BANDS' CHAMPIONSHIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23276, 20 February 1939, Page 10

BANDS' CHAMPIONSHIP

RESULTS OF HYMN TEST FIRST PLACE TO ASHBURTON [BY TELICORAinr —I'RFSS ASSOCIATION"j CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday "On the whole I have never heard bettor hymn playing," snid 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 show grounds to-day. The judge awarded first place to the Ash burton Silver Band and second to the Christchurch Municipal Band. A feature of the contest was the success of the B grade bands, two of which gained premier honours, while another tied for third place with an A grade band. Conducted by Lieutenant W. H. Osborne, the Ashburton Silver Band thoroughly deserved its win, playing a Welsh melody with rare verve and beautifully mellow tone, particularly in the pianissimo passages. The Christchurch Municipal Band was very little inferior and its second placing was popular with the large crowd which filled the grandstand and occupied all vantage points. The platings were:—Ashburton Silver Band, "Plain and Gwarrv," <l7 points, 1; Christchurch Municipal Band, "Fierce Raged the Tempest," 46, 2; Dnnnevirke Municipal, Rochdale and Port Nicholson Silver Bands, "Nearer My God to Thee," 45> equal 3.