BAND CONTEST

Evening Star, Issue 20421, 28 February 1930, Page 13

BAND CONTEST

I GRADE SECOND TEST WOK BY TIMARU MUNICIPAL AKIEMTE T« WmsTMl The performance : of the A grade seoond test selection attracted a very large number of people to the Town Hall last evening. Considerable interest centred in the judge's awards, the Timaru 'Municipal Band being declared the winner amidst loud applause. The aggregate of the two tests went "to Woolston, with a fourpoint lead over Timaru. Kaikorai scored well by winning the first hymn test, but could not sustain the .performance in the second, in which it Was well down the list. However, its performance in the first hymn test was instrumental in placing it second in the aggregate, which was won by Woolston. In the afternoon the flugel horn solo was taken, this competition being won by G. Lowry, of St. Kilda. FLUGEL HORN SOLO, * Song Without Words’ (Mendelssohn). Judge: Mr A. Schnack. First prise, gold medal; second prize, silver medal. ’ G. Lowry (St. Kilda), 96 points ... 1 E. Ormrod {Port Nicholson Silver), 93 points * ... ... ... .;. 2 Also competed: R. 6. Ward (Port Nicholson Silver) 91, W. Hambly (Port Nicholson Silver) 87., K. Henderson (Wellington Municipal Tramways), J. Reid (Carterton Municipal) 85, A. Holdaway (West Harbour), T. Bachop (Kaikorai) 84. C. Smith; (St. Kilda), E. Lawrence (Invercargill Civic) 93, H. Spiers (Dunedin City Tramways), D. H. Hutchison (Timaru Municipal) 80. , The judge’s comments on the two placed performers read as follows: G. Lowry.—Beautiful tone; everything nicely spaced; fino attack; you have expression; you are making the most of it; very safe; allegretto, you have a good idea, quite nice to listen -to you; dolce, very nicely played; crescendo really good—best so far; fine finish, every part of the solo played with taste and confidence. fi. Ormrod.—Opening, fine tone. You have expression, and spread out your work -well; expression marks nicely finished; altogether, you have a fine idea of this movement: plenty of character; doloo nicely picked up; you are playing well; finish really good; you are a fine player. A GRAD# SECOND TEST SELECTION, * Sonata Pathetiqno * Beethoven). Jndge: Mr Chris. Smith. First- prize, £SO; second price, £2O; third prize. £10; fourth prize, £5.

The judge’s comments were as follow: FIRST HYMN TEST. , * Eternal Father ’ (Dykes), .Queen Alexandra’s Own, First Terse: Very sweet and sonorous to open and in perfect tune, balance just a trifle out iu third sentence. Second verse: Very good playing indeed, sweet and tuneful. St. Kilda.—First verse: Excellent •tyl* and tone, and beautifully in tune. Second verse: Again excellent, sweetly nud<e gradations of tone very effective. Palmerston North,—First verse; Excellent, with bright tone and nicely in tune. Second verso; Again excellent, but.tonal colour not equal to last band; rather too much Sameness. Woolston.—First verse: Excellent in all respects. Second verse: Splendid in forte, and very stylish; splendid crescendo in last sentence. Slightly the best'so far, mainly on all-round ability Titnnru.—First verse: Slight false start and rather dull tone, still very good playing. Second verse: Good play mg. out balance of band is not good; more colour would improve, Kaikorai.—First verse: Very rich ensemble and artistic style. Second

verse: Again very rich and artistic. Best yet. . Wellington Municipal.—First verso. Tone and style good, but not of the best. Second verse: Nice light and shade, and excellent style. Port Nicholson.-—First verse; Excellent tone and balance, and style fairly good. Second verse; Still good, but lacking in variety, and again 1 cannot commend style adopted at end of sentences. Just a little clearer definition would improve. 4 SECOND HYMN TEST. ‘ Fierce Raged the Tempest ’ (Dykes). Woolston.—First verse; Excellent tone and fine style; just a waver in tune. Second verse: Again excellent, with many nice touches. Queen Alexandra’s Own. —■ First verse; Style not of the best, but very sonorous and tuneful; lacks definition. Second verse: Splendid now; tuneful to a degree. Port Nicholson.—First verse: Fair in style, tone and time excellent. Second verse; Again style might be better—better defined; tone,and tune again excellent. Kaikorai.—First verse; Tone and tune excellent, but; style could bo better. Second verse: Falls away a little Style in running the lines into one an other does not appeal. 1 prefer the majesty of simplicity, and more free rein to expression. St. Kilda.—First verso; Tone and tune excellent; stylo does not appeal to me; some nice touches. Second verse. Very well done; tune, tone, and balance and blend excellent.

Timaru.—First verse: Excellent style: tone and tune of the best. Second verse: Again very excellent; nice col our and variety. Wellington Municipal.-—First verse . Good style, tone quality fair; tune excellent; fair variety. Second verse. Gets a little untuneful and unbalanced.

Ralmerston North.—First verse: Not closely in tune: “Peace be still’’ palpably out. Second verse: Better now; here and there interior of band not in close tune. FIRST TEST SELECTION. Queen Alexandra’s Own.—Maestoso: Excellent opening in good style; good from bar 8; bars 15 to 21 well played and defined ; first subject again grandly given; inutod effort very good.. Moderator Nice tempo and excellent playing; bar 13 not *oo good, but soon right. Allegro con fuoco; Fine playing; bars 9to 12 fine. Fugato; Capitally played, all entries well and truly made; from 41 trombone very fine. Lento: Very effective and,tuneful. Andante dolente alia marcia ? fnnebre; In good character, and really well played, and sonorous to a degree ; a little out at 13; excellent from 17, again muted effect excellent. Allegro moderate; Very good playing; crescendo on long pedal very finely worked. - Molto maestoso; Grandly played; presto excellent. A very good rendering. St. Kuda.—Maestoso: Splendid opening and in excellent style; from 8 nice and tender; a few chords out from 15; first subject very fine indeed; muted work very good. Moderate: Very good playing; 18 does not reach me. Allegro con fuoco: Very good playing; bars 9 to 12 very good. FugatO: All good, bht little faults noted, mainly execution ; from 41 excellent. Dento: A very tasty bit indeed. Andante dolento alia marcia fuhebre: Good playing, but hardly in true character; from 9 excellent, but balance is not good; solo cornet a little too prominent; muted work good; doubt lower instrument muted. Allegro moderate; Good playing from too few players, sounds like one; long pedal crescendo well managed, but not equal to last Band. Motto maestoso: Good playing; presto excellent. A good rendering; a little behind last band on the whole.

Palmerston North.—Maestoso: Big, ponderous tone, but style not of the best; from 8 fair playing; 15 to 21 rather lump, not of good quality; first subject again heavy; mutes good. Moderate: Good playing; 13 does not reach me. . Allegro con fuoco: Good playing, but rough, and a little scattered. Fugato: Only a fair conception and execution of this section; from 41 good, but again too rough. Lento: Not of the best. Andante dolente alia marcia funebre: Playing really well now; from 9 excellent; gets untuiieful about 15, soon right; mutes good effect. Allegro moderate .- Fairly good playing, blemishes observed. Mol to maestoso: Good, but unnecessarily rough; bar 13 not good; presto, a fairly good effort. Woolston.—Maestoso: Excellent tone and style; from 8 excellent playing—a tender mood struck; from 15 to 21 splendid conception; first subject again splendid; muted effect excellent. Moderate; Excellent style and playing continues ; from 9 very sonorous and rich quality. Allegro con fuoco. Truly splendid; a fine conception trombone. Fugato; Well played, all entries well made, but a single instrument playing where more than one should be playing is shirking the test; from 41 splendidly done. Lento: Beautifully done. Andante dolente alia marcin funebre: Very artistic here; capital playing, sonorous to a degree; very beautiful section; you have caught the mood; mutes good. Allegro moderate; Good playing; long pedal crescendo finely worked, though rather slow in tempo. Molto maestoso: Very good playing; presto, excellent finish. Slightly the best performance so far. Timaru.—Maestoso: Excellent style and tone, very expressive from bar 8; bars 15 to 21 capitally played; first subject a little wild now; mutes excellent. Moderate; Fairly good hero; not so commanding as first movement. Allegro con fuoco: Excellent in conception and execution. Fugato: Entries safely made, and good all round playing; from 41 not too good. Lento: Nicely done; film low .note. Andante dolente alia marcia funebre; Nice playing, in good character, but not always quite sonorous; improves its it proceeds; mutes very good. Allegro moderate; In good tempo and style; long pedal crescendo well made. Molto maestoso: In right spirit, but style is variable in quality; very good, though, on the whole; presto excellent. Kaikorai.—Maestoso: Artistic in style and conception; from 8 beautifully played; bars 15 to 21 very well handled; first subject splendidly given, quite artistic; mutes good. Moderate: Excellent playing all round; a capital section. Allegro con fuoco: A splendid section. Fugato: A littlo uncertain at start, then entries are well made, and more music is made out of it; from 41 not too good, gets untuneful. Lento: Fairly good only, a littlo untuneful. Andante dolente alia marcia funebre; A _ well-played section, in the right spirit; mutes passages only moderately accomplished. Allegro moderate: A nicely rendered section, full of character; long crescendo pedal finely made. Molto maestoso: Fqirly good in style and tone, and improves in quality ns it proceeds. On the whole, a very good performance. Wellington Municipal. Maestoso: Splendid in tone and style j from 8 excellent, in conception quite artistic; well defined 15 to 21; first subject again magnificently delivered; muted effect best yet. Moderate: Excellent playing; everything well defined. Allegro con fuoco: Splendidly given. Fugato: Entries well made; much music made out of it, from 41 splendid. Lento; Very good. Andante dolente] alia mar cia funebre; Excellent playing, good conception, beautifully sonorous , in places; quite artistic; dissonances pro-

perly tackled; mutes not too effective hero. Allegro moderate: Very good playing; long crescendo splendidly made, leading to a fine molto maestoso, which is splendidly played; fino conception.; presto excellent. The best allround treatment yet; the modern harmonics properly handled. Port Nicholson.— Maestoso; Clear, ringing, bright tone; style fair; from 8 artistic; 15 to 21 excellent playing; first subject splendidly given out; bon muta very good. Moderate; Capital style here; a very good section; very bright toned. Allegro con fuoco: Splendidly played. Fngato: Best yet hero ; all true and well defined, and very bright; from 41 excellent. Lento; Very pretty indeed. Andante dolentc alia marcia fnnebre; Very fino conception, and beautifully played; quite artistic ; con innta effective. Allegro moderate: Tone, tempo, and style well conceived and Well carried out; long pedal crescendo very organically worked. Molto maestoso: Excellent playing by all; presto very fine indeed. A splendid performance. SECOND TEST SELECTION.

Woolston. —Exposition grave. Good opening, with fair tone and fair style. Bar 8 very good; excellent playing; in good tune; 17 good, 19 good, 20 very good. First subject: Well rendered Bridge passage: Very well done. Second subjects: Get good treatment ; all nice and neat. Development grave; Excellent; modulation very good. Allegro con brio. Some excellent playing in this section, and a fino conception. Recapitulation—First sub ject: Very good; link passage good Second subject: Excellent; 129 good Grave. Excellent. Allegro con brio: Very good.. Adagio cantabile —First section: Fairly good in first sentence; second sentence better; from 17 very nice playing; 23 a little out of tuning; all well from 29. Second section: Good playing; just a waver out of tune in (places. Third section. Capital playing; a little uncertain at 67; finish very nice. Rondo allegro— First subject: Very good playing Bridge passage: Very well handled. Second subject. Well played. First subject; Again good; a small fault or two. Episode: Excellent playing, executive ability very good. First subject. Again well played. Link passago: Again well played. Second subject; Exceljent. Coda; Capital; from 198 very fine. Finish fino. Queen Alexandra’s Own.—Exposition grave: Style not too good; the music is not flowing; bar 8 good; a little wildness from 17; 19 good; 20 very good. First subject: Good playing, then falls away.' Bridge passage: Only fair. Second subject; Style fair, not quite the thing, but tuneful; from 103 very good. Development grave: Ido not like your stylo; one or two chords scattered. Allegro con brio; Gets fairly good treatment. Recapitulation—First subject: Very good. Link passage Good. Second subjects; Nice playing now; from 117 good, but a few doubtful chords; 129 good. Grave- Stylo lacking, too pecking. Allegro con brio; fairly well done. Adagio canlabile— First section: Fair playing, little blemishes; better in second sentence; fourth sentence well played on the whole. Second section: Well played ; out in 44. Third section: Not in good tune now in melody instruments; better from 59 to end. Rondo allegro—First subject: Good, bright playing. Bridge passage: Gets fairly good treatment. Second subject; Very nicely done. First subject: Again good. Episode. Well played; syncopation nicely brought out; from 107 not too good. First subject: Again good. Link passage; Very well played. Second subject: Capital. Coda: Well played; finish nice and safe. Port Nicholson.—Exposition grave. Style not at all good; tame; bar 8 fairly good; 17 good; T 9 good; 20 fair only. First subject; Nice and smart. Bridge passage; Fairly well done; excellent. Second subjects; Style adopted is not good; still, fairly good playing; from 103 fairly good. Development grave: Good, but I don’t admire your style; not stern enough. Alio con brio; Gets fairly good; very woolly in places. Recapitulation—First subject: Good. Link passage; Good. Second subjects. 'Fairly well done; light and shade well all ended, but you' are somehow missing the spirit. Grave: Sonorous and tuneful, but no character. Alio con brio: Very good. Adagio cantabile—First section : Not in best of tune or precise enough in first sentence. I did not get horn in 8; second sentence better; third sentence fairly good; fourth sentence fair. Second section; Very well played, with a few doubtful bits. Third section: Has got top stew, but all nice and tuneful now; closing bars good. Rondo alio—First subject: Well played. Bridge passage; Well played, with good execution. Second subject: Good here. First subject: Good again. Episode: Fairly well handled; from 99 fairly good. First subject: Again good. Link pipage: Very well played. Second subject: Excellent; calando verj good. Coda ; Good work, with good executive powers. This band improved as it went on. Kaikorai.—Exposition grave: Good in its way, but not the right spirit; 8 good; from 9 rather lough; 17 good; 19 very good; 20 fairly good. First subjects: Proceeds with. Bridge passage: Fair only. Second subjects: Not a good conception; it is not making good music; fair playing only; 103 good. Development grave: Good, but rather slow; modulation lair. Alio con brio: Some in-and-out playing in this section. Recapitulation—First subject: Fairly good. Link passage: Good. Second subjects: Only moderate; fair executive ability, but not much is made of the beautiful music; 129 fair only. Grave: Fairly good; style lacking. Alio. con brio: Failonly. Adagio cantabile—First section: Not in close tune, and quality not too good; from 9 better; stylo not good. Second section: Fairly good. Third section: Improved, but still not quite in tune; 59 good; from 67 excellent. Hondo alio—First subject: Fairly good. Bridge passage: Not in close tune, and tempo ,rather slow. Second subject: Well played, but why so slow! 4 First subject: Better. Episode: Fairly well played, but too slow; bars 98-102 good cresc. First subject: Fairly good; tune out a little. Link passage: Fair. Second subject: Good, but should bo slowed up to this extent; calando good. Coda: A very well-played section; closing bars equal to any so far, but your effort has come too late.

St, Kilda,—Capital opening, rather slow, but of good quality; 8 fairly managed and proceeds well, 17 very good, 19 good, 2(1 excellent. First subject; Good conception. Bridge passage: Good. Second subject; Stylo not quit© right, otherwise fairly good; the second subject starts in 41, 103 very good. Development, grave: Excellent, modulation fair. Alio con brio: In this section there was very good work. Recapitulation—First subject: Excellent; link passage, very good Second subjects: A little untunefnl, still good on the whole, improving as it proceeds; 129 very good. Grave; Good, though rather slow. Alio con brio: Excellent Adagio cantabile—First section: Good, but not perfectly sonorous in first sentence, from 9 much nicer, from 17 excellent, from 29 very nice indeed. Second section; An excellent section. Third section; Again excellent, rich ensemble; 59 very fine, 07 and on excellent.—

Rondo Alio—First subject: Opens well! lit a smart tempo. Bridge passage; Well played, with a few doubtful places. Second subject: Very well played-, First subject. Fairly good, doubtful ; here and there. Episode : Slow, but of i good quality and tuneful; 99 and on , fair only. First subject: Very good; link passage, good. Second subject: Well expressed; calando very good. Coda . Fairly well bandied, finish good. Tiniaru. Exposition : Grave, excellent opening, with fairly good style; 8 good, 9 and on very well and carefully handled, 17 excellent, 19 lent. ‘2O excellent. First subject: Veil and brilliantly given. Bridge passage: Only moderate, but soon improves, becond subject’ Well handled, excellent playing; lO.'l capital to end of section. Development. Grave, excellent, modulation very well done. Alio, con brio: With exception of a little wildness in a few places an excellent section. Recapitulation. First subject: Very good’; linn passage, very good. Second subject: Capitally given, with good stylo and tone; 129 good. Grave: Excellent. Alio con brio; Very good. Adagio cantabile—First section: Very good, from 9 excellent, from 17 excellent, 2J very good. Second section: Excellent. Third section: Very good; from 59 very rich and sonorous, from 67 good. Rondo. Alio. First subject; Excellent in all respects. Bridge passage: Capitally given with good executive ability. Second subject: Very fine. First subject: Again finely clone. Episode: Excellent. syncopation finely worked, from 99 excellent. First subject -.Splendid, excellent execution. Second subject; Fine indeed, calando excellent. Coda: A brilliant and competent band, from 193 splendid, finish excellent. Wellington Municipal.—Exposition; Grave, much too slow, not the character, time good, 8 excellent, from 9 fair only, a little wild; 17 good, 19 good, 20 excellent. First subject, well given. Bridge passage, good, but rather wild in places. Second subject, capitally given, some excellent playing hereabouts; 103 good. Development; Grave, good but slow 7 , modulation fairly well managed. Allegro con brio;. A well-played section. Recapitulation; First subject very good; link passage good. Second subject, well given, good crescendos, 129 fairly good. Grave: Good, but too slow: alio, con brio good. Adagio cantabile; Fii%t section, nicely opened ; from 9 very good, 17 excellent, from 23 a little untunoful, 29 very nicely delivered. Second section: Fair only; why speed them up? Not called for'. Third section; Fairly good, better from 59; 69 artistic, , to end of movement. Rondo : Alio, first subject, finely opened, bright and smart. Bridge passage, very well played. Second subject, excellent, then falls away. First subject, very good. Episode, finely played, a good conception. -First subject, good. Link passage, very nicely done. Second subject, capital, calando good. Coda; A splendidly played section. You improved very much in this movement.

Palmerston North. Exposition: Grave, woolly tone, and style not good, too slow, and a little untuneful; 8 fairly pood, from 9 gets wild in places, 17 good, 19 good, 20 excellent. First subject: Fairly good, soprano gives me two wrong notes. Bridge passage, only moderate. Second subject: Too slow, ami only moderate playing; style does not appeal; tempos all over the place without rhyme or reason. Development; Grave, too slow and uninteresting Alio con brio: Very moderate, gets too wild; a very moderate section, executive power not equal to calls. Recapitulation : First subject, only fair. Link passage, only fair. Second subjects, but moderate treatment, very wild in places. Grave, very moderate Alio con brio, good. Adagio cantabile: First section, frtirlv good in first sentence, from 9 good, 17 very good, but falls away at 23; from 29 out of tune. Second section: Fairly well done, basses not good. Third section: Good here, fromi 59 very good, 67 stylo npt good, finish moderate. Ronclon Alio: Firs! subject, fairly good. Bridge passage, good. Second subject: InxirJv good, executive not equal to demand. First subject, good. Episode: Moderate conception, ploughing through, without any guiding idea. First subject: Good, basses nice. Link passage, well played. Second subject: Fairly good, calando good. Coda: Some go*d playing in places, good and indifferent by turns.

Points. Timaru, Municipal ... ... ... 137 1 Woolston ... ... ... ... ... 133 2 . St. KJTda ... ... ... -126. 3 Wellington Municipal Tramways ... 125 4 Queen Alexandra’s Own ><: (Wanganui) ... ... 123 5 Port Nicholson ... ... 119 6 Kaikorai ... ... .... ... 114 7 Palmerston North ... : ... 108 8 aggregate: First prize, £100; seconc prize, £50; third prize, £25; fourth prize, £20. 1st 2nd test. tosV'Tl. Woolston ... ... 133 133 266 1 Timaru Municipal 125 137 • 262 2 Wellington MuniciPal Tramways 135 125 260 3 Port Nicholson Silver ... ... 139 119 258 4 Queen Alexandra’s Own (Wariganui) 130 123 253 5 St. Kilda ... ... 127 126 253 5 Kaikorai ... ... 129 114 243 7 Palmerston North 121 103 229 8 FIRST HYMN TEST. The. points awarded in the first A grade- hymn test (‘Eternal Father, Strong to Save which was played on Tuesday night, are as follow:— Points. Kaikorai ... .. ... 94 I - Woolston ... ... 91 2 St. Kilda ... ... 89 3 Queen Alexandra’s Own .. ... 86 4 Wellington Municipal Tramwiiys ... ... ... ... .. . ... 00 0 Port Nicholson ... ... .. . ... 84 6 Palmerston North* ... .. Timaru Municipal ... .. . : ... 83 7 ... 81 3 SECOND HYMN TEST. The second' A grade hymn test (‘ Fierce Raged the Tempest 0 or the Deep’) was lyayed last night. t The result was as follows:— Points. Timaru Municipal ... 89 j 2 Woolston ,. ... 86 Queen’s Alexandra’s Own ... 85 3 St. Kilda ... 84 4 Port Nicholson .. . ... 83 5 Wellington Municipal Tram6 ways ... ... ... ... 82 Kaikorai ; ... 80 V Palmerston North ... .. -, ••• 77 8 AGGREGATE. Points. Woolston ... ... 177 1 Kaikorai ... ... ... ... ... 174 2 St. Kilda ... 173 3 Queen Alexandra’s Own., ... 171 4 Timaru Municipal ... 170 5 Wellington Municipal Tramways ... 167 t Port Nicholson ... ... ... 167 t Palmerston North ... 160 8 The aggregate points in tho hyn n test count for tho Conn Shield.