HYMN TEST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 70, 20 February 1939, Page 9

HYMN TEST

B GRADE BAND WIN.

CONTEST COMMENCES.

Per Press Association

CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 19. “On the whole I have never heard better hymn playing,” said the judge, Captain H. Shugg. in announcing the results at the conclusion of the hymn test at the New Zealand brass bands championship, which opened in _ brilliantly sunny weather at the Showgrounds to-day. He awarded first place to the Ashburton Silver Band, and second to the Christchurch Municipal Band. A feature of the contest was the success of B grade bands, two of which gained premier honours, while another tied for third place with an A grade band.

I Conducted by Lieutenant W. H. Os- ■ borne, tho Ashburton Silver Band_ thoroughly deserved its win, playing a Welsh melody with rare verve and beautifully mellow tone, particularly in the pianissimo passages. Christchurch Municipal was very little infer- : ior and its second placing was popular 1 with the large crowd which filled the \ grandstand and occupied all vantage , points. t 1 Placings were: Ashburton Silver Band, “Plain and Gwarry,” 47 points 1 Christchurch Municipal, ‘Pierce Raged the Tempest,” 4G points 2 Dannevirkc Municipal, “Rochdale,” and Port Nicholson Silver, “Nearer My God to Thee,” 45 points, equal 3 St. Kilda Municipal, “Por All the Saints,” 44 points 5 Wanganui Garrison, “Rochdale,” 42 points 6 Woolston Brass, “Deep Harmony,” 41 points 7 i Wellington Boys’ Institute, “Deep Harmony,” and Feilding Municipal, “Pierce Raged the Tempest,” 40 points, equal 8 Taranaki Regimental and New Plymouth Municipal. 39 points ... 10 Lower Hutt Civic, “Jesu, Lover of My Soul,” 37 points 11