THE BAND CONTEST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 664, 24 March 1923, Page 3

THE BAND CONTEST.

COMMENTS ON LOCAL PLAYERS

The judges' comments on the playing of the local band at the recent New Plymouth band contest have come to hand, and the following are the remarks upon the hymn, first and second tests,, and quickstep. Hymn Eleison" (Wj A. Mozart): A fine opening; a slight waver in tune at bar two; bar four fine; soprano slips in 15; excellent at 20; a fine toned band; crescendo well attended to; I would have liked this,, ending to be made more of; good blend and balance; soprano misses at 31. 86 marks. f First Test, A Grade.—" Roberto II Diavolo": First movement: A good start; bar two well done but rhythm doubtful; four good; a good toned band; eight well done, except the inner phrase too short; at 13sopranopalpably flat; other part of band working well: soprano off at 16; better onward, band doing well; working together with good tone; 23 might bo softer; 27 well done; trombones not in tune together at 28; also at 30. Second movement: Grand playing this; several slips from 8, 9 and' 10, but a well trained band; not soft enough at 12; right style; fine bass work 24 and onwards; splendid rhythm in this band; 32 good; a'well executed movement; 52 and 53 scarcely together) nice time though; a slight Avaver in tune duo to weather. Third movement: Well done at start; you eh 1 on the slow side; soloist playing nice and sweetly; accompaniments well balanced 1 ; I would like it faster; solo slips in 18; splendid accompaniment and bass, all helping soloist; wrong rhythm in upper parts at 23 and 24'; 24 and onward nicely done; shot note in 29 well done; soloist doing splendidly; 35 well done; might be a little softer though; cornet doing well and accompaniments helping him; tune off from 41, right conception chough; 46, band doing excellently; soprano good here, tenor horn good; 52 nicely done; 53 a grand bit of work; slight slips at 56 soprano; solo cornet not safe 56 and 57. Fourth movement: Trombone enters in a manly Avay; accompaniments well done in this;'trombone has a nice robust tone and style. Fifth movement: I would like more spirit; 11 trombone and euphonium well, soprano flat working with euphonium; tune off; inner parts well done; tune off from 20; rhythm well done; soprano good at 24 and 25; 26 and on a very fine bit of work; cadenza 35, a nice musicianly rendering. Sixth movement: Well done basses and horns; a grand entry at four by lower part of band; soprano still out of tune; my ideal of a toned band; 16 well done; soprano off at 19; basses a feature here; well done by all; cadenza excellent. Seventh movement: Now you are along with it; this just suits you; good {rhythm; 7 well done; band grand from eight and onwards; cadenza 12 well done except slur from high note to next. Eighth movement: Eight style; from 8 and onward very fine; 19, 21 and 23 grand; from 25 and onward you are revelling in it; an excellent ending to a well performed movement: you have given me great pleasure with this selection; this band will take some beating.—9o marks. Second Test, A Grade.—"Jessonila" : First movement: Good start of fine toned band all moving well together; 'from 9 I would like this a shade softer; all moving together 9 to 12; basses a feature, just the right stylo; other parts blending well; from 19 giving -good music, playing lovely, I would like it a shade softer at 23; good entry of trombones at 26, other parts grand; 28 excellent. Second movement: Good playing here; ragged at 7; from 14 and on all moving together. Third movement : Right idea of rhythm; nice entry of euphonium; splendid tenor from three arid on; rather too loud at 5 and 6; not too good entry of soprano and trombone at 8; other parts moving nicely; 13 and 14 scarcely together; slip in solo cornet at 15; trombone doing well; scarcely in tune at 19; trombone and solo cornet moving well together; baritone in 21 not clear; too loud at 23 and 24, otherwise band playing nicely here; basses' tone excellent; not soft enough at 28, scarcely together at 30; now nice work at 31, 32 and 33; a pair of artists, very nicely rendered. Fourth movement: This movement suits you; soprano in tune here; from 17 all doing well; good soprano; at 25 a good start but soprano slips once; do not force the tone, soprano; too loud at 37; on repeat very well done; from 41, 42 and onward good brass band playing; 49, 50 and 51 excellent; cadenza another artist, rather nervous; do not overdo your tremolo, otherwise you spoil a good tone; excellent. Fifth movement: Rather inclined to drag this movement, although a nice toned band; cornet playing with soul; release not good at 8 in innner parts; solo cornet quite right in 9; good work between ilugal and solo cornet at 10 and 11; all moving well here; semi-quaver rhythm good; soprano enters nicely; this is too draggy and becomes "tame"; good' tenor horn work from 20 and onward; your tremolo is being overdone in solo, otherwise you and all the band are doing excellently; a little tremolo is good now and again; 29 nicely done except the tremolo. Sixth movement: Basses scarcely in tune hero; too slow, and the movement lacks fire; good at 22 and 26, but bungled at 37; 41 better; you are getting ragged here; 50, 51 and 52 might he tapered off hotter; cadenza; nice tone; euphonium an artist—a nice I rendition of this in fact. I am sorry you broke after the dot. Seventh movement: Start too loud; scarcely together at 11 but better at 12. A good ending to a nice conception of the piece, save the last chord. Cultivate the suppression of the fifth of the chord and more of the third and thus ensure sweetness; the third was scarcely heard in the chord. • A big toned band this.— 94 marks.

Quickstep, A Grade.—" The Twentieth Century": A grand start. Soprano slips at 7, but 15 nicely attended to; scarcely together 19 to 22 in the basses; on repeat band sounding better here; at 19 to 22 scarcely in tune together; good sido drumming here; strike bass drum obliquely; nice side drum; good rhythm in melody; good cornet work. Trio: Nice clean playing here; 15 scarcely together, but 16 second beat good; not accurate rhythm; nice playing at nine and again on repeat; sweet soprano; good tonguing 26 and 'on. Repeat: Band improving here; better rhythm; soprano safe at 7; at 22 good work in upper cornets; at 23 baritone and euphonium good style; you are playing excellently here, quite a nice bit of refreshing playing; itll doing well here; on repeat soprano always safe; other parts well played; now you are standing still you are pleasing me immensely; excellent tonguing at 25. Repeat: A good conception of a magnificent march; scarcely correct at 15; drums form 23 excellent; on this repeat slight slip in upper cornet, otherwise all doing magnificently. An excellent rendering of a magnificent march.