N.Z. BANDS CONTEST

Evening Star, Issue 21037, 26 February 1932, Page 2

N.Z. BANDS CONTEST

A GRADE WON BY PORT NICHOLSON ST. HILDA TAKES FOURTH PLACE [Pi* United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 25. The Town Hall was packed to-night, and there was a "scene of remarkable enthusiasm when the A grade bands played the second test selection in the New Zealand band contest. The championship, which was awarded on points gained in the first and second test pieces and on the musical points in the quickstep, was won by tiio Port Nicholson Band, which was second in the first test, second (equal) in the second test, and first in musical points in the quickstep. Woolstou, which won both test selections, Idst the championship by a poor showing in the quickstep. “The bands in this contest were generally good,” said the judge (Mr J. J. Kelly). “There is, however, a marked difference between the standards of the A and B grade bands, but if the B grades follow in the track of the A grades they will be all right.” ' The points awarded to the bands were as follow: —

THE PRIZE MONEY. Tho principal money prizes were distributed as follows: —A Grade: Woolston, £165; Port Nicholson, £lO3 15s; Wanganui Garrison, £52 10s; St. Kilda, £SO; Wellington Tramways, £lO. B Grade: Hastings, £100; Nelson Garrison, £53 15s; Oamaru Municipal, £37 10s; i Masterton, £3O; Dunedin Tramways, £ls. Dunedin was not fortunate jn gaming high honours at this year’s contest. St. Kilda did not seem in quite such good form as in several previous years, yet the band played well. Its performances were refined, but lacked somewhat in vigour. No doubt this affected the judge’s placing. He seems to like big-toned bands, of which Woolston and Port Nicholson are worthy exponents. Woolston won both selections, but lost some ground in the music of the quickstep, consequently Port Nicholson gained the championship. It seems an anomaly that Woolston, top in both selections and in the hymn, should lose the- championship on the quickstep music, but that is according to contest regulations, and • the experience is not singular in contest history. _ in announcing tho decisions, Mr Kelly said the playing was very fine by all' the bands. The test work to-night was Hubert Bath’s suite, (Honour and Glory.’ The Town Hall was crowded, and proceedings were very enthusiastic. Port Nicholson wins a majority of the shields; Woolston has second place and also the Conn Shield. There was a great demonstration at the prizegiving, and cheers were bestowed on the winning conductors. The bands to-night appeared in the following order; —

WELLINGTON TRAMWAYS.—The initial movement was slow in tempo and its majesty and grandeur were lost to some extent. The tuning was excellent, and the tone also, but the movement lacked enthusiasm. The succeeding cornet solo was _ gloriously played by Stevenson, the winner of the championship for that instrument. No doubt the band was precise and well, up to the mark in tne matter of the rigours of the closing portion, and the work of building up a big body of fine tone. The time occupied in playing the selection was seven minutes.

PORT NICHOLSON.—This band also opened slowly. A pulsating tempo seems necessary to import tho majestic effect intended. Apart from this, the playing was no doubt very fine, but the band failed to impart thrill, and to create the electrical atmosphere. The tonal colouring was rich. The glorious cornet solo lost in the poetic sense. More fire and light and shade were required for the best effect. It was not impressive, principally because the expressiveness in the rendering was lacking. The trombones were rather rough in the special passage for those instruments. The closing movement found the band at its best, smart technical work resulting. On the whole, a solid band performance, not, however, reaching the greater heights. The time for playing was seven minutes and a quarter.

WANGANUI GARRISON. - This band opened with more pulse, and the conductor gave more touches of individuality, while the band responded well. The result was very good, without reaching the standard of creating a thrill. It cannot be said that tho beautiful cornet solo movement was a success. There was lack of poetry and expressiveness, and the bapd accompaniment was ou the heavy side. The cadenza movement was not free froip faults, and the succeeding trombone passage on the rough side., The ensembles in the concluding portions were big and very fine, articulation being always clear and distinct. While the performance was entertaining it lacked in thrill, and, to an extent, in beauty. The time occupied was seven and a-half minutes.

WOOLSTON.—The band opened with more speed than those preceding, and an electrical atmosphere was soon created. The movement was characterised by great power and majesty, reaching the heights of grandeur. All sections were playing faithfully, and it must be said that the trombone work and colouring throughout was a triumph. Detail all round was wonderfully well established, and parts of some rare beauty were heard for the first time. The cornet solo was beautifully played, and the harmony support was itself a musical picture. Intonation was perfect, and, with a fine soloist, it was a real piece of poetry, described musically. The climaxes of the ending portion were almost remarkable in tonal power, built up of pure, rich music. The articulation was smart, clear, and precise, and the building up of tonal volume in the big ensemble passages towards the end showed the band’s great capacity. Tho general treatment of the suite by the conductor varied considerably from the foregoing ones, and seemed more in keeping with the composer’s intentions —one exception being made in the opening of the suite, which seemed rather fast. The performance was quite on a par with tho first night. Tho band’s time was under seven minutes.

ST. KILDA. —Dunedin band opened the suite in quieter vein to Woolston, and with loss pulse. Refinement was its characteristic. Greater volume ajid a shade more pace would have created the thrill, but the conductor (Mr Dixon) seems always to aim at refine-

ment, where at times more vigorous treatment would enhance the effect. The band’s detail work was excellent generally, but in the cadenza movement a few lip flaws crept in. 'The cornet solo was prettily done, and the accompaniment was all that could be desired. The trombones put in much telling and good work, and the basses were splendid. The attack and precision in the articulated passages were neat, and the _ ending parts were . finely built up in tonal volume. The rendering was of high-grade standard. Playing time was seven minutes and a-half. Woolston was the chief money prizewinner, with £lO5, Port Nicholson’s share being £lO3 15s. Mr IT. D. Bennett, president of the New Zealand Bands’ Association, in giving his farewell remarks, said that, owing to adverse weather, there had been a financial loss, but as the committee bad a surplus in hand, it had been able to balance its budget. The southern bandsmen are returning by the Rangatira on Friday night.

d 0 1 •g "m « to, 4) t, M M U) M , o '3 ■« H 43 ’T3 C' <y iH <M *4 Port Nicholson 76 138 140 354 Woolston < ... 71 140 141 352 Wanganui 140 348 Garrison ... 73 135 St. Kilda ... 74 133 138 345 Wellington 132 137 344 Tramways 76