BAND COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 70

BAND COLUMN.

Notes bt Cohnbt.

Secretaries of bands are invited to send in interesting paragraphs, also brief reports of parades and other functions in which their bands take part.

All communications should be addressed to " Cornet," Otago Witness office.

With reference to the a-otion of the Kaikorai Band withdrawing from the New Plymouth band contest, aa it was announced that Lieutenant Herd was to be judge,, the Dominion observes: — "Possibly such action was taken under the impression that the "Wellington Garrison Band would be amongst the competitors. If that is co, it will "ease the mind of the touchy southern band to learn that the local Garrison Band decided some time ago- not to compete this year. Another reason' may be the stupid old prejudice about a New Zealander. being selected to do anything that demands knowledge and impartiality. Formerly we have imported men- as judges from Home" and Australia, but that does not prove that just as able men are not procurable in New Zealand— -it is only proof 'that there has been a laok of faith in the local product. It is the old story of the prophet that is without honour in his own country — a prejudice- that should be crushed whenever it makes its appearance. It is gratifying to learn that a majority of the bands affiliated to the association preferred the local to the imported man." I acknowledge with pleasure Christmas and New Year greetings from the Mornington, Invereargill Municipal, Kaikorai, Cromwell, Gisborne, Dunedin Citizens', Mos.giel, and Bluff Bands, also from- quite a number of individual bandsmen. In return I desire to wish the bands and bandsmen a prosperous year, and hope to hear of plenty of musical progress.

An.' ex-Dunedin Naval Band baritone player, Mr J. Chetwin, was in town during the holidays, his home for the last few yeans being in Christchurch. Though not now a player, he takes active interest in the doings of the bands there, specially at- | tending and enjoying the municipal concerts- Since the inauguration of these concerts the playing has made rapid strides, the submitting o£ the- programmes to the co-uncil's Music Committee ensuring suitable music for the pub-lie. Taken all round, • for concert bands Christchtirch has never been so well catered for as at the present time- The Woolston Band, under Lieutenant Siddall, are playing extremely well. ■ By the withdrawal of^ the Kaikorai Band from the "New Plymouth, contest a certain amount of interest "'will be lost "in the competition hetween the first-grade banda.v.This is unfortunate, aa /all of the competing bands are putting in plenty of rehearsals, and by the contest date should give tiptop renditions of the test music. In fact, this contest, with the exceptionally well■'arEanged" selections and the grading of bands for the first timev promised to reach. "faigh-water" mark of hand-contesting,, and decide out of the half dozen, best the "boss" band in New Zealand. -Till the date ofrannouncement of Lieutenant Herd as the 1 judge the Kaikorai Band were rehearsing steadily, several section practice* having been held, and good progress with the selections made. As the band's contesting record is well known, more than ordinary interest in their withdrawal from the coming contest is- being shown by the public, especially as the band is at present the holder of the two challenge shields. These, of, course, will now have to be forfeited to the association. 1

Public opinion expressed on the matter is greatly diversified. Some side with the, band, while others, again, tihink that KaLkorai are showing yery bad taste- indeed. However, as the Kaikorai Band ie the most interested party, the members will have to stand by their own decision. There is not the least donbt that, in expressing/ their opinion before, and not after, J:he contest, and having no confidence in Lieutenant Herd as a capable adjudicator, the Kaikorai Band adopted the mest sensible plan when it decided to withdraw. _ Previous successful contest-judging is no criterion that our system of electing judges — on a majority vote of competing bands — is not a faulty one. The element of luck predominant in this system is enough in itself to condemn it, there always being the possibility of the best man being outvoted by young and inexperienced bands, and perhaps contesting for the first time. Regarding the recent election, it does- seem a little strange that the North Island Brass Band Association consented to allow Lieutenant Herd's name in the list of nominees, seeing that he is a _ vicepresident of the association. There is nor thing in the rules to preclude his nomination, but the nominations included Lieutenant- Bentley, of Sydney. In England the competing bands have nothing to do with or say in the election ot the judge, this being carried out by the promoters or the Contest Committee. As the -success of the contest depends largely on the judge, the committee always do their best to secure the most capable man. In -the surjimer. when contesting is at its height, and perhaps seven or eight competitions are held" on a Saturday afternoon, tho best men are in great demand. Generally speaking* however, band adjudicators in England know their business thoroughly, and bands have the utmost confidence iii the contest committees. Although, our contests are held under somewhat different conditions from those prevailing in England, the- N. 1.8.8, Association might do Worse than give the English, style oi electing judges a trial. We nave- nr New Zealand a mam who would make an ideal adjudicator, besides being- able to write the contest music. I make bold to write thft'&ame of Mr Alfred Hill, who ie known> throughout New Zealand as a musician, pf th» highest order. A scheme that would provide for Mr Hill acting as official judgefoy all the association contests would receJVe tjie support of the majority of bands ia New Zealand. I venture to say that

if that came to pass, and Mr Hill were given a twelvemonth's trial, writing the test music and adjudicating the contests, band-playing would advance 50 per cent.

Another point that causes dissatisfaction at contest time — and it comes within the category of judging — is the awarding of points as marks of merit. Points, as showing ills .relative cftia.li-fcx*ss c£ bands, m«aji nothing, and should be done away with altogether. Certainly the judge has to arrive at his decision by points, but there it should end. No good is done by publishing them. The places, first, second, or third, is all that is required. The second band knows that it is a few points from the winners — it doesn't matter how many; it may be sor 50. The difference is gauged in a more substantial manner — the matter of £ 6. d. Another argument in favour of discarding the points is that the judges' reports and the points awarded seldom agree. Bands surely would welcome the innovation.

En a British Bandsman report a writer on the question of judges says:— "This year, of all years, has proved that an adjudicator ought not to be a teacher. I venture to suggest that a national league of the bands of England, Scotland, and Wales would provide a remedy. Surely the said bands could afford to maintain six independent musicians to adjudicate for a, period of one year, adjudicator to be would be debarred from teaching or judging elsewhere for the same period. The music for the contests could be- settled- in good time, but I would take a- ballot three days before the contest, so that bands would not know beforehand which judge- would adjudicate. I would also do away with; the point system in -adjudicating." At a» recent meeting of the Band Association of New South Wales the secretary notified the meeting of receipt of a commuuieation from the Premier to the effect that £250 will be placed on the Estimates for the purpose of holding a band contest at Sydney in 1908. It is proposed that the contest be held at JBaater. The A grade contest will carry with it the A grade championship of Australia for 1908, in accordance with the agreement between the New South Wales and Victoria Associations-

Welsh bandsmen participated in the pleasure- of the welcome accorded to Besses Band on their' return- to England. Two of tlie men- in the combination are Welshmen. — namely, Mr Dan. L. Bowen, who was born, at Ferndale, and was a member oi' the. band there for 21 years,. and who _ left in ordsr to take up a responsible positron on Mr J. H. Iles's staff, and ie now Mr Iles's agent in charge of Besses on tour; and Mr Tom Moore, principal cornet of the band. Mr Moore was born in Glamorgan, and for many years ■was the- solo cornet player of the Ferndale Band. Mr Bowen will be remembered as the luggage master of Besses, and made I quite a host of friends while -they were in .Dunedin. Dunedin Citizens' Band accompanied the Union Company's excursion steamer to Oamaru, on "New Year's Day, and contributed to , the enjoyment with, plenty of popular music. * , Kaikorai Band fulfilled the two days' engagement at the Caledonian Society's sports,. Scotch music predominating on the programmes. A New Zealand correspondent, "Paketa,," writes in the Bras 3 Band News his opinion of Besses o' the Barn Band: — "I notice in your 'Opinion' column a writer says I should have heard Besses 10 .years ago. Too true, and' 'twas only the want of the necessary Tiard' that prevented me hearing them, 15 yeare ago. To make up for that, however, I will guarantee your correspondent that it he sends me, say, _50 ' quid ' I will dodge across and ' hear my and New Zealand, bandsmen's ideal band, Black Dike: How will that do, Mr Editor? Your, correspondent also writes that Yorkshire 'could send out lots of bands equal to- Besses. Quite likely. Why, in New Zealand 1 we could get a score of. bands equal aa instrumentalists to Besees if — if- — if Lawson >vere> out. Right. But, then, would Besses be Besses without Lawson? Anewer says 'No:' We have heaps of cornets, homsi basses, etc., who are good men, but no trombonist within miles of W. Lawson. I im certain his equal is not in the Southern Hemisphere. But it all cornea back Ito the same old growl : good players, inj strumeots, complete bands — but no conductors like A. Owen. If we only had a man like Owen we would wipe the floor with Besses, Dike, Wingates, Crossfields, and all the others up in the North of England. My grievance is taking me from the point, and, harking hack to Besses as they were 10 years ago, and as they are nov, I- should aay that Besses as a concert band have acquired the aame degree of excellence comparatively speaking, as they did as a cunteet band, and I am sure, if your writer hoass them as we in New Zealand have, he -will enjoy Besses as- a good concert band." As Besses were timed to arrive Home on December 24-, it is more than liEely .that the band will have given a concert or- two while the combination was good. "Paketa's" remarks regarding our talents are certainly optimistic, and he surely was above himself in saying we could beat the Lancashire and Yorkshire crack bands, even with Mr A. Owen as oonductor. Certainly, with a conductor of even less ability than Mr Owen with, us for a period, our bands v.-onla make more progress. English brass band conductors will eventually come here : it ia only a. matter of time.