BANDSMEN’S NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7021, 8 January 1910, Page 10

BANDSMEN’S NOTES.

[By " Magenta."] Correspondents are requested to address their communications to ‘'Magenta," care "New Zealand Times," Wellington. COMING CONTESTS. Wanganui—March 14th to 18th. Westport —May, 1910. CHRISTMAS CAROLS. A writer to thei papers deplores the absence of carol-singing so popular at Home at Yuletide, and remarks that oaroliats Infflwada.ys bray through brass instruments and- go about in waggons. In some respects it is a good thing that in New Zealand "the waits” are practically unknown. Mo-t of the carol-singing in the Old: Country is done hy " waits," and it is generally stern necessity that compels them to plough through snow and ieo on a bitter Christmas Eve singing carols at . the houses . of their more fortunate fellow - beings. Where hands of repute choose to do a little seasonable -serenading in this part of the ‘world, on a warm night, when sleep does not / visit the eyes too readily, there is little need for protest. The writer has experienced this for many years, and is sure that there is very little to cavil at. But it is when 1 irresponsible parties of instrumentalists parade the environs of tho city, playing without rhyme or reason, and with absolutely no regard to music, that a, feeling of resentment springs up in the heart of the householder, and ho would cheerfully condemn, them all to be hanged, drawn and quartered. It must have been one of these that til's complaint refers to. Of course, people must have their sleep, and perhaps If the hands co-operated-next Christmas they would be able to let tho citizens get to sleep at a reasonable hour, and yet help to perpetuate a very pleasant,custom. CHRISTCHURCH DOINGS. (By "Harmony.”) Mr Arthur dark, of the Thames Band, is in ClirisWhurch ■ spending a holiday with- his; relatives. Mr R, B; Munro, of the Timaru .Marine, Band, spent his New Year holidays in Christchurch. Mr N. Turner, trombonist-of the Elite Band, has been obliged to give up playling owing to hia health. Mr A. Schnack, the popular conductor l pf the Port Chalmers Band, has been indisposed for a fortnight, but is now better. - Mr Alfred Coombs, trombonist, who left Christchurch to start business at Oust some time ago, is, I regret, to Bay, in ill-hicalth. Mir W. L. Moody, trombonist of tho Woolston Band, has resigned owing to his being unable to spare sufficient time front business. , On, Sunday last Derry’s Band gave a municipal concert in the Domain, tho Wookston Baud accompanied tine tram to Sumner, and Lyttelton Marino Band played at iVainoni Park, so the Christchurch public Imd plenty of opportunities' to hear baud music. Two Christchurch bandsmen have recently suffered bereavement. Mr James .Thomson , lost his father about a week jsince, Mr Thomson, senr.i was an old resident of Christchurch and proprietor of a very successful bakery and refreshment rooms business. Mr James Rosie, who came here from Wellington some three or four yeans ago, was out driving (with a party of friends, including his eistor (Mrs Williams) on Sunday lost, iwhen the latter accidentally fell from the trap and was killed. Christmas and New Year Holidays have rather upset the usual routine of work, -and one hardly knows what day of tho week it is. In, spite of the' terrible south-west storm which set in on Christmas Eve, several carol parties were out. In Timaru the weather was more favourable, and tho local S.A. band, ranking a special effort, raised ,£63 on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Mr J. E. Chiles kindly assisted this baud on both occasions, n”nd Bandmaster Haukey is very thankful for the help rendered. WANGANUI GARRISON BAND. Wanganui Garrison Band believes in doing things in style. For Christmas a four-page circular was issued, on art paper, on which there was a grouped photograph of the band, with the usutil seasonable greetings. The contesting record of the band next follows, . which is a , very fine one, (showing ‘ that at eleven contests in succession the band scored 6 firsts and 5 seconds m the selection, and 9 firsts and 2 seconds in the quickstep. An itinerary was arranged for Christmas Day, the hand playing all round the district, at specified places, from 9 a.m, to

C. 35 p.m. The programme, was comprehensive, including, in addition to the usual Christmas hymns, Schumann's “Traumerei” (cornet solo), Pinsuti’s “In .this Hour of Softened Splendour,” Liddol's “Farewell,” Gounod’s “Hoar ue. O Lord,” and others. “Adeste Fidelro” wa** conspicuous by absence. The public were reminded in the circular, as follows:—“You are, no doubt aware that its many supporters aro desirous that the band should visit Australia, and ■compete at the great Interstate. Contest, to be held at Ballarat in October next. The amount required to defray the expenses of the band to that contest will bo necessarily large, but it is confidently expected that, with the land assistance of, the citizens of Wanganui and district, sufficient will be forthcoming to enable the band to try con elusions with the b3st bands in Australasia, To assist m this object collectors, who will accompany the band on Christmas Bay, will be glad to receive any donations you may bo pleased to make.” As stated last week, the receipts wore ,£lB. “THE BESSES.” When “Bosses” landed in New Zealand on the first visit the members were it. deep depression after the foolish and disastrous American tour, and, moreover, lind signed ‘agreements thpy never' ought to have signed, and never will again (says Wright Round’s “Bond Journal”). They found out their error too late. But the wonderful (and as surprjsDng as wonderful) way jn which the New Zealand people; and btindsmon in particular, rallied round them, put new heart and life into them, and from that moment dates the desire to visit New Zealand in perfect freedom. Mr Owen, more than any man in the hand, is most ‘anxious to show our friends what he can do m more ways than one. Mr Owen 1 as all bandsmen know, is an orator, he is filled with the noble idea of weld- : uig the whole British race into one iuAo * n which English, Irish, Ujelsli, Canadians, , Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, and other members of the Empire should all stand i on a common footing as Britons, combined m a common brotherhood agaimt i the whole'world if need be. Blood is thicker than water, and we who speak the language Shakespeare spoke have a common' heritage and a glorious one. Mr Owen is determined that absolute perfection shall bo attained in every .piece and.in' every' particular. For three weeks before sailing, day after dav he gave the men the most careful drilling. Then he has three weeks on board ship ere Capetown is reached. This tour will do more to build up a brotherly, feeling between. the dominions of our King than many are aware. It is a patriotic tour, taken in patriotic spirit. It is a musical message of goodwill front the Motherland to her brave sons and daughters who have gene to carve out Empire under the Southern Cross. OLLA PODEJDA. Temuka Bicycle Club included a quickstep competition in its programme jor Boxing Bay. Prizes «£ls, <£lo, Jio. Jupp’s Baud is keeping up its standard of play, and has been fortunate regarding engagements during the festive season. The year 1910 is Canterbury's jubilee ' year,- and there is a prospect of something special in the baud world in Christchurch before the close of ; the j year. A feature of the welcome reception to j Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener, in' Aus- 1 tralia was the playing of the band of H.M.S. Encounter; Wellingtonians have heard the band, too, and its playing was : greatly appreciated. ' I Much enthusiasm is being shown in . Dunedin over the forthcoming band i contest. The citizens! committee are j meeting frequently and expediting .ar- I raugoments, and the programme should; be out soon. The contest will be held-I about November.

Wellington Professional Orchestra' lost 'a good man. in Mr W. J. Crawford, who was drowned off the yacht" Patronuo at the heads ou Christmas morning. Tie manipulation of the tympani was entrusted to him, and he showed that he. was a true artist w'iiii a keen appreciation of the requirements. .' Auckland Contra! Mission Band spent a pleasant Christmas week in Wellington. Under Conductor Burnand, the visitors, who arrived on Boxing, Night, marched through the city, accompanied by the Wellington Central Mission Band under Conductor Baker. By a special car they weto later taken to Miramar, enjoying the amusements of " Wonderland."',. A-concert at the Herbert street Mission Hall and a combined concert and band ..performance at , His Majesty’s Theatre on : Sunday wore given with great success.- The band, which was the guest of the Wellington Band, left for, Auckland on Tuesday last.

Prom the Breeden we; have received the three latent numbers of Hawkes and Son’s band journal! "Musical Progress,'l and,, ns usual,' they arc, ■ replete with , good reading. Three leading articles on “Baud' Efficiency,” "Indoor Baud Prae-' tioe,” and “Expressive Playing,” are of interest to aH’readere, while the sections devoted to orchestras,' brass bands. military bauds, and Knellor Hall are fuller of news than ever. The article oii “How to Become a Bandmaster” is still going strong, and Major Malian furnishes another instalment of his ivork on “Military Bands.” These are only a few of the features, and in addition the musical supplements presented with the numbers are an. “Angelas” by. Adolf Hotter, "March of the Giants”. .by Herman Pinck, and a “Vais© Septembre”, hy. Pelix Godin. No bandsman should be without “Musical Progress” if ho is at all ambitious.