BAND NOTES

Grey River Argus, 30 May 1914, Page 6

BAND NOTES

■ . ' (By "B" Flat.") The Reefton Competition is r; pidly .j drawing nearer, and Wednesday next \ will find our West Coast bands once c more pitting themselves against each \' other in friendly rivalry. Jt is pietty ( well certain that the five bands nor- j mated will face the judge rt Ktef- ( ton „and if so "-- competition will be ] a keenly-contested one, and the event j should provide a bright patch in the c afternoon's sport. It is the wish o x c the Sports Committee that each band J provide a few items during the pro | gress of the sports, so there slould r be no lack of -music. In connection with the Reefton j , Sports the Railway Department has 1 ! drawn up a suitable time-table, which s provides for the .morning train leav- , ing Oreymouth at. 8. 5 arriving at Reef ton at 11.5. The return journey will commence at 5-55 P- m a* lo - the train ■ will reach Grey at 9.5 P-i«-The two Westport bands are reported to be in good form, the Ganis.on. in particular having accounted for a lot of solid work during the last we.nth or two. This band has the assistance of Messrs Lowe Bros., recent «:rivals from England, and their addition to the ranks has greatly strensrcianed the Garrison combination. Reefton will be represented by pia*. tically the same combina.'on whirl) competed at Grey three i.nontns ago. This band is always capable of a £ood performance, and it would ccfa-.'on no surprise to see Conductor Ausiin end his men at the top of the l:*t v.Hen the figures are totalled up en Wednesday next. The Brunner Band has uo*sn t-i ttmg in a lot of useful work «■ l -& the changing of the march music from time to time may trouble the younger players. The music for a marching competition cannot be taken in hand too early, and if the members can me moris© it so much the better. This allows of much more attention being paid to drill when on the march which is bound to make a material difference in te points awarded a band at the end of the competition. The Battalion Band has, been indulging in some solid indoor practice during the week. The members will assemble to-morrow morning for their final march before, going to Reefton, ' and every player is particularly requested to attend. A. successful item at: the Orchestral Society's Concert last Tuesday evening was the cornet solo "My Rosary" by Mr. T. McCain, solo' cornetist of the Battalion Band. The rendering was most artistic, and was supported by a fine and nicely subdued orchestral accompaniment. The number gained popular favour, and a repetition was demanded. News from Blackball states that a meeting is to be held to consider the reconstruction of the band. For some time band matters have been very quiet, so quiet in fact that^yt would never ,be suspected that not v so verylong ago Blackball could muster a full band. Most of the players are still there, and it only requires a lead to Jjet them together to put the band in commission once moifS. General Sir lan Hamilton paid a compliment to the Queen Alexandra's Own Band which will be not easily forgotten by its members. Under Lieutenant "Buckley t.hft band made itself prominent at the recent territorial camp at Takapau, and, besides atten. ding to its usual military duties, rendered programmes of music which were much enjoyed by aJI- On theTuesday evening of the week in wthich the camp broke up the band, by special request of the commanding officers of the different units, played at the residence of Mr. Sydney Johnston, pn whose grounds the camp was held. At the conclusion General Sir lam Hamilton heartily congratulated Lieutenant Buckley on 'the magnificent playing- of his band, and said lie was surprised to learn that the band consisted entirely of working men. In connection with the foregoing paragraph, "Magenta" of the New Zealand Times says that with the exception of the military bands in the Old Country, most of the bands are composed of working men, and General Hamilton need not have been so much surprised. In nine cases out of ten trombones are overblown ■in brass bands. " It is not easy to make clear 'in words the difference : between loudness and volume (says the "Brass Band News.") The^ good trombone section of a big band plays with much volume in big ensembles, but they do not play overloud'. They • play *to blend with such imall-voiced instruments as horns and cornets even- Examine any score and you will see that the arrangement requires that t!he trombone should blend with other instruments. A passage for horns and baritones may be repeated plus trombones. The arranger does not intend this to sound as two groups or players — the lustiy trombones playing out of all proportion to the others. He desires to get a blend which neither trombones nor baritones, etc., but a tone in which all tones are so mixed that none. aTe in separate evidence. Occasionally he wants th*trombones to stand -out alone brilliantly and clearly, but when he wants that the arrangement will furnish the effect without "any overblowing. The greatest art in playing is the aTt of blending the voices in ensemble.