The Bandsman

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7847, 8 July 1911, Page 19

The Bandsman

(By “Magenta.")

Musicians anti their Pay. In view of the movement among Sydney artists for an arbitration court award regulating the prices of oil paintings water colours etc., ifc is interesting to note that in the musical world of that city an award is already in force. This is the Musicians-' Awird, which lays down (ho salaries of orchestral players and regulates the payments to musicians generally. Brass hands, however, do not come under this award, though the matJar has bgeen talked of. In Now Zealand, though a Musicians' .Award has not yet come into existence, (lie subject ha-s received some attention, and the lime will probably arrive when an award similar to the Sydney one will be an accomplished fact. The l/rass bands of Christ- : church, dissatisfied with the miserable sums received from sports premotor*. picnics, open-air meetings, etc., for their services, havo united with theobjectoi commanding more adequate remuneration, and they havo been fairly successful. A liuilod Bands Committee has been formed, ami rules drawn up, with the 7*cmilt tluvt the engagements of tho bands avo better jxuid for. fast .season the committee considered that the City Council’s scab'' of remuneration was not generous enough, and as tho Council would not increase tho subsidy, tho united bands refused to give tho usual municipal concerts. The conditions havo now been mado exacting, and harmony again prevails in tho Cathedral City. Unity is strength, and only by such methods can brass bands expect the- recognition which is their due. Wanganui Letter. “Tho Caliph" writes: Band matters arc fairly quiet, in "Wanganui at present, and there is nothing very startling to report. Coronation Day found tho local bands up and doing—Garrison Band, City Band. and. S.A. Band taking part in tho procession in the afternoon and again in tho evening. The Garrison was shorthanded, but nevertheless mado a creditable display on each occasion. The* City Band was handicapped in the inocession for want of a lead. The S.A. Bond rose to tho occasion in good stylo, but, like tho City Band, the d was weak. The combined choirs song "Rule, Britannia," "Red. White and Blue," and "God Save tho King" at tho afternoon functions, accompanied by the Garrison Band. The Garrison Band will. X understand, give the second series of its winter concerts in tho Opera House to-morrow (Sunday) evening. Mr Charlie Greening, tho well known Wellington and Potone baritone player, made his appearance with tho Garrison Band on Coronation Day. Charlie is no novice on the baritone or eupho., and the band is fortunate in securing the services of such a good playerMr Tom Gray’s three months’ leave of absence from tho Garrison has nearly expired. Tom has led a vigorous band life for some 33 years, and there seems to be a doubt now as to whether Tom will “como back" or scratch. Strange it never seems to appeal to the "powers that bo" to mass tho bands for such occasions. Tho result was that the City and S.A. Bands were left right out in the cold during the afternoon celebrations! Had thee© bands charged, say, i‘s, for their services, no doubt they would havo been expected tx> play every five minutes, but they gave their services free and were ignored. However, "exporientia docet."

The Professional Band is busy afc the Royal Eink every evening', and from reports is giving every satisfaction (and getting it;. Mr Shcrwin, formerly conductor of erne of tie Petono Bands, is residing in Wanganui, and has organised an orchestra to assist the production of a cantata to be given locally. • What’s wrong with a massed bands’ concert in Wanganui? These performances axo very popular with the public, and if run with a littlo system would no doubt be a financial success. There must be about 70 bandsmen in Wanganui who could bo got together for 1 such a performance, which number would make a very good display. Gisborne Contest. A meeting of Gisborne citizens was held last Friday night to consider arrangements for the band contest to be held next year. The Mayor (Mr 'll. I- yl’ll ar) presided, and suggested that the pz'oceduro adopted at Palmerston contest be adhered to, viz., that of appointing a contest committee to control the function. As the N.1.8.8.A. was arranging for the contest judge, the only appointment required was that of the military judges. Accommodation would have to be provided for between 550 and 700 visiting bandsmen- The last contest took place on February 15th, but tho opinion of those present was that the first or second week in March was tho most favourable for tbo Gisborne iivhire. The prospect of tho borough tramway being completed made the Park the best locality for the quickstep, but the other events woqld be beld closer to the town. A general committee was formed, comprising the whole of the guarantors and members of tho Borough Council, and a progress committee was also appointed. Mr J. Chrisp was appointed secretary pro tem. A suggestion was made that tho contest should bo enlarged to embody other branches of music, singing, elocution, etc. Tho Mayor said ho understood the compilation of the programme was a matter that devolved upon tho Association, and by whom it was jealously guarded. They would be much’averse to such an innovation. A speaker suggested the additional contest might bo run independently of the band contest. Several present expressed tho opinion that if they succeeded in making tho band contest a success they should bo well satisfied, and tho matter ■vyas allowed to stand at that. OLLA PODRIDA At the ‘Coronation celebrations in Motneka tho local brass band took a prominent pari- At tho conclusion of the main function, it played the National Anthem, and during the afternoon contributed an attractive programme of music, which considerably enlivened the proceedings and gave general satisfaction. The South Island band contest, to be I held in November next, is now practically assured. A cable message was sent from Christchurch to London last Friday morning for seta of the best contest selections, and it is hoped that one of the best Coronation marches will be I obtained. The general manager of the i Tramways Board was asked if the Band ' Association could receive a percentage oi i the revenue from tickets if the contest were hold on the Show Ground,' the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s ground, or Lan- ] castor Bark, and replied that tho board c did not give percentages to any places < where there are gate takings, so the con- s test committee will probably decide on AVainoni Park. The Mayor, Mr T. E. Taylor, M.P., is in complete sympathy t with the contest. The contest will be held under the South Island Association’s rules j but controlled by a committee of citizens v

appointed at a public mooting. Under the rules men cannot bo transferred from a strong bond to a weak one, eo that every man will have to play in his own band. It is hoped by tho 5.1.8.8. A.. that if tho scheme is supported by the news- ' papers and tho public the contest will be the mosf important of its kind ever held in Hr. Thacker is president and'Mr G. AV. Jenner secretary. Last Sunday afternoon the F’atea Borough Band, under Conductor Christensen. rendered an excellent programme in tho local hospital grounds, which was greatly appreciated by the patients and visitors. A collection taken up" amount-' ed to 255. On Monday evening the band gave a performance in the S.A. Hall, on the occasion of a lecture by Lieut.Colonel Birkenshaw.

Blenheim Garrison Band gave a very successful concert in the local Town Hall on Monday evening last, some of tho best talent in Marlborough assisting. The band had practised hard under Lieut. Bose, and acquitted itself creditably, giving tho following programme: March, “Entry of the Gladiators” (Pucik): trombone solo, "Out on tho Deep” (Lohr), Bandsman. L. Tunnicliffo; selection, "Bohemian Girl” (Balfe); march, “Minor and Major" (Southwell); musical sketch, "In Old Kentucky" (Shipley Douglas). Tho Olympia Skating Bank band boasts of many well-known musicians, and it is interesting to note that many brass bands in the Dominion have no reason to bless skating rinks and picture shows, on account of losing some of their best players. Still, bandsmen are only human, after all, and a permanency with a picture show is decidedly more enticing than casual work with a brass band to whose lot generally fall more kicks than ha’pence!

Doctor Ridgeway, Bishop «>f Kensington, who has been mentioned as likely to succeed Dean Gregory at St.' Paul’s, has an inexhaustible fund of excellent stories and anecdotes. One of these amusingly tells how a schoolboy got the better of an examiner.

"Suppose/’ asked the examiner, "I offered yon half an prange - and two-thirds of an orange, which piece would- yon take

"Please, sir, the half,” said tho lad. "Stupid boy!” exclaimed the examiner. "I .shall put a mark against you for that.”

Subsequently, a deputation of scholars waited on the examiner to convince him that he was wrong. That particular boy was notorious for his strong amtipathy to oranges!

Arranged in a straight line, the’ railways of the world would reach to the moon and back again. Tho proposal to observe all holidays on Monday naturally recalls the case of the man who said that the best day for a holiday was Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

For the traffic census of the City of London nearly 300 observers were required to watch fifty-two roads, fourteen other walking ways, eighteen railways, six tulie stations, and two stairways.

Having a seating capacity for 40,000 spectators, and standing room for another 30.000, the stadium at the Turin Exhibition is the largest of its kind in the world.