BAND CONTEST

Evening Star, Issue 20422, 1 March 1930, Page 11

BAND CONTEST

B FLAT CORNET CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY W. STEVENSON The recalls from the various sections provided an interesting and attractive programme at last night’s session of the band contest. The finals of the B Hat cornet championship, the B flat cornet solo, the quartets, and the trombone trios were taken, many excellent performances being heard. Selections were also given by the Oamaru Municipal and Woolston Bands,- the bright musical switch by the latter being especially enjoyable. The visiting bandsmen were all delighted with Dr Price’s performance of Johnston’s ‘ Evening Meditation ’ and Raff’s ‘ Rigauclon.’ Considerable interest was displayed in the organ, and Dr Price’s exposition was enthusiastically received. The afternoon session was occupied with the tenor trombone solo. TENOR TROMBONE SO I/O. ‘Phantasy’ (Cyril Jenkins). Judge: Mr A. §ehnack.

First prise, gold medal; second prize, silver medal.

E. Williams (Woolston), 97 points 1 J. Marshall (St. Kilda), 96 points 2 Also competed; G. Buckley (Timaru Municipal), A. Wills (Invercargill Civic) 89. W. O’Hara (Palmerston North Garrison), L. Carruthers (Palmerston North Garrison), R. I. Frew (Woolston) 88, D. M. Kirk (Christchurch Municipal), D. G. Stribling (Christchurch Municipal) 87, G. Handley (Queen Alexandra’s Own, Wanganui) 86, 11. Davies (Queen Alexandra’s Own). T. Stalker (St. Kilda), R. Hall (St. Kilda), H. Guy (Invercargill Civic) 81, W. Campbell (Timaru Municipal), W. Matson (Port Nicholson Silver) 80.

The judge commented as follows on the place winners:— E. Williams. Splendid opening, splendid tone, lovely colourings, intonation splendid; playing like an artist, great restraint; finish lovely; moderate beautiful; bar 10 and on beautiful, such variety. You are most artistic, and are painting a picture; tone colouring lovely; double forte and onwards most artistic; bar 22 and on great playing. J. Marshall.—Splendid opening and style; slight slip at bar 6; beautiful tone and variety of style; all marks attended to; really fine playing, beautiful tone; moderate much better than previous players; beautiful tone and expression; playing lovely and so well in tune, realty a treat; a really good finish. well in tune and great character. CHAMPIONSHIP B FLAT CORNET SOLO. ‘Alpino Echoes.’ For the Bud Wills Memorial Challenge Shield. Judge: Mr Christopher Smith. First prize, gold medal; second prize, silver medal. W. Stevenson _ (Wellington Tramways), 93 points 1 G. Christie (St. Kilda), 88 points ... 2 W. Bowmen (Wellington Tramways), 84 points 3 E. Kerr, jun. (Kaikorai), 82 points 4 Also competed: C. Bergerson (Queen Alexandra’s Own) 84, H. Osborne (Ashburton Silver) S 3, W. H. Osborne (Tiraaru Municipal) 82, S. Tealo (Ashburton Municipal) 81, J. Wills (Invercargill Civic) 80. V. Aldridge (St. Kilda) 79, M, H. F. Vincent (Waimate Silver) 78, A. Taylor (Timaru Municipal) 77, R. Wills (Invercargill Civic) 73, VV. J. Kay (Port Nicholson Silver) 72. R. A. L. Taylor (Hastings Citizens’) 71, A. J. Berryman (Palmerston North Garrison), N. D’Arth (Queen Alexandra’s Own) 69. The judge’s comments on the playing of the four recalls are as follow;

G. Christie.—lntroductive excellence; theme moderate excellent; from bar 25 very good; slight blur on top C; variation. moderate, good and clear; from 25 again very good, slight blur on top C; lento minore excellent; cadenza excellent; lento majore excellent; allegretto very good; pin mosso very good; tonal quality good; style good. E. Kerr, jun.—lntroduction, good; fair style, slip; theme moderate, good; from 25 very good, little blur noted; variation moderator, very good and clear; from 25 again very good; lento minore very good; cadenza fairly good; lento majore, very nicely done, a wave out of tune; allegretto very good; from 25 good, pin mosso fair, missed C; tonal quality, fairly- good; style fairly good.

W. Stevenson.—lntroduction excellent, and of good quality; tbeme moderate good, but a few faults noted; from 25 excellent; variation moderate, excellent; from 25 very excellent; lento minore artistic; cadenza very excellent; lento majore, again artistic; allegretto, excellent; from 25 very brilliant; tonal quality excellent; style of the best. W, Bowmen.—lntroduction very good theme moderate, excellent, but slips noted from 25, miss on top C; variation moderate, excellent; from 25 fair only, slips; lento minore very good; cadenza good, not quite clear; lento majore good, gets a little untunefnl; allegretto, very good, from 25 fairly good; presto good; tonal quality good'; style fairly good. B FLAT CORNET SOLO. ‘ Lucellc.’ Judge: Mr A. Schnack. First prize, gold medal; second prize, silver medal. R. A, L. Taylor (Hastings Citizens), 91 points 1 W. Stevenson (Wellington Tramways), 89 points 2 \V. H. Osborne (Timaru Municipal), 88 points 3 G. Bergerson (Queen Alexandra’s Own, Wanganui), 87 points ... 4 W. Bowmen (Wellington Tramways), 86 points 5 Also competed: G. Christie (St. Kilda), J. Wills (Invercargill Civic), R. Wills (Invercargill Civic), H. l F. Vincent (Waimate Silver) 96, A. Taylor (Timarn Municipal), E. Kerr, jun. (Kaikorai), H. Osborne (Ashburton Silver), N. Aldridge (St. Kilda), W. I. Kny (Port Nicholson Silver) 92, L. J. Bruce (Christchurch Municipal) 87, C. IT. Hutchison (Timarn Municipal), F. White (Timarn Municipal) B. Register (Palmerston North Garrison), L. Simenson (Hastings Citizens) 86. J. Bassett (Invercargill Civic). A. Benson (Christchurch Municipal), N. D’Arth (Queen Alexandra’s Own) 85. A. N. Doer (Green Island Municipal) 84. W. M‘Kay (Dunedin City Tramwavs). C. Flood (Port Nicholson Si! ver) 81, S. Teale (Ashburton Silver), R. Lewer (Christchurch Municipal), M. M'Donald (Waimate Silver) 80. The judge’s comments on the performances of the prize-winners were as follow : R. A. L. Taylor,—“Moderate excellent, tone and style good, cadenza excellent; allegretto very good and clear; gracigso excellent and brilliant; moderate excellent; allegretto excellent; cadenza brilliant.”

W. Stevenson,— ‘‘ Moderate fairly good, with nice tone, much improved as ho proceeds: cadenza excellent; gracioso good, nice style; moderate excellent; allegretto excellent; cadenza brilliant.” QUARTETS. ‘ Sunshine and Shade.’ Judge: Mr Christopher Smith. First prize, gold medal; second prize, silver medal. Port Nicholson Silver Xu, 1 (T. Goodall, W. liarke, L. Ormrod, A. O. Kaye), 93 points 1 Invercargill Civic No. 1 (J. K. Wills, "R. B. Wills, \V. M. Wills, and J. M'Kay), 91 points 2 Queen Alexandra’s Own, Wanganui /(G. Bergerson, C. Wilson, B. Greenfield, and H. Bovey), 90 points ... 3 Hastings Citizens No. 1, 80 points 4 Also competed; Oamaru Municipal 76, Wellington Tramways (W, Stevenson, J. H. Mitchell, E. O’Brien, F. Clayton), Woolston No. 1 74, Timaru Municipal (W. H. Osborne, R. Thomas, R. Williams, and E .Osborne) 71, St. Kilda Municipal No. 3 (A. Aldridge, G. Lowry. A. Gbattertou, and.C. Oben 70, Dunedin City Tramways (A. Russell, W. M'Kay, Reader, and J. Turner), St. Kilda No. 1 (G. Christie, J. Logan, W. Smith, and C. Millar). Woolston No. 2 69, Christchurch Municipal (J. W. Barsley, E. Watson, De La Mare, and Barsby) 67, Palmerston North Garrison 66, Invercargill Civic No. 2 (J. Bassett, E- Lawrence, C. Lemin, and F. Beadle) 65, St. Kilda Municipal No,- 2 (\V. Tait, C. Smith, D. Anderson, and A. Winslade) 63. The judge’s comments on the playing of the two placed performances rend as follows: Port Nicholson.—Andante moderate: AH clearly defined and very tuneful. Andante Moderate; Excellent, neat, and good. Andante pastorale: Fine conception, well carried out, brilliant, and good quality. Allegro moderate: Excellent, all capable and confident. Invercargill Civic.—Andante moderate: A good blend and good playing by each . performer; tonal colour nicely varied; all tuneful. Andante moderate: A well jvlayed section. Andante pastorale: Too loud, otherwise very good playing; four competent players; tuneful. Allegro moderate: Capital playing, from 15 very good; a very good section.

TROMBONE TRIO. ‘ Three Trombones.’ Judge: Mr C. Smith. First prize, gold medal; second prize, silver medal. Woolston (E. Williaihs, W. Lanham, and W. Steere), 97 points 1 St. Kilda No. 1 (J. Marshall, 'J'. Stalker, and R. Mnnro), 91 points 2 St. Kilda No. 2 B. Raymond, R_. Coughlin, and (A. Newell), 87 points 3 Timaru Municipal (L. Collins, G. Buckley, and F. Brown), 86" points 4 Also competed: Christchurch Municipal (D. Kirk, D. E. Stribling, and Sutton) 84, Wellington Tramways (J. Glennie, E. Tallantire, and J. Cummings) 82, Queen Alexandra’s Own (G. Handley, G. Humphrey, and R. Davis) 81, Invercargill Civic (A. M. Wills, H. Guy, and T. A. Anderson) 80, Carterton Municipal (A. Banks, A. Kay, and D. Irwin) 76. The judge’s comments read as follows ; Woolston.—Beautiful opening, from 12-S artistic by all, very sonorous; tempo di polka, excellent, fine executant on first part; trio, very rich to open, repenting strain excellent in every respect; coda, splendid, glissandos capitally done. St. Kilda- No. I.—Well opened, then fairly good playing; very nice in places; tempo di polka, very well played, second time very good; trio, very good, a. few blurs noted, the second time improved; coda good; glissandos very well managed. >

AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS THE CONTEST REVIEWED [Special to the ‘Star.’] The play-off for the championship B flat cornet solo took place last night. The winner holds the Bud Wills Memorial Challenge Shield for twelve months. There were six recalls, and each player put uj> a first-cass performance. There were - about fifty entrants, and those who were not present last evening can imagine the quality of the chosen six. There were various qualities of tone—clear liquid, flute, clarion, vibrato, resonant, trumpet—each the product of years of hard practice moulded by temperament and natural desire, coupled with musical artistry, to the goal of their ambition. Tile winner of the championship, Mr W. Stevenson, is a sterling artist, has a free and easy technique, and produces a quality of lyric type, free of trumpet vibrato, and is more of the orchestral school. His intonation is very true, combined with rare artistry. Writing qf cornets reminds me of Levy, Chas. Coombs, Herbert Clarke, Conrad Buckingham, Edward Deny, Louis Gunner, most of whom have joined the majority. I remember hearing the great Levy in Dunedin in about 1878. lie was indescribable in technique. For an encore he would play ‘ Yankee Doodle ’ slowly at first, then repeating the melody quicker each time lie played till one could hardly follow the tune. Levy considered the late Chas. Coombs to be one of the best six cornet ers in the world. Most of the old band members will remember Herbert Clarke, late of Sousa’s Band. He also had “ some ” technique, so my advice to cornet players is never to forget that the standard of Levy, Clarke, Coombs, and others will not be reached this year or next. On a similar occasion to the present many years ago the writer attended a cornet competition and remarked to the late Chas. Coombs on the shallow, “puny ” tones of the competitors on the lower notes, and his answer was to produce the mouthpiece he played on. It was of the breakfast cup shape, with a narrow rim. Coombs’s lower notes were iiko those of a trombone. Tlie quartette was won by Port Nicholson. The four players rendered the movements without any breaks, and provided a musical treat. Ail the essentials—tone, intonation, rhythm, etc.—were all that could he desired. Woolston won the trombone trio. This number, too, was a great treat, very quaint in . character, delicately handled, with quality and lone, and very musical in every way. Whilst waiting for results, Mr Estall and his hand gave a most enjoyable item with a Jot of work for the drummers in the way of musical accessories. It served as a distinct break from the pent-np feelings of “waiting for the judge.” After a week’s musical festivities, and being feted like kings with glorious weather and music of all sorts, there arc a few suggestions that will not be amiss. First of all there is the vexed question of judging. We have hardly ever known a contest that lias not caused a lot of heart-burnings, not so much with the solos, but with the hands’ section. The British public is the best judge in the world, and I have often noticed the shock certain judgments have given the public. Of course, once the judge gives his verdict

afi sports should accept Ins decision, but it is to obviate the trouble that should not arise out ot a iaulty judgment that 1 offer the suggestion. Quickstep contests arc never disputed. WhyP Because one man i; never in lull command. There are generally three judges, for music, drill, and accoutrements. One man cannot judge a selection (I say this advisedly) if the competitors are to get a square deal. Hie competent musician is always strong on one point or another, be it tone and intonation, rhythm, accent, attack, interpretation, artistry, general rendition, etc., etc. lie has to follow the score bar hv bar. pounce on a wrong chord, and, whilst lie is either writing or dictating, something worse has happened which has escaped his notice, and the movement is finished. The nest band gets all'this benefit to the detriment of the other. I suggest that there should be three independent judges without being bottled up, and at the end of each band’s performance band over their notes to a supervisor, the bands to be judged only on the aggregate. This “bottling up ” of the. judge is all “ moonshine ” and should be dispensed with.

A word or two with regard, to the flugel horns, horns, baritones, and soprano cornets. This contest had nothing very special to offer in the above named instruments. Jn the palmy days of the old Oamaru Band there were a lot of good soprano players. Only one band on this occasion had anything special, and that was the Port Nicholson. 1 f they wore in the other bands then they wore very “ mute ” and conspicuous by their absence. The B flat cornets, euphoniums, trombones, and basses in all the bauds seem to be a “ live-wire ’ crowd. Perhaps the horns baritones, and soprano? get all the “ passenger traffic ” in the band. The highest congratulations are to be offered to the many plucky young fellows who tackled the wrath of Mr Schnack by entering for the various competitions. This section (solo competition) has been well catered,for, and one has heard a lot of praise'for the judge. He. gave his popular decisions always in a cheering and encouraging manner to young bandsmen. All the officials worked very bard, and left mo stone unturned to make the contest the undoubted success it has been. Courtesy has been the watchword of all. The 1930 contest has been an unqualified success, and the Town Hall has been largely the cause. Dunedin can justly feel proud of its magnificence.

MR WALKER HONOURED LONG SERVICES RECOGNISED After the contest had concluded last evening the local executive entertained the bandmasters, the Mayor, and city councillors, and members of the North and South Islands Bands’ Association at a social gathering in the supperroom at the Town Hall. Mr J. H. Walker, the chairman of the local executive, was the recipient of a presentation from the members of the executive and the bandmasters, in recognition of his services in the organisation and control of the contests. After extending a cordial welcome to the visitors Mr Walker proposed the toast of the mayor, city councillors, and town clerk. He mentioned that they were naturally very proud of the hall in which they had met, and he was sure that the visitors from, north and south were of the same opinion. The executive was very much indebted to the civic authorities for the efforts they had made to get the hall ready in time for the contest. The City Council was recognised as body of strong business men, who were anxions to do their best for the welfare of th« city. The mayor was an old bandsman, and was president of one of the bands competing at the contest.

The Mayor (Mr 11. S. Black), in replying, said they had been very pleased with the standard of the brass band playing during the past week. He referred to the absolute necessity for team work amongst the bands, and to the fact that the most unimportant instrumentalist played his part in the success of the team.

Mr J. Bennie proposed the toast of “The Bandmasters,” the toast being responded to by Messrs R. AVills (Invercargill Civic) and TO. Franklin (Wellington Municipal Tramways). Mr T. Ritchie proposed the toast of “The Judges and Honorary Judges,” They had had an experience during the week of the manner in which brass bands could interpret the highest class of music, and he desired to thank Messrs Smith and Schnack for their judging-an for their help and advice during the competitions. Mr C. Smith said he thought the gathering together of the committeemen, officials, etc., was an excellent idea. It was seven years since he had judged a band contest in Dunedin, and the improvement in the playing since then was nothing short of wonderful.' His task had been an exceedingly difficult one. The playing of the A grade bands in ‘Victory’ had been quite a. revelation to him—he had never expected to hear anything like it. There was not the same excellent playing on the Thursday night, but considering the difficulty of the piece it had been exceedingly well done; The B grade had also shown a great improvement, and there was no doubt about the C grade being “out of sight” since he had been hbre seven years ago. Some of the C grade bands were equal to the B grade bands. (Applause.) Mr Schnack congratulated Dunedin on the possession of its beautiful Town Hall. He stated that he had never seen anything like it. His most pleasant experience was with the drummers. He had done his best to bring the best men out. Mr Schnack spoke of the pleasant times ho had experienced as a member of the Kaikorai Band. He went on to pay a tribute to the sincere manner in which Mr Smith had carried out his duties. Speaking for himself, he had done his best to do justice to all the competitors. Mr Schnack said he would like to see competitors trusting each other a little better than was the case at present. They were the most suspicious men in the world.

Mr Rennie said ili.it twenty-one years ago Mr J. H. Walker had taken charge of the contests in Dunedin, and he controlled them in Dunedin ever since, and most successfully, too. (Applause.) Mr Walker had been chairman of the executive all that time, and the members of the executive and the bandmasters_ had decided to make him a presentation of a silver entree dish for Mrs Walker and a silver cigarette case for himself, both suitably inscribed, to mark the occasion. (Applause). The health of Mr Walker was drunk with musical honours.

Mr Walker briefly replied, thanking the donors for their gifts. Ho said he would like to make a public appreciation of the very valuable assistance given to him and the executive by thensupervisor, Mr J. D. Hunter. (Applause.) Every member of the executive had worked hard and harmoniously to make the contest a success out of pure love of baud music. They also appreciated the assistance given them by the bandmasters and the bandsmen. (Applause.) “'the South Island and North Island

Mr Walker proposed the toast of Bands’ Associations,” responded to by Mr J. 6. Osborne' and E. Palliser, and Mr J. D. Hunter proposed the toast of “The Council of Scottish Societies and the Pipe Bands’ Association and Pipers and Dancers’ Association,” Messrs T. Ritchie, K. Cameron, and R, Mackenzie responding. 'A recitation , was given by Mr J. B. M'Connell.