BAND COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2761, 13 February 1907, Page 63

BAND COLUMN.

Notes bt Corxet.

Secretaries of bands are invited to send in interesting paragraphs, also brief repoits of parades and other functions in which tneir bands take part. All communications shcu'd be addressed to " Cornet," Otago Witness office.

Rain, though much needed', certainly spoilt what otherwise would have been a capital, programme at the farewell concert of the Besses o' th' Bain Band, held in thf Caledonian Ground on Tuesday night. Despite tii:s drawback, however, the audience of several thousands listened to the programme to the end. Many were disappointed at not hearing the "11 Tj-ovatoie selection, tins number with two other items being omitted on account of th^ rain. _ The first item, the "Zealandia- March, s a good march. It was written by Mr Owen on the steamer. As Mr lies says, it is certainly very difficult. It is arranged in the fugiie etyle, the melody being carried section by section of the band from the cornets to the basses, and reaching a grand climax preceding the cornet solo. Ine trombones even have trills to play, wh.ch. is very unusual. Great things were expected from tne kand in the "Rcsamunde" overture. Though very difficult, ib was well played, but I must confess to some disappointment. The arrangement does not lend iteelt as well to a brass band as to an orchestra or military band. The playing of Mr Tom Bowlmg in his trombone solos and encore piece created quite a furore. The "Tannhauser" selection, although "cut," was played in the proper Wagnerian style. The final was played brilliantly, and was full of character. Mr Berry was eooe in tho euphonium solo, U otar ci Eve " The chord that worried conductor and bandsmen, in 1896, when ''Tannhauser was the test selection in Dunxhu, va« heard in the rendition by the Besses, so must be all right, I should judge. Local talent in the Pipe Band and a squad of Rifles was drawn on for the last si em A Soldier's Life," a piece descriptive of Ibe embarking of troops, the usual calms and Btorma of a sea voyage, landing of troops, battles, etc. This was effectively done, reality being imparted to the piece by the inspiring music of the pipes and also the discharge of a few volleys by the soldiers rhe pipers must have fancied they were at the real thing, Mr Owen haying quite a job to stop them playing. The playing of the National Anthem terminated the proceedings aud Besses' last concert in Dxinedin. , The merits of the band s performances, ot indoor and outside programmes having been freely discussed, I myself prefer them inside, as all the fine passages of the music can be heard to advantage. Certainly the playing would sound better outside on a proper band rotunda. The Besses cay our stand in the Gardens is the worst for sound they have ever played on. A pleasant function took place after the concert, when the Kaikorai Band made a presentation to Mr Owen of a greenstone paper knife and a gold-mounted greenstone brooch for Mrs Owen. Mr Laidlaw made the presentation in a neat speech, andf Mr Owen suitably replied, and in doing so expressed regret at the illness of Mr Boyd, of the Kaikorai Band. Advice from the Hospital is to the effect that there is no hope for a mouth or two of Mr Boyd being about again. The Kaikorai Band will miss hi 1 ? services in the various competitions. The trombone work in the "Heroic" selection is very dificult. Letters of sympathy have besn received from the Cinzons and Navals Band", and all wish for Mr Boyd's speodv recovery. Here is another case of "hard luck." — Mr Wilde, tho secretary of Peniberton Old Band, hnjrlaiKl, writes:— We had hard luck at Belle Vue. three of our men bring sick the la>t week, while on" died- on tho Saturday before the contest." LThis band took sixth pldco.— Ed.] A Way of Raising tho Wind.— A bandmat sor at Belle Yue was hoard to &ay that the sa^ of picture post-cards of his band totalled £20 for the year. The R^wienstall contest, with "Pongs of Balfe" as a test piece, resulted as follows: — Goodshaw, first prize and medals for trombone and euphomuui ; Burnley Temperance becond ; Clayton-le-Moor« third. Quartet playing is greatly on the increase am6iig.se bandsmen, a recent contest at Ivdge Hill, Liverpool, having an entry of 66. There are over 50 bands within five miles of Liverpool. For the Championship of Scotland contost 10 bands entered and five for the march competition : —First and cup, Johnstone Band ("Rossini"): second, JamPßtown ("Memories of Balfe") ; third, Kilsyth (Beethoven's Works) ; fourth Douglas Colliery ("Souvenir de Meyorbeer ) : fifth, L T nited Co-operatne ("Tannhau«er").

Mr John Palev, one of England's greatest cornet soloMs, has a good lerord. He was a wonder a-s a lad. and his father (who was his teacher) was himself one ot the greatest cornet ple.yers England has ever produced. John Paley joined Black Dike when he was 15, and played solo cornet for them for 12 years, besides at times assisting Besses, Wyke, Kingston Mills, and other bands. He has played under Sir A. Sullivan. Elgar, Bridge, Cowen, Gill, Coleridge, and Cotvard, and is permanent solo trumpeter to about a dozen philharmonic orchestras. July, 1903, was John Paley's debut at Belle "Vue as conductor of the Shipley Band. Not only was it the band's first try, but they drew to play No. 1, and won the first prize. Surely this is a record of firsts.

A contributor to tha British Bandsman writes : — "Brass bands, when programme playing, might do worse than please their audiences by playing what those audiences like."

Linthwaite Band, which won the second prize at the Crystal Palace contest, were disqualified for allowing some of their members to play with other bamK Winners of the Crystal Palace championships:—l9oo. Denton Original; 1901 Lee Mount; 1902, Black Dike; 1903. PWse*: i 904, Hepburn Colliery: 1905, Irwell Springs; 1906, Winafate^ Temperance. Mr lies, the g<=n;al manager of thp Besses, was director of the New Zealand Band's tour of England in 1903. He was pleased to again renew friendships sitli

the members of that band, many of whorflt he has met in Di:nedin and Chnstchurch.

London County Council pays on an. aver* age about £12,000 a- year for band musia in the parks. In New Zealand, Welfing Iton and Christchurch also pay the bands* Dunedin pays nothing.

The Invercargill Garrison, and Tuapekal Band-3 arrived in Dunedin, en route to tho contest. The Invercargili Municipal Band! went through on Friday. A. Ferguson, the veteran euphonium player., is with tha. Garrison. Their march piece is "Under Freedom's Banner."

The Dunedin bands left for the contest' on Saturday.

Reports speak highly of the playing of the Newcastle Band, and many think they; will go near the first prize.

The four new acetylene lamps used by; the Garrison Band at its Ocean Beach' concert were a vast improvement on the old kerosene torches. I would advise all bands to get them. The Dunedin Orchestral Society resumed! practice on Wednesday night. Mr W. O. -Millar, the secretary, assures me of _ a successful season. The brass division, being members of the Navals and Kaikorai Bands, was absent. The Roslyn Orchestral Society has also' started practice, and under Mr Webster's, ' able conductorship will do well. Apart? from Mr Webster's practical band expert* ence, the lessons he has learned from hear* ing the Besses will be of use to the society.

Next week's notes will contain remarks on the contest.

The Mornington Band submitted a programme in the Gardens on Sunday. 3rd inst., at which there was a good attendance of the public. Included in the pro* gramme was the band's own choice, "Memoirs of "Weber," to be played afe the Exhibition contest. It was the intention to play the test selection, "Lombardi," but owipff to two of the basses leaving their parts, they were unable to do so. This band ie competing' in senior contest? for the first time, and, being a very young band, it is to be hoped the players will do themselves justice. The Garrison Band gave an open-air con* cert at St. Kilda last Wednesday evening* The programme was as follows: — March,. " King William" ; overture, " Crownl Diamonds" ; selection, "Norma" ; valse, "Ma Belle Adoree" ; selection, "The Country Girl"; inarch, "Duke Albert" £j "God Save the King." The various item* seemed to be thoroughly enjoyed by th« large gathering, and the collection m aid of a rotunda for the district was satisfactory. A few words Te crowding on. the musicians would not be out of place. _ X the public would only stand at some little* ' distance from the band they would enjojß the music ever so much better and mabev ' it much more agreeable for the bandsmen., - It is very disconcerting to young playersr to have anyone looking over their shoulder. at the part they are playing from; and not only that, but the continual hum of conversation that appears necessary on these? occasions tends to take one's attention! from their work, not to mention a seuffiq or two between hoodlums who apparently do not attend to hear the music them* selves, but to spoil the pleasure of those* wishing to do so. I think if these mattera were brought well before the public muchrt good might ensue. On Saturday aiternoonj! . the band played at the Hussar sports, when several of the solo instruments were absent, the players not being able to leave their work. Those present, however, d ; d ruuch towards enlivening the proceedings with choice items. I think that the recent; , visit of Mr Owen and the Besses musti have a lasting effect on the playing o£ bands here and the lessons learnt will not soon be forgotten.