BAND CONTEST

Gisborne Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6318, 22 February 1922, Page 6

BAND CONTEST

RETURN' TO GISBORNE

ENJOYABLE TIMES IN WELLINGTON.

The members of the , City Band returned to Gisborne by the 'Ripple yesterday after participating in the Dominion contests, and after a thoroughly enjoyable and successful visit to the capital city. The bandsmen speak very h ighly of the arrangements which were made for the contest and of the reception which they received in Well-

inglon. On tiie journey down, the Band was met at Napier by Messrs. A. Don and Fred Wilkinson, two former Gisborne bandsmen;, wlio accompanied them as far as Hastings. Throughout the contest splendid weather was experienced, and the Hand was particularly fortunate in being billeted at the Selwyn Hotel, Courtenay Place, where their Host was Mr. L. Laurent,!, well-known to Gisborneites, as a former proprietor of the Masonic Hotel here. No stone was left -unturned to make the stay as pleasant and as comfortable as possible. Through the representations of Mr. A. T. Jones, manager of the local band, all the members of the visiting bands were permitted to travel free in tne trams, and a number of the theatres threw open their doors to the visitors. During the stay they m ade many friends, and Gisborne has been well advertised as a result cf the Hand’s visit. On the Sunday following their arrival the Band by special request gave a concert at Petone, the theatre being crowded to the doors and hundreds unable to "aiii' admission. During the evening Mr. T. Stevenson gave an exhibition of drumming, and this, and ail other selections were greatly appreciated. Subsequently the Hand was entertained at supper by the Petone band. The bandsmen left Wellington on Monday morning, and joined the Nipple at Napier the same night. On arrival at Gisborne they were brought ashore m surf-boats, and landed at the Post Office steps at 8 a.m. .v i. Junes’ medal for the soloist gaining most points in the contest was won by G. V. Nornnm with 90 A Falconer being second with BS, and J. Ovens third, with S 6. The following were the monetary prizes won by the various bands at the contest :-A grade: Wellington Waterside Workers, £ISS; Vt oolston £9O; Invercargill Hibernian, £SO; Wellington Tramways, £-13; Wanganui Garrison, £10; Oueen Alexandra’s Own (Wanganui), £ls; Gisborne City, £ls; Ist Canterbury Mounted Eifies (Ashburton), £5. B Grade: Palmerston North, £100; It'h Wellington Ecgimental (New Plymouth). £l7 10s; Marlon, £l7 10s; Masterten Silver, £o; Wellington Patriotic Socieiv.. £2 10s; Westport Garrison. £2 10s. The medals won by the various bands were as follows: —A grade: Wellington: Waterside Workers, six gold medals and two silver; Invercargill Hibernian, two gold and eight silver; 2nd South Canterbury Regiment (Timaru) three gold and one silver; M oolston, three gold and cue silver; 2nd Otago Battalion (Invercargill), one gold; Auckland Artillery, two silver; Hastings Town, one silver; Nelson Garrison, one silver. B Grade :—Palmerston North, three gold and one silver; 4th ‘Wellington Regimental (New Plymouth), one gold; Christchurch Tramways, one gold; Masterton* Siliei Band, one silver; Westport Garrison, one gold. BAND PEEP OEM ANCE.S. NO MISTAKE IN ENTERING A GRADE.

That the Band is by no means d &- ; satisfied with its performance at the ; contest is evident from the remarks made to a Times reporter yesterday by the manager, Mr. A. 'I. Jones. Air Jones stated that so far no reports’ had been received from the judges and he was therefore reluctant to comment upon the performances of the local band on the various occasions, it was expected that the reports would be available within the next -week and they would be published as scon as they were received. The band was moie than satisfied with the results, and they had certainly not made-a mistake in entering for the A grade. This statement was adequately borne out by the fact that on two occasions they bad defeated the Wellington Waterside Workers for music, despite the fact that this hand had nine imported players. including three from Australia. On two occasions also they had defeated the Woolston band on aggregate points, while the Invercargill Hibernian and Wanganui Garrison, who were ahead on the total points had alsobeen defeated on one occasion. Ihe fact that in the second test piece they luid been beaten by two jaunts- for first place spoke for itself. Obtaining fourtn place in the military points was another distinct success in view of the fact that there were 22 bands competing. They were defeated for third place by only a quarter of a jioint. The future of the Bend to obtaini greater honors in the first selection, said Mr. Jones was undoubtedly due to nervousness. The Band had not placed up to its usual standard and had frequently given a better interpretation of the jiiece. In. view ot their disappointment on this occasion their splendid recovery on the second night was all the more creditable, and this inspired them to greater effort during the remainder, of the contest. In the quickstep the Band had been unfortunate in drawing nineteenth jdace. with the result that they had to wait from 12.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. before starting, and consequently the bandsmen were icry tired and did not do so well as w-ould have been the case had they started earlier. In the quartette the band’s renreseu-tatives had done very well, being placed fifth out of 33 competitors, with 88 points, six points only behind the winners. Mr. Shugg, the adjudicator, had specially mentioned the first live competitors as very fine performances, and the next eight or nine as particularly good. In the solo items the most successful local performer was V. Norman, who had obtained fifth place in the tenor kora solo, securing 90 points, this being only five behind the winner. There were fourteen ‘competitors, comprising the leading plnyers in the J)oinini-on. In the same solo A. Falconer had been placed seventh. The adjudicator, Mr. E. Smith, bad said that this was a particularly fine section. In the euphonium solo, T. Ovens, last year’s champion. had been j) laced fourth with, 8(i jaunts, being five .behind the winner, and only two behind F. D. Croft, champion of Australia. Ovens had the misfortune of having to play last on account of the- accompanist being engaged in the other hall. Members of the Band are eulogistic in their reference to the work of the conductor, Mr. Chas. Clies term an,, and of Drum-Major McLaughlin, to whom a great deal of credit is due for the success in the quickstep. Mr. P. Bfiasco gave every satisfaction as accompanist, and was ranch in demand' by erloists 1/v.ui other bands, but had reluctantly ic decline the many requests for his sec* ices. The bandsmen all pay a Mowing tribute to the manager of the Band. Mr. A. T. Jones, who was largely responsible for the successful manner in which the tour jvas cameo cut.

AMUSING A D.JU DICATJ ON

Thu* a humorous writer ,in the Christchurch Star: I have had the unkjuo experience of acting as' an assistant judge at the Wellington Band Contests. It was the unfortvuifite that I the from a. sea voyage, wrnen • ground roll a good aeal under m., f«T and I had several more sea voya, » during the afternoon, wmen d,d not improve matters, Consequently I oJj

heard two bands, criticisms of which I give belowThe Will Stun Band.—Opening very slow,, on a dull wicket, and third cor-’ net enters rather unsteadily after bar 20. Too much spirit. Larghetto a bit large, allegro distinctly a tempo. Trombone not stylish enough, skirts too long and hat not chic. The girl behind says ' exquisite , feeling/ hut I can’t feel anything. Tone hot warm enough in the allegro mod., but hot stuff in the arpeggios. That was a nice piece cf fish w-e had for dinner. Euphonium clear and dry, from a prohibition' town evidently. I am dry too. BB bass won by two bars and a quaver, casing up. Pints, 271. ' Waterside Workers' Band. Four knights opening, with gajmbit declined at fifth move. If soprano to dotted crochet, the baritone to knit purl and jilain. Horn off the pitch and a bit short, but swinging to leg nicely. That was trumpeter we had for dinner, and has nice tone in tacit passages and balances well on,the ledger lines Ato Z. Band warming up and so am I —also a bit thirsty. The sea is getting veryheavy; band nearly- swamped on the last bar. That cadenza was good: so was the plum pie. Allegro mod. entered well, and left with grace and style. I do like your ties and socks, but oh, I am so dry, just moisten poor Noll’s lips again, and mother do not cry. Good heavens, is that the end? Quite enjoyable. Yes, thanks, I will have one now. What did I award the other band? Oil, yes, 271. Well, I must not make any distinctions.--Pints, 271.