BAND CONTESTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 February 1937, Page 7

BAND CONTESTS

A GRADE FIRST TEST WOOLSTON LEAD [PEB PBESB ASSOCIATION.] NELSON, February 17. “As each session goes your bands improve,” said the judge, Mr. E. P. Kerry, after hearing seven bands in the First A grade test selection of the Dominion Band Contest, at Nelson tonight. “When I heard the hymn section, I was beginning to wish I had never come to New Zealand.” Mr. Kerry said that there had been some good playing. His big criticism was tiie thin cornet playing which he could not tolerate. Many cornet players gave the impression that they had just begun to learn the cornet a fortnight before the contest. He had been particularly impressed by two trombone players and one soprano cornet. The placings were given as follow: — Woolston 1 Wanganui Garrison .. .. .. 2 Timaru Municipal 3 St. Kilda Municipal .. ... .. 4 Queen Alexandra’s Own 5, Palmerston North Garrison 6," Nelson Garrison 7. -

Large crowds lined the Nelson streets to witness the bands 1 marching competition, which proved a popular event. Results: — Woolston (88i points) 1 Nelson Garrison (88J points) .. 2 Hastings Citizens (87£ points) .. 3 Palmerston North Garrison 86£ points, Wellington Tramways 86 points, Institute Silver (Wellington) .86 points, Nelson-Marlborough Mounted Rifles 84 points, Wanganui Garrison 831 points, St. Kilda 82?« points, Westport Municipal 81 points, Timaru Municipal 81 points, Palmerston North City 79g- points, Takaka Citizens 761 points, Christchurch Municipal 761 points, Greymouth Civic 76 points, Cambridge Municipal 76 points, Dannevirke Municipal 741 points.

JUDGE CRITICISES TEMPO. • NELSON, February 18. The most noticeable feature that was wrong in the tenor horn" solo in the band contest this morning was the tempo, said Judge Goodall. The competitors played it like a dirge. The marks awarded were low because so many expression marks were missed. The winner gave the best reading. Although not perfect, t the ■ first and second players were the only ones who” gave reasonable and consistent tempo right through. Results were:— Tenor Horn Solo (19 entries).—F. Ormrod (Port Nicholson Silver) 89 points, 1; R. Francis (St. Kilda) 88 points, 2; L. Scrivener (Port Nicholson Silver) 87 3. Bass Trombone Solo: L. Williscombe (Dannevirke Municipal) 88 1, B. Redmond (St. Joseph Orphanage) 80 2.

JAZZ AS RIVAL. NELSON, February 18. The opinion expressed- by Mr E. P. Kerry, Adjudicator foi; the New Zealand Band Contest, that jazz orchestras would eventually displace brass bands in New South Wales, was referred to by Mr E. Palliser, president of the New Zealand Brass Bands’ Association, when replying to the official welcome. Mr Palliser said that Mr Kerry’s statement, that the trend was for the displacement of the brass bands by jazz orchestras, and that the death knell of bands had: been sounded, may have frightened the public and bands. “That fine sight in Trafalgar Street, Nelson, to-day, was a complete answer, and showed that brass bands in New Zealand are not dying.” said Mr Palliser amid applause. “The New Zealand Association this year has 96 affiliated bands, th® highest number ever affiliated in the Dominion, and it is a pleasing feature to the executive, that with the exception of two, all are financial. Mr Kerry can tell his jazz fiends in Australia that there is one place where bands can combat jazz, and that is in New Zealand.” (Applause). When Mr Kerry addressed the gathering, he said: “I quite expected Mr Palliser’s rub, but I still stand by what I said so far as Australia, is concerned, particularly New South Wales. I did not mention New Zealand in my comment.” Mr Kerry suggested that brass bands should receive a Government subsidy, making a prize of £5OO possible at each annual contest.