GARRISON BAND HONOURS CONDUCTOR

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 54, 6 March 1935, Page 8

GARRISON BAND HONOURS CONDUCTOR

Presentation to Mr C. Pike

FIRST PRACTICE FOR NEXT

CONTEST

The Palmerston North Garrison Band is already on its way to the New Plymouth contest. The start was made last evening when bandsmen assembled for their first practice and by the enthusiasm displayed, they have returned from tho Timaru event by no means defeated in spirit and determination even if deprived of championship laurels. Last night they worked hard under tho baton of Mr. C. Piko beforo an appreciative gathering of spectators including many wives. It was not to see their husbands blowing gales of wiqd into blaring cornets and trombones, ’however, that was proving the main attraction. The ladies had come by invitation to arrange supper as a fitting climax for a pleasant break in tho proceedings when occasion was taken by bandsmen to pay tribute to Mr. Pike for all that ho had done for tho band both before and while at Timaru. Their spokesman was Mr. W. H. Brown, who had been manager for the contest trip. He told Mr. Pike the bandsmen desired to express their appreciation in a tangible way and so it had fallen to his pleasure to make a presentation of an engraved pocketbook on their behalf. It was simply another way, ho said, of showing their confidence in his as a conductor. Mr. Brown also availed himself of the opportunity of telling tho band ot the growing interest tho public was taking in their activities and it seemed they were now to get tho support they should have had in years past. Drum-Major ,8. Wilson added his tribute and said ho had been proud to lead the band at Timaru.

Mr. Pike, in returning thanks for tho gift and compliments, said he had been taken quite by surprise, adding facetiously that it seemed that losing the contest was paying him better than winning it (laughter). Timaru had been- quite an ordeal but he was always ready to do his best and hoped bandsmen would respond. With their cooperation ho was not a bit frightened of the future. Contest Criticism.

Mr. Brown has released for publication the criticism of the contest judge on the renderings by the Garrison Baud. He said the remarks were not altogether of a kindly nature but it was due to the Palmerston North public that they should be published. Extracts from tho criticism are as follow:

First test (Haydn). —Opening chords well given. Bars 3 and 4 not good by trebles —not together and not in tune. Allegro spiritoso: Tempo good but precision lacking. . . . Good band tone displayed but too metallic. Andante: Do not care for trebles each time

Bars 34 and 3G not in good balance. Bar 59 bad by cornet and horn and again bar G 3. Bar 102 untuneful, and so on. There come one or two appreciative references near the end when the judge says: Bars 3S-41 (Moderato): Euphonium playing this solo in very good stylo and character. The trombone at another stage was quoted as being played very well, while the flugel horn is similarly praised. Next a cornet solo is rendered very expressively with good tone and style. Air. Bailo concludes his criticism by stating that the band has very fine tone and has given a very good performance.

On the second test (Comedy), the judge comments that tho band went to pieces. When it opened ho expected to hear a good performance but for some unaccountable reason, after a first lapse, it never appeared to pick up again. Mauy of the inner parts were missing altogether.

A Strenuous Week. The report of the manager (Mr. W. H. Brown) reveals that tho band faced a most streuuous week at Timaru. On arrival at Timaru about mid-day ou Saturday, February IG, they commenced practising straight away. Sunday, 17th: Practised in the morning, again in the afternoon, and again at night. Monday, ISth: Practised both morning and afternoon and competed in the hymn test at night. Tuesday, 10th: Practised in tho hall in the morning and out of doors in tho afternoon. Band did not practice ou Tuesday night as this was tho B grade test night. Wednesday, l!0th: Test day. Band practised hard all the morning and again right through the afternoon and competed in tho test at night having drawn last place in the ballot. Thursday, 21: Practised in the morning and again in tho afternoon. A l'rcc night was declared allowing the

men to attend tho second L! grade lest. Friday, 22nd: Filial test day. The band practised solidly all the morning and all tho afternoon till about 4 p.m., and competed in tho final tost, having drawn fifth place. “Had the band played ‘Comedy' during the evening as they played it at the final practise, a much different tale would have boon told,'' adds Mr. Brown. “Whether too much practice was their undoing or not, it is hard to say but tho fact remains they collapsed in the test for some unaccountable reason." Saturday, 23rd: Notwithstanding the reversal tho night before, the band was out practising their quickstep selection at G a.m. and put up a great performance during the afternoon, being only 44 marks under the winning band on drill points. And they had tho distinction of being the only band to do tho ICO yards in the 120 paces dead, the exact required number of paces. “At 5.30 on' Sunday morning the band loft Timaru for Christchurch having fulfilled one of the most strenuous week’s work ever put up-by a contesting band,” Mr. Brown concludes. “It is safe to say the bandsmen do not now know what Timaru is like, there, being so little leisure time at their disposal. At every practice the whole band was in attendance, there never being on absentee during the week’s effort. One cannot close this resume without paying a compliment to tho behaviour of the bandsmen in Timaru. - . With constantly changing weather conditions, plus hard work, their Jot was not an enviable one.”