MUSIC BY BANDS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 26 March 1931, Page 6

MUSIC BY BANDS

TARANAKI CONTESTS HAWERA AND REGIMENTAL TIE STRATFORD—AND ELTHAAI HEAD C GRADE.

The Taranaki Blind Contest at. Hawera, which concluded last evening, was a striking success. There were ex- . eellent entries in both B and O Grades j and the attendances at both afternoon j and evening sessions were good, visitors coming from every part of the pro? viiice. The general results are ii credit alike to the Taranaki union, under whose aegis the contest wits conducted, arid to the local committee in Hawera, who. with the honorary secretaries, Messrs E. AI. Bardsiey arid A. K. Fyson, carried out excellent work arid had matters so well arranged that no hitch occurred at any jiart of the pro- . ceedings. The committee 'and officials responsible for this good result were as follow: Patron, Air P. Thomson (Stratford); president, Air P'. Skoglund (Stratford) ; hon. secretary, H. Burmester (Stratford): chairman, Air E.' Dixon; hon. treasurer, Air F. AY. Sutton ; joint hon. secretaries, Messrs A. Iv. Fyson and E. Al. Bardsiey; executive committee, Alessrs F. Fbden, F. P'ettett, W. Oliver, J. Dredge, E. Northrop, A. Shepherd, P. Trim, H. N. Lester, G. Aleyrick, R. Alorrissey, A. Stott, J. Goodwin, R. Page, J. Champion, B. Bennett, FI. Webb, G. Laidlaiv, ij. Laurensen; musical judges Messrs R. J. Estall, Christchurch, (brass), A. S. Kirkland, New Plymouth (pipe); nfilitaiy judges,, Alajor N. E. Conwav, Lt. J. N. Henrv, S.S.-AI. J. T. Beil. S.S.-AI. J. S. King, S.S-.-AI. Quayle ; instrument inspector,. Air . Cosgrove; supervisor, Air G. Meyrick; marshalls. Mesrs’s F. AV. Sutton, J. Champion, H. N. Lester; timekeeper, Mr F. Foden; deputy timekeeper. AllG. Hostick; refreshments and entertainment, Alessrs E. Dixon, E, Northrop, B. Bennett; gates, Alessrs J. Goodwin, G. Liiidiaw, P. Trim, D. AI. Cowie; programmes, J. Dredge; general. Messrs R. Alorrissey. (convenor), W. Oliver, A. Shepherd, A. Stott, V. Webb, J. Laurenson. !

New Plymouth Regimental won the quickstep in the B grade and Eltham that event in the C grade, while Hawera and Stratford won the own selection in the evening in the two grades. Hawera and New Plymouth Regimental tied in the B grade aggregate.

Punctually at two o’clock, after the inspection of instruments by Mr J. A. G- Cosgrove, the draw was made for nlaees in the Quickstep lor the two grades and for the pipes and the order was as follows: B grade, Hawera, New Plymouth Regimental; O grade, Eltham Patea, Waitara, Opunake, Stratford, pipes, Eltham, Hawera, Stratford, Auroa.

The military judging was carried out by officers of the permanent force from New Plymouth, Hawera and Stratford while the judging of the music was in the hands of Messrs R. J. Estall (brass) and Lieut. Kirkland (pipes).

The combined results gave a win to New Plymouth Regimental in the B grade by 2f points over Hawera, and to Eltham in the C grade by 7£ points over Stratford. The latter, however, scored highest in music. In the pipes H>wcra had a comfortable win from Eltham by 14J- points, Stratford being third and Auroa fourth.

In the afternoon the. Mayor (Mr E'. A. Pacey) gave a cordial welcome to the visitors. He congratulated all on the success secured.

Amongst those present was Messrs P. Thomson (patron) and P. Skoglund (president) of the Taranaki Association and Mr J. G. Osborne, sec-retnry of the North Island Association. MASSED BANDS.

Keen interest was taken by the large crowd: in the display* by* the massed bands. First the i>ipers, under the judge, lined up in one massed column and marched to the strains' of “Bonnie Dundee” towards the grandstand amidst the plaudits, of the crowd. Then the brass hands, under their judge, lined up in a hollow square and played the march “Our Director,” in fine style. The financial results were verv satisfactory, the takings being over £l5O, the profits going to the union to, help smaller centres.

The list of results was as follows : B Grade Selection. Hawera, SO points j New Plymouth Regimental 79 points 2 New Plymouth Citizens, 72 points 3

C Grade Selection. j Stratford, 74 points 1 Eltharii, 68 points 2 Patea, 62 points J Opunake, 62 points 3 Waitara, 61 points 5 Inglewood. 60 points 6 Hawera Auxiliary, 57 points 7 14 Grade Aggregate. Hawera, 155 points. New; Plymouth Regimental, 155 points (equal) 1 O Grade Aggregate. Stratford, 154 points 1 Eltliam, 146 points 2 Opunake, 126 points 3 Patea, 124 points 4 Waitara, 123 points 5 In the C grade selection Hawera Auxiliary-played “L’Eibro” (Appolloni) ; Inglewood “Der AVilddschutz’ ’ (Lortzing); Patea “Operatic Beauties” (R. Smith and Co.) ; Opunake, “Lurline” (AVallace): Filth am, “Mirella’ .’ (Gounod); Stratford, “Recollections of Verdi” (W. Rimmer) ; AA’aitara, “Carisbrooke”' (A. Calvert). The B grade bands, New Plymouth Regimental, Hawera and New Plymouth Citizens, chose “Heroic Fantasie” (A. Owen), “Works of Lizst” (AA r . Rimmer), and “Alaritana” (Wallace) respectively. In the quickstep the individual! points were: B GRADE.

Grand total 2364 239 J In the C Grade the gross totals were:

i Close interest was taken in tlie work •of the pipe bands and the hands all did well. The music was excellent and i the marching of a high -order.

Grand total (400) 319 i 305 283 J 232? JUDGE’S REMARKS. The Hawera hand chose for its march selection the “Pibroch of Donald Dhu.” Commenting on the playing the judge. Mr Alex. S. Kirkland (New Plymouth) said the band was a well-balanced combination. Its performance was .a. very fine one. The drum attack, which was a bit ragged, but could have been improved, while the fingering at the halt was slightly hurried. PI aying the “Benawe Highlander’s March,” the Eltham hand started well, hut one or two pipers must have stopped at the halt. The leading di-um stopped instead of the double forte, hut was otherwise very good. The drums of the forte drummers were | flat, a heavy sound resulting. The drums of the Stratford band roared somewhat at the start of “Cantain Towse.” .said the judge, while some of the pipes lost their time. More skirls would improve the combination and improved fingering would show results. All drums, big and small, were flat.

The Auroa band was inclined to play too Quickly. Its drums were ragged and the pipers will require to learn how to master the drums before the combination could develop into a good

one. The “79th’s Farewell to Gibraltar” was the selection played. OWN SELECTION. There was a dense crowd in the evening, the long stand at the giound being filled and enthusiasm ran high as each band came forward and completed its work. All were given a warm and cordial reception. The 0 grade bands opened in the following order: Hawera, Inglewood, Patea, Opunake, Eltham, Stratford, and Waitara. B grade: N.P. Citizens, N.P. Regimental arid Hawera. 'The maximum points awarded were as follow: Tone quality, 30; intonation, 20; style, artistry and general treatment, 25;- articulation, accent and rhythm, 25; possible, 100. The results were as below:— B GRADE. Hawera 22 IS 20 20 SO N.P. -Regimental 20 IS 20 21 —7-9 N.P. Citizens

The selections made were: B grade, Hawera, “Works of Liszt”; N.P. Regimental,. “Heroic Fantasie”; N.P. Citizens, ‘‘Alaritana”. 0. Grade, Ha-w-era, L’elbreo l(Appolone) ; Inglewood, Der AVilsdschentz (Lortzing); Patea, Operatic Beauties (R‘. Smith); -Opunake, Lurline (Wallace); Eltham, Alirella (Gounod); Stratford, Recollections of \ T erdi (Rimmer); Waitara, -Carisbrooke i(A. -Calvert). At the conclusion the judge (Air Estall) announced the results and congratulated the bands on tlie results achieved and the committee on the success of the contest. . He said he had to record that since ! he was in Taranaki previously there had been a greater improvement in the 'O than in the B grade bands. He was exceedingly pleased with the playing he had heard and added that some of the top C grade bands had given excellent performances and showed that they had musical talent under very good training. Every detail had been observed in a way that would be a credit' to first class bands. In regard to the B grade bands he

r knew that conductors were up against the problem of continually losing players. He referred to the wonderful enthusiasm of bandsmen and said that band playing >vas an “unselfish hobby” because men gave up time and put in endless work for the sake of the cause and, therefore, were deserving of great praise and all appreciation. He commended specially the players and noted w-ith keen approval that Stratford had no less than IS players under 17 years old while Hawera was almost wholly! a boys’ band. After announcing the results, Air Estall said he had to select a cornet player for a special prize and had made the award to tlie leading cornet in the Patea band. The chairman of the committee announced that as the hour was late, it was impossible to present the trophies and prizes,, but that these would be forwarded to the winners.

-Cheers w r ere_ given for the winning bands in the various, grades.

Ihva. N.P. Dressing (15) 104 13 General appearane (10) . Cleanliness of instru64 7 ments (10) Forming marching order 94 9 (10) 7 7 March to A (5) 3 Si March from A to B (10) 7 74 First counter march (10) 84 84 March from C to D (10) Second counter march 7 74 (10) : 84 84 Left turn (10) 8S 85 March to E! (10) 7 75 Right turn (10) 85 8 March from. F to F (10) 7i 74 Right wheel (10) Maich to G and halt 7 65 (10) 717.1 Paces (25) 244 23 Tune (25) Total military points 24 234 (200) Total points for music 1614 1634 (100) 75 76

Miltrv. Music. Tl. (200) (100) (300) El tli am 1663 7S 244i Stratford 1563 80 236J Opunake 164 64 228 Pntea 163f 62 2253 Waitara 159 PIPE BANDS. 62 221

ElStrat- ! Hawera tham ford Auroa Dressing (15) ... General appear14 9 101 94 ance. (10) Forming marcli8 6 74 7 ing order (10) 8 6 7 74 March to A (5) 21 44 3 31 Marcli A-B (10) First counter 31 73 72 53 march (10) 83 83 83 71 March C-D (10) Second counter 74 72 73 64 march (10) 83 84 82 7 Left turn (10) ... 8 ■ 83 72 6 March to E (10) 8 73 8 6 Right turn (10) 83 84 74 64 March E-F (10) n 8 71 ' 6 1 Right wheel (10) March to G and 8 8 8 6 halt (10) 73 73 71 54 Paces (25) 104 19 20 21 Time (25) Total military 224 214 21 21 points (200) Total points for 1563 1494 147 1312 music (200) 162J 1554 1364 101

C iG-R ADE. Stratford •22 16 18 18—74 jEltliam , 20 •15 18 15—68 Patea 16 14 17 15—62 Opnnake .. 17 14 17 14--62 Waitara 16 13 16 16—61 Inglewood 16 14 15 15—60 Hawera .. . 15 12. 15 15—57