The Band Contest

Inangahua Times, 29 March 1909, Page 2

The Band Contest

J I Brilliant Success, I GRAND STAND CROWDE©

There was a very good attendance on Saturday alternttcm at the Race= course, (rt order to hviar the Quickstep Competition, The baiids. jjoJrrrk'd.aj fteS'ejfch's V), * u '\, .course'. Broad-,VV-V- vvas crowded, and a very large number followed the playing bands on to the ground. The weather, which during the night, had been of the wildest description, moderated, the showers of the morning faded away and the afternoon was bright and cheerful, tempered with a fresh. urss that added to the enjoyment. The Grey trains brought up , large contingents 61 people, and all revelled to tlie perfect weather, ihe Quickstep was the perloriiiance to be heard and viewed. Tile Inangahua Brass Band was the fi'rst to «rep of*, Their in music* was eWcllent, but their marching was decidedly poor. They executed a brilliant counter march and their i wheeling_ «.ras..good, but in their [alignment '.hey were hopelessiy at Vault. - Both music and marching was gradually improved on as the Cifzens, Westport, and Grey Battalion Bads stepped out. Tne winners proved to be the named and the victory was well merited. In the evening, the stand, lit up vviih four large acetylene lamps presented a beautiful sriectabie, crowded as it was with men, women and children. It was a sea of faces looking out on ''to the band stage that had been oonstructcd and which was also orilliuntiy illuminated by. acetylene gas. Mere the Grey Battalion first performed, followed by the Inangahua then by the \\ estport Garrison, and last of all by the Gey Citizens. Westport undoubtedly excelled in Lone, but in expression, our local band noeq.ial. Its modulated passages, its finish of style were indeed unsurpassed and this music it delivered rtfl.cted the greatest the conductor, Mr R A Sutherland,

Ihe following are the resjlts:— QUICKSTEP. Music Drill Total. Grey Battalion 74 941 168^ Westport 7; 86 - 137 Linens 69 84 I,- 3 Inangahua 68 79 147 TEST PIECE. Westport Garrison Band 97 points ' 1 Conductor Mr F Hcpkinson. Inangahua Brass Band 95 1 oinis a Conductor Mr U. A. Sutherland. Grey Battalion Band 90 points 3 Conductor Mr C. Staffm. Grey Citizens B nd 85 points 4 Conductor Mr C. Goodall. BBb. SOLOS. J. Neighbours, Westport 37pts I •T. " Sa ri;f nab' g'rs liTVa '3 spts*<* <#- <*& J. Rhodes, Grey 33 pts ... 3 Eb. BASS SOLOS. M. H ) le, Westport .?Bpts ... 1 .VI. Cody re, Westport, 3/pts ••• 2 K- Gjlbraith, Grey 36pts ... 3 TROMBONE SOLOS. J. Sira (St Crispin) 38p!s ... I T Cuming (Air Varie) 37pts ... 2 T. Neighbours (Chrystal Palace) 36 points 3 BARITONE SOLOS. E. O'Brien, Denniston 36pts ... 1 R. White, Inangahua 33 pts ... 2 EUPHONIUM SOLOS. I. Hirns, Inangahua 37pts ••• I S.Wheatley, Westport 36pts-.- 21 TENOR HORN SOLOS. ' G. Watt, Westport 36pt* ... I D. Weber, Grey 35 pts... ... 2 J.Williams, Inangahua 34pts-.. 3 W. Murtagh, Grey 3s points, L. McDonald, Westport G. McDonald 31 also played. BOYS' COMPETITION. A. McMjster, Inangahua 34 ... 1 W. Payne, Inangahua 30pts ... 2 Bb CORNETS. Angus McMaster, Westport n I Archie McMister, Westport 36 2 J. Kelly, Westport, 35pts ... 3 J. Barton, Westport, S. Austin, Inangahua 34, A. McMaster, Inangahuj, % 34,also played.

SOPRANO CORNET SOLOS. L. Neighbours, Westport 38 ... 1 W. Stevenson, Grey B. 37 ... 2 A. Conway, Inangahua 35 ... 3 QUARTETTES.

Westport Garrison, No 2, 48 ••• I Inangahua B. B-, No 2, 47 ... .2 Grey Battalion, No 2, 46 ... 3 Westport Gairison, No I, 45; Inangahua B. B. No 2, 44 points.

At the close, in declaring the winners, Lieut Herd warmly congratulated the brass bands engaged in the contest. The piece was a most difficult one. Mr V. B, Stallard, President of the Band Contest Committee, then delivered the prizes, the LSO going to Westport being given in a single bank note. Mr Hopkinson, the conductor, was warmly cheered on ascending the stage. Other prizes were similarly given. Messrs R. A. Sutherland, the conductor of the local band, Sara and Harria, winners oi solos, also receiving strong welcomes. Indeed Bardsmen Sara's execution of the trombone solo was as fine a bit of mu-icil work as has been heard in Re fton, while this bandsman's win was also much appreciated in musical circles. The whole function went off without a hitch or fault. Mr B P. McMahon took up the josition of Judge's steward, which he performed with conspicuous ability ind skill. Mr Noble in the capacity )f secrjtary worked most diligently vhile almost every member of the lommittee did his level best. Messrs : kinherland Bros, erected thj acetyl. , ne plant, which was a credit to ■ hem and to Mr R~ Wills and S. [ I

Austin, who were the lighting cornmi tec. Over Li2o \Vas taken 1 at the gates ui;l the content niay Be deemed to 'ie a financial suoees?; as the deficiency will be merely nominal.