CLASSICAL TEST MUSIC

Hawera Star, Volume L, 16 January 1931, Page 5

CLASSICAL TEST MUSIC

NORTH ISLAND CONTEST. LOWER ENTRY EXPECTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 15. In reply to an inquiry, the president of the North Island “Bands- Association (Mr H. D. Bennett ) stated that, he cpj.itc expected a diminution in the numbers of'bands likely to take part in the contest. There arc two reasons for this. One, he thought, was the fact that the test music for the contest was particularly classical and called for the best from every individual in each band. Not many bands in New Zealand could boast of a “full team” capable of tackling difficult music of this kind, and no doubt this would have some bearing on the number of bands participating. Probably the principal reason, however, was the financial stringency. The cost of transporting a full band from, say,Dunedin to Wellington for a week was a serious matter in these days. Asked whetner the association had considered the postponement of the contest, Mr Bennett said that that matter had been the subject of a special meeting, and the association had decided that there were no good reasons for a further gratuitous contribution to .tne general despondency by withdrawing such a valuable antidote as a full week’s carnival of exhilarating music. There would be at least 20 bands in the city, and no doubt marches and processions would make a welcome break. “At any rate, we are going ahead,” he concluded.