BANDSMEN’S NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6678, 28 November 1908, Page 4

BANDSMEN’S NOTES.

(By "Magenta.") Correspondents aro requested to address their communications to "Magenta," caro "New Zealand Times,'* ‘Wellington. A.U communications for insertion in the current Saturday’s issue of the "New Zealand Times" must reach this. office not later than Wednesday noon of the same week. The co-operation of conductors and secretaries of bands is solicited, in ordor that this column may be made as ing in interest as possible. COMING CONTESTS. Christchurch, Tree. 28—Jan. 2; Hastings, in February; Wanganui (Ripe llanos), January. Whangarei—Dec. 28. Jan. 2; Reef ton —March 26 —29. MUNICIPAL FIXTURES Not. 29 —Japp's, Botanical Gardens, 3 Dec. 6—Newtown, Newtown Park, 3 p.m. Dec. 10—Mission, Basin Reserve, 8 p.m. Dec. 13—Tramways, Island Bay, 3 p.m. Dec. 20—Garrison, Botanical Gardens, 3 Dec. 27—Japp’s, Newtown Park. 3 p.m. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. E.J.M.. Masterton.—Have communicated with the gentleman, and will advise you in due course. W.R.J., Wellington,—Sorry for delay. Have explained in letter posted Monday lost. J.P., Wellington.—Thanks for paragraph. Always glad to hear from you. CRYSTAL PALACE CONTEST. Great Britain’s National Band Festival opened at the Crystal Palace on September 26, when 165 ’bands competed, mostly from the Midlands and the north. This was the ninth anniversary ot the Institution of the Festival, and its popularity can be judged by the fact that 60 COO enthusiasts assembled on the opening day. Mo: J. H. lies, the founder and director of the Crystal Palace ■ contests, was, it will be remembered, in New Zealand at the Christchurch Exhibition, in the capacity of business manager of tne Besses o'-th'-Bam band. The judges were Lieutenant G. Godfrey, Mr J. OrdIlurao, and Mr Walter Reynolds, who were placed in tents situated within full sound of the several batches of competitors, though unable to see them. A feature of the contest was a competition lor concertina bands, which proved very popular, and a welcome change, flaying was up to the standard, that ot the winning band approaching brilliancy. The results were as follows: Brass Band Championship, Thousand Guinea Cup.—lrweil Springs, 1; .Perfection Soap Works, 2; Wingates iemxierance (the holders), 3. Grand Shield—Armley 'and Wortley. Junior Cup.—St Hildas Collieiy, Challenge Shield,—Rothwell Rifles. Challenge Cup.—Moreoambe Borough. Challenge Shield.-sth V.B. Buffs. Concertina Band Shield. —Oldham. In the championship _ competition. Black Bike was placed fifth. After its success at Belle Vue, it was not expected that the crack Yorkshire band would occupy such a positon; but oiie result goes to show how good several of the English bands are. Irweil Springs, xne winning band, jumped into fame a iew .years ago, and has never gone back, having occupied good positions at every contest in which it has taken part. Yet excellent as its record is its victory at the Crystal Palace may be put down as the best during its career. In an English journal Mr J. H. lies gives an* account of the genesis of this annual Olympian struggle of bandsmen, and it makes very. interesting reading. He says;—Were X asked the reasons which actually led me first to organise this annual assembly of bands, I sixouki say they were two—namely, my realisation of what a thirst for music lay in the hearts of the democracy ot the North of England, and the personal request of one of this country e greatest musicians and composers. X mast confess to having had an enthusiasm for music from my earliest youth. As a boy I had experience of choral singing and as an organist, and I soon found myself in the position of giving charity concerts and organising hands in different parts. 1 itteen years ago I purchased a musical journal, and it was a visit in connection with this paper to a great band contest in the North of England which really opened ray eyes to the great possibilities of the brass band movement. X am no apologist for the brass band as compared with string music, for In. my opinion the former can hold its own as a medium for true musical expression. In tile "North I found the countryside stirred with this spirit of music. The wave had not reached the Soutn, as at that time ot which I speak there were only eight bands in a radius of forty miles pound London. In the North thousands of people were bandsmen, and these from among the labouring classes. The factory hand and tho miner shared a common enthusiasm, and produced melody in accord, side by side in the band. It was a great sight, 'and germinated the idea of the National Band Festival in my mind. In. January, 1900, I conducted the massed bauds at the “Absent-Minded Beggar” concert at tho Royal Albert Hall, in. aid of the widows and orphans of British soldiers fallen in the liber War, from which the sum of -£2OOO > was realised. Sir Arthur Sullivan, then a director of the Crystal Palace Company, was present, and was so struck with the performance, that after the concert, he asked roe did I not think it possible to focus the brass band movement all over the Kingdom in some periodical gathering. My former experience Hashed through my mind, and replied that if some suitable centre could be found and a series of contests with prizes be established, the idea would be practicable, adding that there seemed no better homo for the Festival than tho Crystal Palace, having in mind the dimensions such a meeting must eventually reach. Sir Arthur Sullivan agreed to use his influence, and thus in the same year was held the first National Brass Band "Festival. The central trophy of the Festival, the Thousand Guinea Challenge Shield, for which there is such keen competition, was the prize offered, and was presented by the Crystal Palace Company, doubtless ■on the advico of Sir Arthur Sullivan. How that list has been added to everyone knows, and’ a long list of donors, including several newspapers, has brought the total value of prizes offered each year up to .£2OOO. It is an interesting, though melancohly, fact that the first National Brass Band Festival which Sir Arthur Sullivan himself conducted in July, 1900, was the last appearance of the great composer in public. The gfStrth of the contest itself has outstripped the increase in prizes, and this year we had to refuse admission to many bauds, as the capacity of the huge Sydenham retreat was unequal to all the bands which made application. This will seem remarkable to those who know the size of the Crystal Palace. In the first contest, held in 1900, forty bands engaged, and these made a very respectable showing in volume of sound and talent, as well as in numbers. This year nearly two hundred bands enterd. The remarkable growth of the Festival reflects the increase in the institution of bands generally in the country. The London and Home Counties Band Association, which I established for contesting purposes, is now proud of a membership of over 100 bands. This lias not been the only result of the spread of the brass band movement. Music lovers know how very greatly band playing has improved during the short space of five years, and this, it must be admitted, is due to the popular movements I have described.

The annual Festival at Sydenham sees the biggest 'array .of bands met with anywhere in the world. It is one of the Crystal Palace’s biggest days of the year, and the influx of provincials into town reminds one of Football Cup days.

In round figures, the average attendance on Bands Day is some fifty or sixty thousand, and each person who passes the turnstiles has his fill of harmony. The various contests start in different parts of tho Palace early in the day, and the grand finale is, of course, tho groat concert of messed bands, which is held in the Centre Transept. In this concert a large number of picked bands join in the various items of tho programme, and the effect is very fine, and docs great credit to the performers. After that concert comes the announcement of the results of contests. The cheers and counter cheers that greet this part of the programme aro indicative of the hold the Festival has on the thousands who come to London to hear tho bands. Tom, Dick, and Harry, from tho North or Midlands, each bring their family, and the great following which some popular bands hove may well be imagined. The management of the Festival, in view of this, take the most elaborate precautions to isolate tho judges, and to have under lock and key the papers on which are written the numbers ot the winning bands. Judges themselves, of course, never see tho bands, being locked up behind a screen. Bands ballot for their order of playing, and judges record the winning baud by their respective position in the bands playing the test piece. To have the great crowds go away satisfied that tho contests are all square dealing, .vuoli arrangements as these are advisable. THE -‘KILTIES” BAND. This famous Scots-Canadian combina. tion opened in the Theatre Royal last night to a full house, and, judging by the enthusiasm with which they wore received, their season in Wellington should be a pronounced success. From exchanges to hand, I see that the ad'vent of the “Kiltiee” in Australia and up in Auckland was phenomenal. Auckland “Herald” _ thus comments on the opening concert in the Queen City: After the opening march, "Hspagnole" (Chambers), w;ith its conventional effects, a taste of the band’s higher qualities was given in the succeeding overture, “Los Dieux en Bxil" (Bosch-Pares), a selection new to Auckland audiences, The "Andante" portions wore given with great taste and clearness of outline, while, the many beauties of the inner harmonics ivere skilfully delineated. _ At times the tones resembled those of a pipe organ. Tho "Allegro'’ was a masterpiece of rhythmic precison. and entrancing thematic interest, while the bigger ensembles, far from proving too loud for the building, were of brilliant, yet elastic volume, without a suspicion of coarseness. The reed executants revelled in swiftly-rushing chromatic passages, and the responsive phrases allotted to brass and wood wind were delightfully portrayed. The closing climaxes were magnificently achieved, and the audience gave a deserved recall. The encore selection was "American Patrol," during the performance of which the trombone players advanced to the front of the stage, and played tho melody, "Three Cheers for the Red, Iv nite. and Blue,” after which the gradually receding band effects were presented with correct finish. The programme number. "Gems of Scotland” (Godfrey), caused nloasant throbs in many more than Gaelic hearts, wifch the result that a pronounced recall was insisted upon. On this occasion the band was heard in a ludicrous phantasy of American origin, entitled "I am Afraid to go Home in the Dark.” Here many surprise effects were forthcoming by the trombone and bassoon players, and subsequently the bird-like warblings of a section of the band were summarily ended by the firing of a revolver, after which this humoresque pursued its course to a hurried close. In the second part a highly artistic presentment was given of Lizst's “Hungarian Rhapsody” No. 2, the ’-’Presto” portions being given with executive clearness and rhythmical facility. Tobain’s "Creme do la Creme’’ and Wagner’s “Prelude to Act 111. of ‘Lohengrin’ ” made a favourable impression. Other encore numbers were Nevin’s ’’Narcissus” and Sousa’s cleverly-devised "Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle.’’ Mr A, Cook was much appreciated in his cornet solos, “Good-night, Beloved” (Oliver), and ‘‘Love Me, and the World is Mine." and the Kilties' choir was heard to advantage, in the numbers, “Annie Laurie” and “Cornin’ Thro’ the Rye.’’ WANGANUI GARRISON BAND, Mr A. Wade, newly-appointed conductor of Wanganui Garrison Band, passed through Wellington last Saturday, on his way to Wanganui. A most eulogistic lettea- appeared in the Ballarat “Star,” signed by leading musicians of tho city, urging that steps be taken to induce Mr Wade to remain. The list of signatories included those of the president, conductor, and secretary of Ballarat Lyric Orchestra, ooductor and secretary of Ballarat Choral Society, and the conductors of St. Andrew’s, St. Peter’s, St Paul’s Churches, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Cathedral, and W’esley Church. However, the fates were against them, the ‘’Courier’’ putting the position thus: “The chances of inducing Mr Albert Wade to remain in Ballarat as conductor of the City Band and of other musical organisations, and not remove to Wanganui (N.Z.), have been reduced to almost nil. Mr Wade accepted the position of conductor of the Wanganui Garrison Band a couple of weeks ago; and while appreciating tho representations made to him to continue to grace the musical community of Ballarat, feels that he is bound to proceed to Wanganui to the position offered him. There need do no looking back now for Mr Wade, and Wanganui Garrison should feel proud of its new conductor. His intimate knowledge of bands and band music should prove of great service to his new band, and should make its position as champion of tho Dominion more secure than ever, NOTES Mr C. Trussed, Ipswich (Queensland) officiates as judge at Whangarei' Band Contest at New Year time. Secretary Osborne, of Kaikorai Band, passed through Wellington early this week, on his journey to the Southern capital. Wellington Garrison Band played at the Botanical Gardens last Sunday afternoon, Lieut. Herd conducting. A large attendance of tho public greatly appreciated the excellent programme provided. Mr W. Short, the “King’s Trumpeter," docs not favour judges at band contests being locked in a room or wooden building while the competitions are going. He prefers the Old Country stylo of erecting tents for the judges in full view of everybody. This, ho considers, is just as effective as the colonial method, which implies suspicion, and cannot interfere with the judge’s awards. Christchurch Elite Band gave the following programme at the third of the municipal concepts on the 16th inst., Conductor Duggan in command;—March, "Rimutaka”; selection, “Gems of Haydn": waltz, “Les Fleurs d' Australia"; polka duet, “Jupiter and Mars' (Messrs G. Patterson and J. Thomsonl; selection, “Gems of America"; waltz, "Gay Paris”; march, "Battle of Magenta." Don't be too particular as to your position in the ranks when on the march. You may consider that you ought to march on the outside, but the bandmaster might think that the nearer the centre you are, so much the better it will b-- for tho effect of the playing. Be content to march where the bandmaster puis you, whether in front, at the rear, tho side, or centre.

Newtown Brass Band gave an open-air performance at Island Bay on Sunday afternoon last, Mr Barker conducting, when the following programme was rendered: —March, "Jolly Boys of Grey";' selection, "II Barbiere”: overture, "impetus") comet goto. "Do wo Believe,"

Mr Christie; march, “Heart of Borne"; intermezzo, ‘’ M y Lady Gracious.’" The band is practising “11 Trovatoro” lor Hospital Sunday, and the members are very enthusiastic. I wish them all sorts of good luck! Headers of these' notes are reminded of thb trumpet recitals to bo given by 'Mr William Short, L.H.A.M., in the Town TlaD. on the 2nd and 7th of next month (next Wednesday and the Monday following). Mr Short is a real artist on the trumpet, his playing being quite a revelation. His solos will be accompanied by Mr 1). J. Kenny on the line Town llall organ, and two vocalists (a lady and a gentleman) will add variety to the programme.

Central Mission Band, under Conductor Baker, still continues to do good work. I heard it playing the “Gloria" the other night on tho march, raid the norformanoo was very creditable. They have speculated in a. now bass drum, a much-despised, but most useful, adjunct of a hand's equipment. A programme is being considered for Hospital Saturday. and I have no doubt it will be up to tho band’s usual excellent standard. Bands in this Dominion .(writes "Tom Tom" in Christchurch "Truth") aro rapidly on ' tho increase. Canterbury leads the Dominou in point of numbers, and lately the increase has been marked. Doubtless the visit of the "Bosses' and the increased number t of contests throughout the Dominion is responsible. New Zealand, on tho basis of population, can show ia world’s record. A list of bands recently forwarded to England shows Maorihuiders to be decidedly musical, and as regards bandsmen, a steady increase in number and quality.

Mr William Short, L.E.A.M., on arriving in Wellington was found out by the ulniquitous raid interviewed. The report of tlie interview appeared in Wednesday’s' morning’s “Times,” to winch 1 refer my readers. The King’s Private Band, of which Mr Short is principal trumpeter, was dealt with in this column some months ago. On Wednesday, a reception. took place in the Town Hall, when the "King’s Trumpeter" was ollioially received by His Worship the Mayor (Hon. T. W. Hislop), raid tho leading musicana of the oiity. Besses o--th-Barn band recently gave a Sunday performance in Manchester, in aid of the sufferers by the Wigan Colliery disaster. By the byemi Homo paper istates that the reason way Besses did not compete at the Crystal Palace, is that they have lost their amateur status, and are now classed os professionals. Their recent tour of tho world was responsible for this, as during their absence from homo, it is claimed that they played music for a living and din not follow their ordinary occupations. In consequence they may miss a lot of contests at Home ere they recover their amateur status.

■Writes Mr J. H, Isles of the 'Crystal Palace Festival with, reference to Lancashire's famous band; —Such names as the Besses o’-th’-Barn and Black Dike are good instances, and what lias been more remarkable than the career of the “Bosses”? The twenty-five men who compose it wore, in the first place, a heterogeneous crew. Most of them came from Lancashire, their doily occupation being either as mill hands in the great cotton) bleaching, raid dyeing industries at Whitoiiold, near Manchester, or at. ironworks or oollerics. Their name was taken from the little Lancashire village ■which was their home, and they were not long in impressing all hearers with their marvellous musical powers. Amateurs for a long time, their wonderful performances fated them to enter the professional world, and their tour round the world was a perfect career of triumph. People in other countries get more wildly enthusiastic over music than we Britishers, and the reception iVhich the “Besses" had in many citie« was extraordinary. . In Now York they had n gratifying welcome, and in Sydney and Melbourne tho public enthusiasm knew no bounds. When they arrived at tho Victorian capital a crowd of 100,000 people was out to meet them, and the whole of the tramway system of the city was held up, so great was the throng that turned out in the ‘.‘Besses ' honour.