BAND CONTEST

Evening Star, Issue 21960, 21 February 1935, Page 13

BAND CONTEST

FIRST A GRADE TEST SOME COMMENT ON PERFORMANCES [From Our Special Commissioner.] TIMARU. February 20. After an exceptionally hot night the; weather changed this morning and steady rain set in. Consequently the first test for A grade bands'was held in the Theatre Royal to-night. This morning two important solo events were decided—the tenor trombone and- cornet solo for competitors not having won a championship. At the conclusion of the trombone event the judge (Mr Schnack) said it was the best section of the contest. Some were better than others, of course, but on the whole there was excellent playing. One young player from Nelson had a tone big enough to fill the Dunedin T'own Hall. Still that boy had considerable merit, and one day will be a champion. The winner, Leo Carruthers, of Greymouth Municipal, gave a magnificent performance, and received the Highest marks in, the contest. Overconfidence nearly brought ruin to Carruthers. The audience gave him an ovation, at the conclusion of the first variation, which he jokingly acknowledged by clapping his hands to his fellow-bandsmen in the hall. Then, after playing the next movement, he lost his place. Both he and his accompanist stopped, and the judge called out to take the second bar. Thoroughly chastened, Carruthers recommenced playing in most impressive style. The judge, referring to the incident afterwards, said he felt he could not penalise or disqualify the competitor for the sudden stop. The audience showed approval of the judge's statement and action. Second place was won by G. Langridge (Timaru Municipal), a lad for whom the writer predicts a brilliant future, and third place was filled by R. Hall (Kaikorai). The latter player gave a questionable exhibition, his slide shifting and vibrato playing, particularly on sustained notes, affecting tune and pitch. ' Trombone vibrato is strongly condemned. The- cornet section test solo was ‘ Valse Caprice,’ by Percy Code, one of the finest cornet players Australia has produced. The judge (Mr Baile), mentioned this fact in stating that the playing to-day was most disappointing. The winner E. Phelpung (Oamaru), took 84 points, R. Colvin (St. Kilda) was second with 83. and R. Simpson (Woolston) third with 82. Timaru is certainly original. At 7 o’clock to-night the firebells rang an alarm. , Visitors rushed into the streets to see where the fire was, only to be told by the residents that the Borough Council had arranged with the Contest Committee that, m the event of the weather being too wet for the contest to bo held in the open, the firebells could be rung, indicating that the contest would be held in the theatre. It is some years since the bells were rung ’for. fire purposes. The idea worked, for the theatre was well filled, and the opening band in the first test selection, ‘ Haydn,’ commenced at 7.45. It is a selection of the old school, merely a pot-pourri of suitable and unsuitable excerpts from the pea of this great master. In the opinion of many the selection is not a “ test ” in the true sense of the word, and is certainly nothing like as exacting as the second test, to be played on Friday night, Dr John Ireland’s ‘ Comedy.’ ‘ Haydn ’ is what' might be called “ straight.” It has little variety in its composition and it is open to question whether works such as those written so long ago, and therefore composed for pianoforte, are suitable for transcription into alleged “ test ” selections for brass bands. Some composers’ works lend themselves to the playing of brass bands—Wagner, for instance, and therefore that composer’s music will always find a place in the library of brass bands. Haydn was horn in 1732 and Wagner in 1813. Only eighty-one years apart, and yet an entirely different era as far as bands were concerned. In 1810 Joseph Halliday invented the' key-bugle, and from then until 1851 many similar inventions were claimed from many foreign countries. In the latter year (1851) at the International Exhibition in London, Dr J. P. Oates exhibited improvedfpistons on such sound principles that his ideas have been the basi% of all the best work since.

Wagner, then, lived at a time when bands as we know them were born. His compatriot, Wieprecht, in 1838 was appointed director of all the Guards Bands of Germany. It is a fair assumption, therefore, that Wagner was influenced and guided in his musical inspiration by the bands and orchestras which the new inventions had made possible, and which had been denied to former writers. Thus it is claimed that the older works should not be used for either brass or military band selections, either for concert work or contest. This aspect will be further dealt with when ‘ Comedy ’ is played on Friday night. In the meantime,• it is sufficient to sjgy that ‘ Haydn ’ calls for little imagination on the part of the conductor. It is considered correct (because it is traditional to be correct) to play, shall we say, the first movement from the ‘ 14th Symphony,’ or the andante from No. Gin the style of So-and-so. That course leads to monotony, to players and listeners alike. The euphonium has the nautical solo ‘ High on tlm Giddy, Bending Mast,’ while the trombone plays ‘ With Softer Beams and Milder Light ’ from ‘ The Creation.’ That well-known song ‘ My Mother Bids Me Bind 'My Hair ’ is played as a cornet solo. In the light of the above comments on the music itself, it is interesting to note results obtained by the competitors;— Seven hands played, and five out of the seven could be graded first-class bands, two not being in this company. In accordance with the rules the results were not made known, but were sealed and handed over to the supervisor by the judge. They will be opened after the second test on Friday, and the aggregate points made up. Therefore, what follow are my own observations on the playing of the respective bands in the order of their placing.

INVERCARGILL CIVIC.—A bigtoued, solid combination, well tuned but rather rough in some of the finer points. A showy band, but lacking the dainty work of the best bands. Still, a good performance indeed. QUEEN ALEXANDRA’S OWN.— This band has a clapper little conductor in Lieutenant E. Webb, and he had the men trained to the minute. A magnificent opening, with quality and, volume. The treatment of some movements left room for comment, and possibly for trouble with the judge. The trombone let the band clown in an important part. The whole selection was played two minutes faster than any other band took it. The ensemble work was grand.

PORT NICHOLSON.—This band opened quietly, in marked contrast to the previous band. In fact, it did not seem to get going for some time, but its work was good and clean, with fine, but not heavy, tone. As the band went on it improved until the recitative by the trombone seemed to fire the band with new life. The trombonist was excellent. His soulful playing and artistichandling, of the music caused a hush over the theatre. People seemed to stop breathing so as not to miss a note. A most reverential piece of work. From then on the band improved tremendously-. The cornet solo work also was splendid, and the band finished with a burst of triumph. ST. HILDA MUNICIPAL.—No. 1 band had placed its men in a circle on, the stage; No. 2 had adopted the usual formation with the heavy instruments at the rear, and No. 3 did the same; but St. Hilda reversed this order, the basses being on the front of the stage, ivith their backs to the judge. This arrangement did not allow the detail to come through, and made the accompaniments too. heavy. This band has a fine body of tone, and did splendid work, but the intonation of the cornet section was faulty. The trombonist of this band also gave a very line rendering of the recitative. A good band which must be placed well, but lost points through untunefulness.

TIMAEU MUNICIPAL.—In this band there was only one fault, and that was the trombone. He was not classy enough for the rest, and his work lowered the standard of play for the time being. The ensemble work was magnificent, brilliant, and well in tune. The light and shade attack and release were splendid. The quality of tone did not suffer through heavy _ flowing , the power used for producing the volume being well handled. It was an outstanding performance, and a credit to all concerned. It certainly looks as if this is Timaru’s contest, and if the shield goes their way, this writer says they have earned it. 0 AMARU MUNICIPAL.—Timaru’s cousins from fifty miles south came up in motor buses for the test to-night. They gave a fair performance, but not in the same class as the other bands. They are ! B grade, and should have played there. PALMERSTON NORTH GARRISON.—This band won the championship last year at Wellington, but there seems very little chance of it repeating the performance this year. Its playing was in-and-out. The solo cornet was excellent, in fact, one of the best heard to-night; but faulty intonation was responsible for some unpleasant music. The winner of the champion cornet solo this yea? is J. E. Wills. Last year his brother, R. B. Wills, won.