BANDSMEN’S NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7319, 24 December 1910, Page 8

BANDSMEN’S NOTES.

(By "Magenta.”)

BRASS AND MILITARY BANDS. According to a writer in "Musical Progress" it seems as if wo are on tiio threshold of a band development, and tho development will take the form of the substitution of military for purely brass bands. Tire military form of band (remarks the writer in question) ceitainly provides more ton© colour in a formanco, but it is- not altogether this feature which is inducing greater prominence, but, lather, a iugner class of music played, greater perfection of performance, and a smart precise bearing and appearance ox the bandsmen, than is to be obtained generally from the ordinary brass band. Tho music of a purojy brass band is at the best somewhat blatant, and falls on tho ear with a piercing effect that is tiring. The Bncisn public, ’having more opportunities of hearing good military band X>-a’formances are commencing to realise, and those authorities who engage bands for profit are taiang advantage of tno development of the public ear. This development will, in ail probability, increase in the future, slbwjy but surely, and what,, then, is to be the position of tho brass band? The answer is not far to seek. Tub military band, is only engaged locally and occasionally, and being organised and mauitainoa tor an. entirely different purpose than toamuse the public, it serves to oxcito a local interest for tho tyue being, and creates a still further desire lor good music amongst the people. The brass band is 'a.permanent source of interest locally, and is given engagements as opportunities offer. If it does not obtain the most remunerative engagements, or those attaining to greater prominence, it muse fall back for consolation on. the old Platitude—that > propnet has no honour in his, own country,.' In some localities, l if it is found that the military band, :as a permanent institution,-, obtains, greater favour, then, at will bo for tho managing band committee to consider whether it will not be prudent to add tlie reed instrument to the existing brass band I to meet tho modern desire. If w© arc really on. the threshold of a. band development, wo must not .forget that tho development has largely arisen by the “aid of the brass band, which has a musical interest entirely by 'its’own efforts, and, as such, deserves our warmest , thanks for creating -the great love of band music that exists in ’every part of the country at tho present day. The conversion of a brass band to a military band is a somewhat expensive under,taking,; 'not only in initial outlay but in maintenance, and a groat many bands cannot possibly hop© to effect it, so that wo may expect to have always with us a large portion of purely braes bauds, to carry on tho good work already, accomplished. ( OLLA PODEIDA. 1 - ; The compliments of the season to one • and all. : * The inclusion of, the City Military 1 Band in the Wellington municipal con--1 cert ficnocmle hits given general- satis--1 faction. I Wellington Garrison Band has been engaged to provide the music for tho Catholic picnic -and sports at Khandallah on Monday. Mi* Geo. Mockler, ex-conductor of Nelson Garrison Band, has, w© hoar, formed 1 a new band in “Sleepy Hollow." Th© now organisation will be known as th© Elite Band. A member of the Lyttelton Marin© Band (Mr Griffiths) has had the misfortune to haye a loot amputated tlirougli meeting With an acc-dent recently. Benefit performances by tno Marine and other bands aro spoken of. . The suggestion that went tho rounds of ’tho papers some time ago that the magnificent band- belonging to the Trench convict settlement of New Caledonia should . tour Australasia appears to have died a natural death. It never will be missed. It would appear as if th© day of the trumpet has not yet completely passed away. The Derwent (Tasmanian) Band includes some fin© trumpets in its instrumentation, and the bandsmen are reported to be well pleased with the effects produced by these instruments. ,f Many bands," said an adjudicator at the Crystal Palace contest, ‘did not discriminate between ff. and p.," in other ■words, the playing was altogether too loud and boisterous. Some bands aro so determined to give wnat the Yorkshire man calls “to-an," that overblowing becomes a grievance. A series of indoor contests would do more than

anything we know to correct tho fault mentioned, for It is a fault—oven with some of the best bands—and a glaring

The hollow stump of a re<f cedar tree, which is estimated to bo about two thousand years old, is used as a bandstand in.‘Wright Park, Tacoma, Washington (U.S.A.) Across the concrete.foundation, it is thirty feet wide, and the diameter at th© top is twenty feet. Inside it is furnished with seats and and is a popular resort for picnic parties. At tho Alaskan-Yukon-Pacific Exposition held in Seattle (Washington State) it was placed inside the hug© Pores try Building, and served as a real estate cilice. , *

At a .meeting of the Wellington Professional Orchestra on the lith inst., Mr Herbert Bloy, the energetic conductor, was presented by tho members with a ease of Loewe pipes as a slight token of esteem in whicu he was held. The secretary (Mr J. F. Woodward), in making the presentation, referred in glowing terms to the great interest.taken by Mr Bloy in the orchestra irom the first, and of the rapid advance that had been made under his conductorslkp. Mi* Bloy has left for Auckland on. a two mouths' holiday. . . Curious episodes of an expedition in the Congo were related recently by Mr E. Tord-ay before the Royal Geographical Society. One of the chief tics of the Babomas is their*'musical talent. They possess a large variety of instruments, and every chief maintains an .orchestra. Most interesting were the flute orchestras, in which each member played a flute with a single note. Choral singing- in harmony was also found. The- Batetela tribe were celebrated for their proficiency in transmitting elaborate messages by means of wooden gongs. The Manchester “Weekly Times” recently published a photograph of the Besses-O’-th'-Darn Junior Band (thirty strong;, with its conductor (Mr JR. Gittins) and, bandmaster (Mr B. Jackson). Tho following remarks were added thereto:—“ While the famous Besses-o-tif'-Barn Band is away earning money and fresh laurels in Australia, a new band has sprung up in the district known as the Besscs-o'-UF-Barn Junior Band, several members of the new combination being sons of the men connected with the older band. Though tho junior band has only been in existence nine months, remarkable progress lias been made, the youths and men of the district seeming to have a native talent. for music. So rapid.iy has tne junior band come to the front that it Jias been engaged to play at the Palace, Blackpool, while other important engagements are pending.

Mr John Sykes, at on© time a wellknown Lancashire bandmaster, died recently at St, Annes-on-Sea (Eng.). deceased was a nadve of Mossiey, and joined the Mess ley Band wb-eii saxhorns were need before tb© introduction of cornets. During the cotton panic in the early sixties be joined a. travelling circus, but his ability lifted him out of the ranks, and he became a band teacher. Success attended him in this capacity, and he led many bands to victory. The famous Shaw Prize Band secured its first prize under him. During jMr Sykes's time contesting was much different to what it now is; bands selected their own tests, which , were arranged by their conductors, and as there was great rivalry many devices were employed to prevent the tests being known. Mr Sykes was known througnoxit Lancashire and Yorkshire festivals as a trombone soloist. Ho it was who trained Mr Edwin Stead, STorksbire’s famous trombone soloist.

Writes “Elug©l” -from Feilding :■ — There is only one band her© now besides the Salvation Army. The Manchester© have given up, and some of the players have joined tn© Eedding, which, I believe, holds in trust the Instruments lately in possession of the Manchester Band. On 'Sunday last the Eeilding Brass Band took part in a volunteer church parade. The baud numbered twenty-seven strong, including its drummajor, the veteran S. Daw. .Dinner was partaken of by the bandsmen at the Kities' camp, and in the afternoon the following piogrammo was given;— Marches: “The War Dogs” (Jubb), “The Bushranger” (Hawkins), “Newtown” (Bulcb); selections. “La Teniposta” (Hal-1 evy), “Sabbath Garland” (Newton), “The Young llecruit”, (Bulch). The , march in the morning must have upset the players, ns they hardly did justice to eom© of the- items. I have heard them play much better. Wishing you a merry Christmas and a‘happy .New Year k