A GRADE COMPETITION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 19 March 1921, Page 5

A GRADE COMPETITION

"SEMIRAMIDE" WOOLSTON. The judge's notes on the (selections are as follow : Opening chorus : Good tone : band correct at 3 and 7 on dotted notes; all entries very precise; a tine movement, and well timed. Recit. was finely de-. claimed by cornet and smart tuttis. At bar 13 I would make two quavers at beginning 67 bar; a very «uccessfid movement. Quintette enters Tunefully; marking was very fine; good horn from E; excellent playing, and band very steady and fine tone; good treatment of movement. Allegretto was entered correctly and neat : good cornet showing, and solo well understood. Everything goes -beautifully; uo complaints. Andante was a little unsteady at end of bar 3 in accompaniments; slight hesitation by cornet at entry at I.; soon alright, and gave a tine reading of solo. Accompaniments very neat and well under. A very fine rendition of movement. Allegro: Clean entry; a nice trombone, and marks well noted; fiiie dim. at 13. Male chorus for trombones very effective and beautifully in tune; very well done indeed. Fiil'ala showed fine musical pulse* and good cornet and born. A great performance; grand tone.—Points, 144. INVERCARGILL HIBERNIAN. Opening Good opening, and nice tone from A to B; very nice playing, which continues to close. Recit. very well done; nice style, except at bar 15; rather too aiow there. Band tuttis were very fine. Andantino : Was entered precisely, and gave a nice reading, from E; very well doue; fine close to movement. Allegretto: Good fcornet and nice accompaniments; bars 15 and 16 were very fine by cornet and soprano. A very well played increment. Euphonium'cadenza fair. Solo a shade on the weak side; lacks confidence. Cornet enters well, and plays his sblo delightfully. Soprano was Very nice from J ; very good movement. Allegro; Trombone nice tone ' and style; acebmpaniments assist well; nice dim. An. dantino: Trombones very nicely tuned; horn too prominent from 16.. Finale nice tempo, and good playing; a fine movement, paid very nice band.— Points, 139.

ST, KILDA. Opening chorus: Precise, opening ; tone rather hard ; nico work A to C, and it continues to close. Recit. could be more dramatic; .tuttis not always precise; last chord too short. Quintette, rather too stiff, especially by horn at bar 12; band is nicely tuned. From E very neat playing; n. fin© close. Allegretto: Nice cornet, rather stiff at times, especially at bar 9 for instance. From H we got nice playing to bar 29, when band was rather hard. Andante: Nice euphonium «nd accompaniments, and cornet also doing well; you have a nice band. You could make morey>f this movement with such,- good material; it was fair too strict in tempo. Allegro: A very tuneful movement; good dim at 12" and 13, and <jaden?B. satisfactory. Andanti\io was well given by trombones; left tlio crotchet at 16 too abruptly, and out of untuneness crept in at 21 to 25. Finale a very

well played movement. Band was very clean, could bo more artistic in slow movements; » good band. Points. 137. WELLINGTON TRAMWAYS. Opening churns: Good opening ; good big tone: from A horn not just with cornet« : alright from B; good playing. Recit. was fair : could be more dramatic, and tuttis smarter; semi-quaver is too long: a tuneful movement 'rind good playing. Andantino : Good horn, nico balance-, and in tune. From E band not just precise, especially on bar 21 and 25 the' quavers do not' release together: nice paying from F, Allegretto: Comet plays solo line, and accompaniment nice: good interpretation of movement to- bar 15, that was too still'; baud loose at 16. No soprano 18 (second time) : # only a fair close. Nico entry to Allegro', and trombone does justice to solo: more could be got out of cadenza. Andantino was a good movement; trombone cadenza at close; only fair ; jacks style. Finale was a good movement; band has nice tone, and gave a- very praiseworthy (rendition. Points, 135.

INVKRCARG'IU, GARRISON. Opening chorus: Nice opening. From A to !'> boin was not just exactly with cornet ; gel- wrong notes from soprano 18 and 19. Hand played very well from C : good close to movement. Red't. was well given ; band tuttis precise. Andantino: Good entry: out of tune from 5 to 10; bar 19 by born too stiff. From F good 7>laying. Again that out-of-tunencss in boms from bar 29; closing bars nice. Allegretto started well: -soprano burst at bar 9, and comet very unsteady 10 fo 12. Cornet and soprano badly across at 15 : 16 not ;i very successful movement. Nice euphonium cadenza. Andante: Good entry, but far too stiff; very much mor ( > could bo made of this movement; bar 15 was far too straight. Bad break by soprano after 5: nice close to movement. Allegro : A good trombone, and movement well done. Trombones in Andantino do not move just exactly together. This movement was very creditable from 21. Finale was well played; -some very good work done here. Band gave rather an uneven performance; had some good points.— Points, 131.

12th NELSON. 'Opening chorus: Loose start; much better after bar 3; fair playing from A. to C; band was loose bore, especially at bars 30 and 32- closing chords good. Recit: Not ;i good conception by cornet; too hurried in places, especially at bur 15; band's tuttis were very well done. Quintette nice start, horn doing well; just a little out of tune in horns. From E band was'clean ; Lcood releases • nice close. Allegretto: Is too quick, and T do not like the accel. at bar 4. If these liberties are taken one must be very careful not to interfere with the traditional reading of these old operas. Cornet could have got much more out of this,; Tiico band'playing on last five hairs. Oood euphonium cadenza. Andante: Was entered nicely, and good tempo. Euphonium was very interesting, and "accompaniments neat; a very good movement; fine cornetist. Allegro: Trombone rather hard in tone. Hand was clean, and marks -noted. Trombone cadenza not, ns finished as might have been ; rather rough. Anilanf ino was not just in tuno by trombone, and second" and third comets were troublesome also. Finale was bright and well played.' A nice performance generally.—Points, 1"26. AUCKLAND CITY. Opening ■chorus : Fair start; very loose at A; very scattered right on : to C.; last three cords fair : the quavers could come through' better, cornet rccit., and tuttis fair'to 13, .when cornet was failing. More breadth wante3 on last two chords. Quintette: Trouble, here is your tuning; horns the trouble. Very creditable from E; nice cornet at close. From F very nice playing. Allegretto started nicely; went very well to G ; comet rather unsafe about 10 to 12. Band was tuneful here, and accompaniments doing very well. Nice euphonium cadenza. Andante-: Wrong time by euphonium at bar 3; first three beats are not triplets; same remark to cornet at 11; cornet late at end of 14. After J going fairly well to last bar in repeat, when I did not get baritones ; 21 nice horn; 22 bad horn. Cornet bioke in Allegro; bar 3, band entered nicely, and nice trombone; a. nice movement; well done trombone. Andantino: Trombones not well tuned, and -too much slide showing; bad accompaniments at 25 and 26. Finale was a very creditable movement. Band lacks grip and finish.—Points, 120. AUCKLAND GARRISON.

Fair opening; weak iu soprano. Not| good policy to alter tempo in this, movement. Banfl was very unsteady at 38 to 41, especially in the quavers. Kecit. too tame; should be very dramatic; tiittis fair; want of grip. Andantino was nicely done, and tuneful up; to B; goes well to bar 23 and 27; band loose in taking"' up the semiquaver; good close. Allegretto: Looso entry; nice cornet; band very loose at chord bar 5. Band' was much' better from Hj and nicely tuned. Andante ;• Euphonium doing nicely ; accompaniments" fair: quaver .left too abruptly at, bar 6by accompaniments. Cornet was very pretty ; bar 15 good ■ from J we got nice work done. Trombone solo was fair, and accmpaniments well in hand;' dim. at 12 and 13 was out of tune,; bar 15 very much more ' so. An-1 dantino: This was not pleasant; trom-j bone untuneful, and too much slide showing; badly out of tune at 24, and ( very weak on trombone at close; poor| style. Finale was very creditable; band i wants more dash. —Points* 120. '

NAPIER CITY

Opening chorus : I would make longer | dotted notes at 3 and 7 ; band very loose at A. Horn poor entry ; -very unsettled to C; very scattered again in 27 and 29; only'a fair effort. 'Rccit. [ by cornet only fair, far from cojivinc-| ing; ; band tuttis smart. Quintette was much better: a nice effort to E; not bright enough. Cornet still uneasy at 22. Band was better to close. Alle- ■< grotto: Nice entry, and cornet doing fairly well: loose at 9. Band gave me pretty good music to bar 32. It would be alright for all to breathe after dotted crotchet. Nice euphonium cadenza. Euphonium was -very doubtful in places. Accompaniments wore 'fairly well done, and cornet-was good here; cornet nice at 23. One of your best movements. Allegro: Nice entry. Trombone was doing very well; not neat by cornets to K. Tune wasj creditable. Trombone did very well in-j deed. Andantino: Trombones could; have, been better balanced here, and!

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from L band 'was very 'unsteady. Last few bars much better. Nico trombone cadenza. Allegro: Loose entry; cornets do j-orv nicely from N ; not just as neat as could be. Horn out at 13 and 14. Bass solo was light in bass; rather untuneful nt close. Only fair performance. Points, 118.

"IE PROPHETE" . WOOLSTON A good opening. .Hand do not all release together at quavers at 20. Nice movement. Andante, nice opening, loose at 13 and 14:basses, again at 2(5. Nice eup., played his solo very nice indeed, bar 35 not just as clean as might- be, did not like cup. breathing before last quaver in cadenza. Air do ballot was a very creditable movement. Cornets could have been neater. Xiee cadenza. Larghetto was verv. pretty to bar 7, when one. cornet failed, a fine effort after. Next movement was very bright and tuneful. Good band playing. Modcrato: Fntranee not- just in perfect tujie. Trombone could have had more style, par ticulaily at. 22 and cadenza, band work nice. Allegro Moderate very nice entry. I liked the little hold back on dotted notes, but be careful not to ovcrdo.it. A very nice movement, Fii«ale aLo was line playing. A fine band, carefully trained.—Points, 138. ST. KILDA Fine opening, good tone, and well sustained, a good movement. Andante: .Nice entry, eup- playing very well, from 13 very nicely worked out, good cadenna. Allegro Spirito, very neat and tuneful, a line' movement, very steady and bright, good cadeii za. Larghetto was well done to bar 7,'which was too stiff, waver in tone at 13 to 17, fine close. Allegro Con Spirito bright smart playing. Entry to Moderato not well tuned. This movement could have been made more of, bar 18 by trombone too stiff fair cadenza. Page 23 was good band playing, bar 7 very good. Baritone and eup. come through very well from 23. A "nice eup. Finale was very successful. A little more, attention to detail would improve matters. A good band.—Points,, 136.

INVEItCARGILL HIBERNIAN Fair opening, nice tone, a little unsteady at 20 on quavers. Andante enters liicelv, and good eup.Vfoose in bass nt 14, i'rom B not just as neat as should be, C to I) not perfectly in tunc (soprano and horn), cud. did well. Air do Ballet, a few false notes by soprano, band generally was very nice. Larghetto very pretty cornets, bars 7 and 8 too hurried, bad break at bar 22, movement was rather unsteady and not well in tune at close. Pages 17 to 19, good work done here, not well tuned at entry to Moderate Fair, trombone, not stylish enough, andj band very uneasy from 6 to 12. Allegro Mod. was not as warm in tohe horn too prominent on-his■ arpeggio nice reading of movement. Finale was well played. Band was rather uneven in their work, some of it- was very good, and tuning suffered a little.— Points,l34. ' ' WELLINGTON TRAMWAY ; Fair opening, bar 8 too short, bad' entry at 9, too rough; and someone gave me a bad note. Andante sftirted too quick, vou discovered that 'later and pulled .'the time buck. .Bari. was nice, and good eup. Nice,cornet also, last chord "was very unsettled in cornet section. Air de Ballet, a''fair move, nient, cornets hot just as neat aS might'be,'• fine-cornet cadenza, liarghetto, second cornet libt'equal to first,, bar 8 well done. Movement whs too stiff and a few uiisteady bars; notablv at-35; nice dim. at close, and f inv cadenza. ' Modefato was nice playing, and bar 7 well done, trom boiie going very well, soprano and cornet not just in perfect tune 17, and 18, bar 21 not smart enough, baritone and eup. come through well/at 23. Finale was verv well done, wants a bright©* fstvle'. Band*had not the finished polish on that is possible in . this selection. A very creditable performance—Points, 130. AUCKLAND CITY. : Pair start, not sustained enough, bar B'far too short, quavers at 20 too short, a broader stylo wanted.' Ah-* dantc:' Was very nice ent©,and good eup., nice playing from A to 8.-.lrom B nicely done and tunefubj From C very Creditable, more finish wanted, fair -.a'dena'a. Allegro Con SpiritdWas very steady and nice work done.'This was very well .handled. 'Lafghetto', very creditable to H. TrOrhbdhe did not come through at 13 to 15, loose at 35, only a fair effort, too stiff. Allegro con spi'rito was much better, a good movement. Moderate: Trombone .was weak verv poor at 18, band was put of tune at 6 to 11, trombone cadenza very tame. Moderate much better, but bar 7 was a .scramble, from 22 very well done. Finale was good. Band is not convincing', not well finished off. —Points, 123.

INVERCARGILL GARRISON Wrong note bar 3, titning hot true bar 7, nice ulayiug after, quavers at 20 could be broader. Fair ci.-try to Andante, could be neater, fair eup., horn entry at 22 badly off pitch, band was not woll in tune ti end of movement; Allegro spirito: was hard at entry, band warmed tip a little and gave a nice effort to close, fair cadenza. Larghetto was good by cornets, bars 7 to 8' not artistic, this movement-is not the result I expected, no artistry shown and loose at times, at 35 and 36 for instance. I's»ges 17 to 20 was your best effort, a very nice movement.' Fair entry to moderate. Trombone was very creditable, but certainly unsteady and untuneful at 6 to 12. Mpvement was not made enough of, far too stiff. Allegro mod. was much better, entered well and nice balance, but at 7 semis were badly confused, and tunc was again out at 17. Good from 23. Finale was much your best effort, a well played movement. Trouble with tuning to-night, and slow movements were not treated artistically, only a fair performance.—Points 122.

12th NELSON REGIMENT

Tone rather hard, wants a smoother even tone, and not just in perfect tune. Nice entry to Andante, good eup., no horn at 10; parts not just together at 18 to '2O, and bar 26 across in bass. Eup.'did very well, Oto end of movement is liot the finished article, An- de Ballet: was only fan, cornets not neat enough, movement was too mechanical throughout', good cornet cadenza. •Larghetto was nice by cornets, to ba| 7 this Avas very unsteady. I)id very well up to 1, then we had a lot of' trouble, cornets breaking up, movement was very weak at close,'band appears very, nervous. Allegro con spirito wiis very n)uch better, a nice performance. Moderato was a lot of trouble to you, showed up your intonation, and nut to your advantage. Trombone did very well, but a little (in the hard side. Allegro mod.

was very, nice in parts.. Had a < nic<> cornet, and he worked hard. Evidently a young band. Finale was fair, has not the grip wanted.—Points,. i 22. AUCKLAND GARRISON Faulty start, and not ■ in perfect tune. Band is not. clean in releases. Andante only fair, entry quavers not just, together, bars 13 and 14 not well tuned n bass. Eup. rather tame. Band unsteady at B. From C was not a great success, no finish. Eup. nice on 'his cadenza. Con spirito: was too stiff, and accompaniments too prominent: Larghetto was very creditable to 8 this was not in tune by bonis, band did much, hotter from 1. Closing bars were 'bad, the 'semi-quavers never lifting out together.' Band is very' loose. Allegro con spirito: was much better, this was very creditable. Moderato untuneful (horns and baritones) Middle of band wants a lot of attention regarding tune. Trombone did very well. Allegro moderato was better up to bar 7, when we had the old trouble, loose, eup. did good work. Finale was fair only. Band has no grip, and untuneful.—Points, 119. NAPIER CITY Band is not wel Itunixl at opening, tone hard and brassy. . Fair entry to Andante, across a little in bass at ff, again at T 3 and 14, and certainly out of tune. Triplets not taken well by cornet and eup. at .24, band' is too loose at C and onward for good results. Soprano entered badly at 33.. Eup. did well. Air de Ballet: Not happy here, cornets very Uneven, all too mechanical. Nice cornet eatlenza. Lai-ghetto' was very nice by cornets. I.jftn awfully sorry for you, J aijj sure yoir sire all worried to death over this f-e'tc-tion. It is certainly giving you some trouble. Pages 17 to 19 was whero I thought vou would feel better, and you did. You did much better here, a, very nice movement. But there .is trouble coming in the next modera to. Yes, I got it, a very naughty nibye ment that. Now vou are not real I v to blame for all this indifferent playing. You are really in your wrong grade. The last two movements were verv much better, and' came out very creditably. Sorry I could say a lot of nice things to you.—Points, 110.

The maximum number oHp'ofrits in each selection was 160, 'under-the'fol-lowing headings:—T6ne arid v qu a utyV2o; intonation, 20; style (including "variations of the tempo where suitable), 20; expression and phrasing, 20; precision and balance, 20; attack and release, 20; ensemble, 30. FINAL DEMONSTRATION ■'# ___^_ The contest will be brought to a close at the Botanical Reserve this evening. Selections will be given by the priao winners, and the President of the Association (iLY. Thacker) will present the trophies. The bandsmen leave by the Arahura to-morrow morning at'9' : o'clock. , QUICKSTEP COMPETITION The Quickstep 'Competition is, being field at Trafalgar Park this afternoon. The Bands moved off at intervals from the Church Steos, commencing at 12.30, and'marched to' Trafalgar Park. The woathor.is fine, and there, is .a very large attendance. ' ",-■, " . OFFICIALS' SOCIAL TO : NIGRT. "■ Immediately after the- conclusion, of the proceedings'at theßotanical, Re.4ervo to-night, the officials of'the South Island Brass Bands' Association, the various bandmasters, and the;-local committee and officials .will meet at the Haerejnai tea rooms for a! social hour. ' _ CONTEST NOTES, ■"..,; .' The occupied by; the in the playing of "Le Prophete" last night were:—lnvercargill Garrison, 9£ rain. ; Auckland, 'City, Si'min/; St. Kilda, 9 min.; \Voolston, 11 min;; Hibernian, lOi min.; Tramways (Wellington), 9 min.; Nelson, % min.; Nf-, pier -City, 10 min.; Auckland Garrison, 9| min. , , t . , : 'v^.V. It is interesting to note that.of the members of the New Zealand - representative band which toured sonle years 'ago, the /following, have -pOeßjm Nelson dtuirig contest Herd (conductor, arid one of the organisers), Mr. F. W. G. McLeo'd Iwho returned as conductor of the band), and Messrs Claude Davie, ( .Chas, Hansen, Jas. ■'Flint, Harold and ? W. -J.. Stainesft ' ' ' '''" ' ' Both the. Ashburtqn Banded .the Woolstbn. Band haVie telegrams of %eir supporters and friends.: on- th^if -wiriS. j Both bands come from the Canterbury! province, and a wag his suggested that it is a case of "PriniQ Canterbury" again.

AN APPRECIATION Mr.'H. J. Sweney, of ChristcJrarch, the supervisor of the contest, wishes to thanjc the officials for the great assistance given during the week. Mr. Sweney states,that, of the Exhibition' contest,, church, the Nelson one has'been the biggest yet held in Dominion. Appreciation was also expressed for the help given by the police in controlling the crowds, and to the public for their general good behaviour while the selections were being played. ' 9