BANDS CONTEST

Evening Star, Issue 22277, 2 March 1936, Page 13

BANDS CONTEST

WOOLSTON WINS QUICKSTEP ST. HILDA'S BRILLIANT MARCHING 15,000 SPECTATORS [Pub United Press Association ..1 NEW PLYMOUTH, February 29. Capping one of the finest records of the contest the Woolston Band won the A Grade Quickstep at the concluding day of the New Zealand Brass Band's Championships on Saturday. Woolston did not approach the brilliant marching of the St. Kilda Band, which was second, but its superiority in music snabled it to win by a small points' margin. Possibly the finest band in appearance •was the Hastings Citizens. Though beaten by the Taranaki Regimental on inarching, the Hastings won the B Grade Quickstep. The terraced ampitheatre of Pukekura Park presented a brilliant spectacle in the heat of the summer's day. Fifteen thousand people crowded the terraces the whole afternoon. Twelve bands marched through tho streets to the park, the competition for that march and the playing being won by the Port Nicholson Silver Band. Special trains'from Auckland, Wellington, and other terminals brought many visitors, and the route to the park was lined by many thousands. The beauty of the scene in the park and the quality of the performance by the bands evoked the judge's enthusiasm. At the conclusion of the contest the massed bands played the march ' Invercargill' under the baton of the adjudicator, Mr A. H. Baile, and the volume and richness of tile harmony that swept up from the bowl of the park was remarkable. Sis special trains left New Plymouth to-day crowded with excursionists with destinations north and south. The championship points were as follow: —

HOW THE BANDS PLAYED B GRADE Wellington Institute, March 'Powerful,' by Carter.—There was good attack, and the band- was nicely compact. The bass drum was a shade heavy at times. The nuances were quite nicely treated. The opening trio was good. The band lost volume on the turns, but still was-quite rich in tonal volume. A good halt was made and the men were playing better now. Quite an attractive performance. Hastings Citizens, ' Twentieth Century ' (Ord Hume). —A popular march* cleanly played. The basses might have been a little richer towards the close of the introduction. The cornets were good, and the bass solo was richly played. The playing was quite good on the turns. The band played very well at the halt. The band was nicely in tune, and the soprano was effective. A good performance. Greymouth Municipal, ' Twentieth Century ' (Ord Hume). —The cornet faissed the opening, otherwise a satisaclsory attack, with the nuances nicely treated and a- rich body of tone. The cornets were inclined to be a bit thick. The' trio was tastefully played. The second tune through the march was better played. The treatment of the band at the halt was musicianly; a really good musical performance. Taranaki Regimental and Municipal, •Rimutaka' (Trussell).—The attackwas good, and the bass section good. A solid march to select, biit they played it quite well. On the military evolutions the band played exceptionally well; a very good performance of an A grade march. Waitara Municipal, ' VVairoa ' (Lithgow).—Another march by a New Zealand composer; very tuneful, and the band played it quite well, though lacking a little in volume. The cornets were inclined to push the notes at times. There was particularly good playing on the turns and wheels, and a good halt. The trombones were not. tongueing their notes. The nuances were effective. A performance that showed much promise. A GRADE QUICKSTEP Nelson Garrison, ' 8.8. and C.F.' March (Ord Hume). —An uncertain opening, but a quick recovery. A nice six-eight rhythm was gained, with good expression, although perhaps a little more crescendo in the trio would have been effective. Still, a well-played movement. In the second tune through the march the drummers played with good expression; so did the remainder af the band, particularly in the trio. A meritorious performance. Wanganui Garrison, ' Ravenswood,' by Ttimmer.—Quite a good body of tone, intonation good, and expression marks treated with care. , A good march. The band lost volume on the turns, and the halt was anticipated by the front rank. The band was playing better here; a solid performance. Cairns (Australia), March 'B.B. and C.F.' (Ord Hume). —A glorious volume of tone at the start, and this was kept up, too. A lovely six-eight rhythm was got. The band played without music, but the note values were correct throughout. The band played beautifully, with a lovely rich tone, and all the nuances correctly interpreted. The cornets were tiptop and the soprano good. A really fine musical performance! Woolston, 'Knight of the . Road ' (by ltimmer).—Lovely opening, with good expression and the band beautifully in tune, ft was a really good, musicianly performance throughout. The drummers played well. There was hardly » musical blemish, and it was a ireat to listen to this playing. 'lron;-

bones and basses were rich; an outstanding musical performance. St. Kiida Municipal, March ‘ 8.8. and C.F.’—Really a superb performance throughout. All the musical details were paid attention to and the marching was excellent; an outstanding performance. Port Nicholson, * Ravenswood ’ (by Rimmer). —A good attack, the band nicely in tune, getting a rich body of tone throughout and marching most attractively. A tiptop performance 1 Timaru Municipal, March ‘ 20th Century.’—A good opening. The bass section was rich. The cornets missed occasionally. The band was nicely in tunc and the nuances were attended to with care. A very good performance.

A GRADE QUICKSTEP. Military. Music. Total. Woolston ... ... 178 147 325 St. Kilda 180* 143 3231 Port Nicholson 178J 141 3193 Timaru 140* 114 314* Cairns Wanganui Garri167 146 313 son ... 1601135 2951 Nelson Garrison 155* 132 287* B GRADE QUICKSTEP. Hastings ... ... Taranaki Regi165* 140 305* metal Wellington Boys’ 172 133 305 .Institute 155 ■134 289 Greymouth 140* 136 2781 W’aitara ... ... 134 129 263