being traversed in qxactly 120 paces, for which the band' received the maximum marks, and was the only competitor to gain this coverted figure. The time test was not quite so accurate, the allotment of points being 211. Still, considering the state of the going tin's represented a high-grade performance, as for every fifth of a second of error half _ a point was deducted from the maximum. Under several sections the band scored within a point of the maximum allotment, while for the right turn (a perfect piece of work in evenrespect) the full marks were awarded. The weakest effort in the sub-sections was the right wheel, where the drummajor, apparently mistaking one of the sign posts, had one file of his men on the wrong side. This caused a Joss of 2i points out of 10. Second highest in drill in .the military section was St. Kilda Band, which, playing in the worst of the rain, gave a very solid display, and was allotted 171 J marks. Its pacing was excellent with 23. J points, but the band was considerably out in its time teat, and received but 15 points, 5§ less than Auckland Artillery. If this time test is eliminated it will he, seen that St. Kilda’s military display was bracketed equal first for music with Palmerston North, in which section Woolston gained third place with 91 points. Strange to say, Wanganui Garrison, which won the selection championship, fell away from its high playing standard, and was awarded 82 marks only. No doubt the heavy rain marred the effect of the band’s tone, though the conditions were no worse for Wanganui than for many of the other bands. If there was any luck in the draw it was in being placed early, when the rain was not quite so heavy. .'Other good military displays were given by Palmerston North (169 J marks), Invercargill Battalion (169i)> and Christchurch Municipal (169). While several others followed closely. At the close of the competition the usual massed band performance was abandoned on account of the very bad weather, the announcement of the result being made to the public in the evening.

Following is tho result:— QUICKSTEP COMPETITION. Tost March, ‘ Loudon Pride ’ (Moorhouso). First prize £7O, second £lO, third £-0, fourth £lO.

Tho drum-major of the Auckland Artillery Band receives tho gold medal allotted for highest marks in the military section, and Queen Alexandra’s Own Band that for the host drummer. OPERATIC SELECTION. Own choice music. First prize £45, second £2O, third £lO. Queen Alexandra’s Own, 133 points 1, Woolston, 133 points 2 ' St. Kilda, 132 points 3 Next in order were Wanganui Garrison 131 points, Groymouth Municipal 130, Port Nicholson and Taranaki Regimental (equal! 129, Palmerston North 124, Hamilton City 123, Wellington Tramways 122. The following was the order of appearance on the platform and the names of selections, tho popularity _ ot Wagner's music with bandsmen being indicated in the number of Wagnerian selections presented. It was almost a Wagnerian night, the first eight bands to play each giving excerpts from works of that greatest of all operatic composers Port Nicholson, ‘Lohengrin’; Woolston, ‘Parsifal’; Hamilton City, ‘Ten Minutes With Wagner’; Greymouth Municipal, ‘ Gems of Wagner ’; Queen Alexandra's Own, ‘Tristan and Isolde’; Wellington Tramways, ‘Gems ' of Wagner ’; St. Kilda, ‘ Lohengrin ’; 1 Palmerston North, ‘Lohengrin’; j Wanganui Garrison, ‘William Toll’ (Rossini, Swift’s arrangement) ; Taranaki Regimenal, ‘Heroic’ (an arrangement, by tho Into A. Owen, of extracts from Weber’s operas). In announcing his awards, the judge (Mr E. J. Picketts) congratulated the leading bands on their good playing. He had noted a falling away from the high standard of play In the test selections. tho detail work being neither so clear nor precise. The reason for tin’s, no doubt, was that the bauds had devoted so much of their time to the test selections. THE FINALE. As a wind-up to the contest proceedings, the executive of the Band Association and Committee, contest officials, judges, and conductors, and several visitors, including Mr R. Hawkes (head of the firm of Hawkes and Son. tho well-known London music firm), were entertained in the reception room by the president and directors of the Exhibition. Mr J. Sutherland Ross ( president) opened the proceedings, and congratulated the bandsmen and officials on the success of the contest, and expressed the directors’ regret that the weather had not been move propitious. He paid a high compliment to _ the Contest Committee for the enthusiasm its members had shown and for the excellent manner in which the festival had been carried out by them. After the toast of “Tho King” had boon honored, Mr J. 11. Walker (chairman of tlio Contest Committee) took charge of the gathering, and an hour or two was spent in toasting and felicitous speech-making. The following was the toast list:—“The Directors.” proposed by Mr Walker and responded to by Messrs J. Sutherland Ross, Clins. Speight, and the general manager (Mr C. I*. Hainsworth); “North and South Island Bands Associations,” proposed by Mr Walker and responded to by 'Messrs T. F. Hall (South Island) and Seddon (North Island): “The Judges,” proposed by Mr R. Bennell and responded to by Messrs F. J. Ricketts and W. 'S. King and Captain S. M,. Sattcrthwaite, N.Z.S.C.; “Competing Bands," proposed by Mr R. Harris and responded to by Messrs J. A. Watson (Wanganui Garrison), A. M'Masters I (Greyinouth). M'Mahon (Roxburgh), G. Buckley (Queen Alexandra’s Own), Lieutenant T. Herd (Wellington Tramway); “The Supervisor and Secretary,” proposed by Mr H. Nees and responded to by Messrs J. 1). Hunter and E. S. Wilson; “The Press” and “The Chairman.” During the evening presentations were made to the two judges (Messrs Ricketts and King) and to Mr Hunter, who had created something of a record as a hard-working contest supervisor. Before tho conclusion special reference was also made to the work of Mr Wilson as secretary, A most happy gathering then came to a close with tho singing of ‘ Auld Lang Syne.’ DISTRIBUTION OF TROPHIES New Zealand Championship Shield, for A grade hand obtaining highest points for music in two tests and quickstep.—Woolston, Besson A Grade Shield, for hand obtaining highest aggregate points for music in the test selections and quick-step.-—Woolston. Conn Shield, for A grade band securing highest points in test selections, operatic selection, and musical points iu quickstep,—Woolston. Hawke Shield, for highest aggregate marks in A grade test selections and quickstep.—St, Kilda._ Dunedin Contest Shield, commemorative of Exhibition, for champion band in A grade test selections and quickstep, including drill.—St. Kilda. Boosey Shield, for A grade band obtaining highest aggregate points in the two test selections.—Wanganui Garrison. Boosey Shield, for B grade band obtaining highest aggregate points in two test selections.—Greyinouth Municipal. Dunedin Contest Shield, commemorative of Exhibition, for champion hand in B grade contest.—Groymouth Municipal. Boosey Cup for highest aggregate marks in B grade test selections, open to South Island'' bands only.—Groymouth Municipal. SPECIAL AWARDS. Gold-plated Besson cornet to winner of cornet solo championship.—W. Stevenson (Port Nicholson). Gold-plated trombone, presented by Mr R. Hawkes for winner of tenor trombone solo.—C. J. Brown (Wangar nui Garrison). JOTTINGS Among those who attended the prej sent contest was Mr Chas. Trussell, a well-known adjudicator, arranger, and composer. Mr Trussell was for a number of years a resident of New Zealand, and conducted a number of hands with I success in the North and South Islands, i Among Mr Trussed’s work the march 1 Rimutaka ’ is probably best known, because it was in vogue a few years ago, and still ranks among the best marches. ‘ Mount Egmont ’ was composed and arranged by Mr Trussed for the New Plymouth contest, which was held in 1906. Mr Trussed arranged a fine selection from tho opera ‘ I Lombardi ’ : (Verdi), which was one of tho tests for the International Exhibition contest in Christchurch in 1907. Mr Trussell still retains all his old vigor, and was keenly interested in the contest from start to finish. He is staying at the Criterion Hotel. I Mr James A, Watson, conductor of the winning A grade band, Wanganui Garrison, is a young man among hand conductors - of the present day who should leave a record behind him. As

a lad Mr- "Watson was educated at St. Augustine’s, Geelong, and he became interested in music and band work at a very early age. When the war broke out Mr Watson enlisted with the Australians, and, after service in France, he was selected among five colonials (three Australians and two New Zealanders) to take a course of study at the famous Kneller Hall Military School of Music. Mr Watson returned to Australia in 1921, and accepted an engagement with tho Lythgoe Band (N.S.W.). This band competed in Sydney in 1923, and won the A and B grade championships and the quickstep. Mr Watson has not devoted his time solely to bands. He was very successful with the Lythgoe Choral Society, which secured four or five first placings in six starts in competitive choral events. Mr Watson firmly believes that brass bands can give just as fine renditions of operatic music ns the finest orchestras, but for a number of years there has been a certain prejudice against brass bands. He was of the opinion that tho association of M. A T erbrugghen, the famous exState Orchestra conductor, with band music and band adjudicating lias done a great deal to lift the tone of both Australian and New Zealand bands generally from a general public point of view. Mr Watson has had the Wanganui Garrison Band for six months, and, considering that the band was second last at its last two previous eontests, a great improvement has boon worked. Mr Watson is a gentleman of magnetic personality, and one who should obtain very fine results with this old champion hand. Speaking on the performances of (he various bands at the contest at tho reception held to officials, judges, and bandmasters on Saturday evening at the Exhibition, Mr E. J.'Ricketts said that the outstanding performance in the A grade was without a doubt that of the Wanganui Garrison Band. Although this band had not won the trophies, its work had really been head and shoulders above that of other bands. Tlio general effect of the work of the Wanganui Band bad been simply wonderful, especially on the second night. He had been very much thrilled by the playing of this hand, and was inclined to be sympathetic when lie found that it had not won the roveted trophies as well as the big money. Ho had been in conversation with Major Bell, who had expressed great horror when ho (Mr Ricketts) said that he did know there was such a place as Wanganui. At the reception tendered bandmasters on Saturday evening Mr F. J. Ricketts (the adjudicator) said that in Ills opinion the own choice operatic selection had suffered somewhat in comparison with tho two tests. Ho did not think quite as much work had boon put into the own choice as into the tests.

,It was rather a coincidence that Exhibition contest history should repeat itself. In 1097. at the Exhibition contest in Christchurch. Wanganui Garrison wen the iwo lests, but failed in the quickstep; and the band which bad been running second (Kaikorni) came along and .secured enough points to win the championship. This year Woolston ran second to Wanganui in the tests, and secured a margin of 9 points over the northerners in the music for the quickstep, with a result (■bat Woolston carried oft' the New Zealand championship. A number of bands returned home by the express trains to-day, including (lie Woolston Band (Christchurch), which won the championship. Wanganui Garrison Band, which won the two big tests, and which, in the opinion of Mr F. J. Picketts, was the best hand musically at the contest, will return north by to-morrow’s second express. The hand has had hundreds of congratulatory telegrams from Wanganui and other parts of the dominion. Mr J. D. Hunter staled emphatically at the bandmasters’ reception on Saturday evening flint he had finished acting as supervisor at hand contests. (Laughter.), He had acted in the capacity at over twenty contests now, and he had thoroughly enjoved his work. Later in the evening Mr F. ,1. Ricketts, the test judge, spoke in high praise of Mr Hunter's work. He, most unfortunately, had come under the direction of Mr Hunter, and lie had been chivvied around here, there, and everywhere. He really did not like it, hut lie had to put up with it, because Air Hunter was n man who could not be denied. Mr Hunter took charge of the speaker first thing in the morning, and he would put him in this room and that, and then would escort him to the stuffy little judging box. Really Air Hunter had been tiie big man at the contest. The next thing the speaker would hear would bo “Shut that door!” in a stentorian voice, which rang through the hall. (Laughter.') Speaking seriously, however, Mr Hunter had boon an excellent man to work with, and ho Knew Ids job ns supervisor thoroughly. It was a great pity that the weather was so unsatisfactory for the quickstep competition on Saturday afternoon. Under the conditions the Auckland Artillery Band pub up a remarkable drill performance, which reflects great credit upon the instructing capabilities of Sergeant-major Tom Laft’ey (W. 0.), a Dunedin hoy. Lnffey was educated at the Christian Brothers’ School, ami after the war ho took up a permanent staff position. His work has always been looked upon with high regard by military authorities, and there is eonsol,ation for Dunedin people that the St. Kilda Band was beaten in the quickstep by a hand trained in drill by a Dunedin hov.

Band. Points. Music. Drill. Total. Auckland Artillery ... 90 183* 2731 St. Kilda 92 171J 2633 Palmerston North 92 169J 2613 2541 Invercargill Battalion 85 1691 Christchurch Municipal ... ... 85 169 254 Wanganui Garrison ... 82 167 3 2493 2463 Wellington Tramways 81 165| Woolston 91 153 244 Port Nicholson 85 158J 2433 Dunedin Artillery ... 80 160, 240 Kaikorai 82 150 232 Queen Alexandra’s Own 78 152 230