FIRST TEST SELECTION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume L, Issue 9001, 25 January 1906, Page 5

FIRST TEST SELECTION.

"VERY EXCELLENT PLAYING."

There was a splendid attendance at the Show Ground on Tuesday evening, the pavilion being packed, the lawn crowded, and the outside ring very thickly lined with., people. An unfortunate' delay occurred through the inadequacy of, the lighting arrangements in 'the band rotunda, it being found impossible" for -the -bands-"' men to read their music. Prompt action' was taken to remedy the defect, but . it, v, r as -half-past eight -before lamps carrying a different voltage were installed and a proper light obtained. Meanwhile the old-fashioned torches had been requisitioned, and shed smellM and fitful, gleams' about the band- stand. The sole attraction was^the' competition for the first test selection, "L'Etoile dv Nord' (Meyerbeer), arranged by W. Rimmer. ' The bands played in the following order : — Woolston, South Canterbury, Taranaki Garrison, Palmerston, Wanganui. „ While" tfie judges decision was being awaited the excitement was intense. Upon announcing the result Judge King said that the playing had been "very excellent." He awarded points as follows : — Wanganui Garrison ... ••■ 115 Woolston 113 South Canterbury Battalion ... 104 Palmerston North 104 - fTaranaki Garrison 99 The judge took 120 points as the maximum. . Tremendous applause greeted the result, the bandsmen joining m heartily. REMARKS BY THE JUDGE. ' " Wanganui Garrison.— A very excellent all round performance, in which tone, tune attack, and precision and their solo playing .were all admirable features. There was a fine compact body.' of rich musical tone. The solo cornet, playing was very beautiful. Two or, three of the movements were a good deal astray from metromme time, and I had 'to penalise this band more than- any.yotheT.dn this respect. ■ Woolston.— A ' very fine performance;; features of the performance "were attack, and precision, solidity, good combination, interpretation, in fact all the points that go to make up a first-class, band. Euphonium solo was very excellently played, and the horn and tromßone were very satisfactory. I awarded points for a very excellent performance indeed? South Canterbury Battalion.— This band showed many .good features. It had plenty of dash. It was'^ery tunefulj generally speaking, though weaknesses were apparent. The "opening movement was much faster than metronome time and the euphonium solo was very slow. ' Horn , -was not quite sotiefactoiy. Tromboae was fair. Euphonium did a lot of good honest work, but tone wanted to be richer in quality. The spirit of the drinking 6ong movement was well interpreted. There wae a great deal to please in the performance, but it lacked many of the finer features of the preceding band (Woolston). Palmerston North.— This band, in the I heavy pasages. played with a good deal of , firmness, but there was a little looseness in come' of the solo movtfmente amongst the acompanying parts. Solo cornettist played well. Soprano "wanted a little more power. On the whole very much the same class of performance as No. 2 (South Canterbury Battalion), although, of course, different features were apparent in either rendering. Bass end did not seem to be too strong in this band. Taranaki Garrison. — This band opened out of tune, and there were weaknesses in tune for some time, but it Became better. The band did not work together well in the earlier part of the selectios. There was a want of spontaneity in the manipulation of many passages. There was much to please- and an excellent appreciation of the requirements of most of the movements. The solo cornet played prettily. -Soprano was very good in places. Euphonium was good. Horn and trombone fair. HOW THE POINTS WERE ALLOTTED Waxgantjt. Tone, 15. .. , . . . Intonation, 15. " ' ' "■'"■'*"• , Attack and precision, 15. Phrasing and expression, 14 Interpretation, 15. i Tempo, 13. . ." . Ensemble, 15 Solo. ,13. , , . . . Total, 115. . . „.'.'. /' .' WoCjISTON. '"■"•.■ Tone, 14. •**• ;. ,-• '-. -"• <.\V •'",. ' Intonation, 14. Attack and' precision, .-14.,-- ?'• 3 I'JZ Phrasing and expression, 14. Interpretation,' 15." ■ -" '■:'. .-; j'.n T«tnpo/-15. ■--■...,■ rS ■• f Ensemble, 14. Solo, 13. '•.■;■» h*~'T ,r<r-i/ Total, 113. ■;■ : . 7--^ •;;-, v'.-j.v.y* " " Soutfa" d'AyfisßUxmi BATTAxaidW; '" Tone. 13. . . . ■ ; Intonation, " i.Z. Attack* and precision, ,13. ■ Phrasing- and expression, 13.

Interpretation', 35. Tempo, 14 Ensemble, 13. Solo, 10. Total, 104. Palmkrston North. Tone.. 13. - .. Intonation, 14. Attack and precision, 13. Phrasing and expression, 15. Interpretation, 15. Tempo. 14. Ensemble, 13. - , ■ , . Solo, 9. Total, 104. . . , ' Taiujj.vki Gabhisoa*. Tone, 12." ■ ' Intonation. 12. " - .-• ■ Attack and precision, 12. - - " : Phrasing- and expression, • 12. • • '- Interpretation, 15. " ' - \ Tempo, 14. Ensemble, 12. • • " ' Solo, l'O: • ■ ■ •-. • Total, 99.