Garrison Band Success

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7066, 27 January 1933, Page 8

Garrison Band Success

To the Editor. Sir, —I read in your issue of yesterday the letter •written under the appellation; of “Credit Where Credit is .Due,’' and I. wondered if the writer was one : of; tho disgruntled Palmerston North citizens who endeavoured before ; tho contest, commenced in Napier to have Palmerston North’s Junior Garrison Band. discredited and disqualified on the ground that the band contained A grade players-. Needless ta say.

these pimping individuals got short shrift from the Napier contest committee.

I would not have taken the trouble to reply to the letter of an individual who had not the courage to sign his name if he had not given as his opinion (unsound as it is) that a deliberate attempt had been made to “hoodwink. the public of their home town into thinking that the public have something which they have not got, namely, an outstanding band." The Temarks of the adjudicator, Mr. Thomas Goodall, should even convince your biassed correspondent that Palmerston North has an outstanding junior band. In making his award, Mr. Goodall stated that a surprise packet had been uncovered in the playing of the C grade winning band, Palmerston North Garrison, to whom he had awarded 82 points, a point higher than tho winning B grade band. In his final remarks this same adjudicator said it was a first-class performance, worthy of any B grade band.

Before the contest the New Zealand Brass Bands Association had to be satisfied that all the members of the band were C grade players, with the exception of one player who, under the rules governing brass band contests, was entitled to be a senior player. This association was satisfied, and it matters little that your correspondent’s opinion was that some of the players were A grade. Your correspondent’s remarks appear to be dud to his ignorance of what a junior playeT is. He apparently thinks that because a bandsman has reached man’s estate and has played in an A grade band ho must always be an A grade player, whereas a player maybe a very old member of a band and still be only a junior as far as his standard of playing is concerned. If your correspondent believes in his appellation, “credit where credit is due,” then he should unstintedly give credit to that band of juniors who put up such an outstanding performance at the recent Napier contest.—l am, etc., CHARLES PIKE, Conductor P.N. Garrison Band. JUDGE’S COMMENTS In carrying off the first prize money in both the C grade quickstep and own selection at the Napier contest, the junior combination of the Palmerston North Garrison Band put up a meritorious performance. The adjudicator, Mr T. Goodall, in making his awards, stated that a surprise packet had been uncovered in the playing of the winning C grade band, Palmerston North Garrison, whom he would award 82 points, a point higher than the winning B grade band.

The results achieved were a tribute to the assiduous preparation made by the members, the majority of whom were boys, and to the conductor, Mr. G. Pike, in scoring with a band whose soloists even were lacking in previous contest experience.

Both the bandsmen and Mr. Pike state that in no small measure were the results obtained due to the efficient and genial management of Mr. F. J. Oakley on the trip. Commenting on the test piece, the judge stated that the band made a solid opening. The accompaniments were nice, cornet and euphonium good, and- everything went well. Cadences were good and finishes nice. In the tempo do marcia a good firm style was depicted, although not kept up all the way. There were other good movements with the band well controlled. In the . valse portion there was nice method, displayed in every section. The whole* piece evidenced good training. It was a first-class performance, worthy of anx E ru'ada hand.