BAND COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 70

BAND COLUMN.

Notes bt Cornet.

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

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

The annual contest for West Coast bands will be held at Westport on Friday atid Saturday May 22 and 23. « A circular to hand gives full particulars, and shows the priae lisr to be a liberal one, totalling £150. Instead of the usual two test pieces, the competition will be one test selection and a test march, the musk to be delivered io competitors about March 16. Other items will be:— Brass Quartette, Trombone Trio, Drums Competition, and solos for all instruments A special competition will be that for youths under 16- years of age, on any brass instrument. The chief money prijze — £85 — goes to the winner of the selection, whilst the march is worth £35 to the successful band in that item. Gold and silver meadsl will be awarded _ to winnerß and seconds in the solo competitions. The list- of special prizes is as follows: — Gold medal to first prize band (presented by the Mayor, Mr J. H. Greenwood) ; second prize, conductor's baton-- (presented by the Dresden Piano Co.). A bell metronome goes with the third prize, and is donated by J. W. Copithocne, Wellington. An engraved gold medal will be presented- to the Drum-major of the band securing highest military points. A beautiful silver-mounted druxn-major's staff, valued 1 at -£\ 10b, is a donation from Charles, Begg and Co., Dunedin, -to the band gaining the highest number of points in! test selection and march (music and drill). The music for the quartette, trio, and solo competitions will be own choice, but no competitor or competitor* will be allowed to play the same piece of music in the contest which he or they have previously played and received prises for. A solo cornet copy of quartette, trn> and solo piece must be in the .hands of the secretary not later than April 25. _ The puWic of Dunedin are apparently under the impression that the local bands are now playing the council's programmes. Such, however, is not the case x the agreement not yet being signed. The bands are asked to agree to the following conditions submitted by the council: — 1. There shall be five bands— Caversbanr, Kaikorai, - Mornington, Garrison, and Citizens. , , 2. l&ch band will receive the sum of £30 in full payment for its services for the season. The said sum to be paid in three equal payments, 'to be made on. December 1, February 1, and April 1. 3. The season during- which such performances are to b« given shall commence on the Ist day of October, and shall finish on the 31str day of MaTch. 4. Each Sunday two performances will be given— one »t St. Clair and one at the Gardens. . 5. Sunday performances anall begin at 3 p.m. sharp and conclude not earlier than 4.30 p.m. The programme to consist of eight numbers, exclusive of the National Anthem. - ' o. During the months at December, January, and February there-shall be one performance on Wednesday, either ai^ St. Clair or Gardens, -as may be- arranged. . T. Wednesday performances .shall begin at 8 p.m. sharp and conclude not earlier than 9.15 p.m. The programme to consist of six numbers, exclusive of the Naitonal Anthem. . . „ 8 One concert shall be given by the combined bands in aid of charitable institutions, date and time of such concert to be fixed by the City Council. _ 9 Bands shall retain the right to take up a collection, as heretofore, excepting at benefit concerts. 10. Bands to mutually arrange as to performances, and sußmit the same for the approval of the City Oouncil or authorised committee. Failing such arrangements the City Council shall fix dates upon which the respective bands shall play. 11 Before the season commences each band shall send particulars to the town clerk as to places and dates of their performances. , , „ 12 The programme shall be sent to the town clerk not later than noon, of tlie Monday preceding each concert. 13. Applications must contain full particulars and be sent to the town clerk before noon of July 31, 1S0& Mr W. J. Walker, of the Invercargill Municipal Band, writes that the bands there are progressing quietly, giymg outdoor concerts, etc. The weather of late has not been too favourable, and recently one or two programmes were cancelled owing to the high wind prevailing, tetters from Waihi state that Mr Glennie , is«doing good work with thfr Waihi Federal Band. His departure from Invereargill was a severe blow to the Municipal Band, as the services of Glennie iun. (solo trombone). C. Wills (solo euphonium), and R. Wills (solo cornet) were lost to the band at the same time. The latter gentleman has been appointed conductor of the newly-formed Hibernianßand, they having secured the Wanganui Band s extra set of instruments. Good progress is being made under Mr Wills's tutorship, rehearsals, being he'd in the old Catholic Church, Clyde street. The Dominion Band gave a very enjoyable concert in the Gardens on Sunday aftern«on, January 19, under Conductor Siddall, when a collection was taken up to defray the cqst of a set of stands, and about £5 was raised. The Salvation Army Band also gave one of their municipal concerts on Wednesday evening, but the high wind spoilt the evening's pleasure. The Garrison Band's concert was postponed owing to tiie unsettled state of the weather. Mr W. SiddaE's temporary eonductorship has been made permanent with the Invereargill Municipal Band, and this band has been further strengthened by the inclusion of Messrs A. and W. Earsman (solo cornet and euphonium), good players, recently from England. - In conclusion Mr Walker says that the public ©f Invercargifl were sorry to read' of the recent disagreement over the 7 New Plymonth contest, but hope Kaikorai will bring back honours from Ballarat. ~ Another large crowd attended at the Second Beach, St. Glair, to hear the Kair korad Band, this being practically the band's first performance, at this favourite spot. Mr Ijaidlaw 'had the pleasure of conducting a good band of 30 -players through a programme that appealed to all classes, and, judging by the applause, the various numbers were much appreciated. Veteran base player Claude Davie was assisting- the bass division rm. the sirurle B flat baas.

The following items made up the programme : —March, ' ' Little Snowdrop" ; overture, "Bandettenstriche" (Suppe), and arranged for brass band by G. B. Laidlaw; trombone solo, "Lend me your aid," from Gounod's ope-ra "La Reine di Saba"; solo by D. Boyd; selection, "Mikado" (Sullivan) ; sacred selection, "Eventide" (Rimmer) ; hymn, , "Sandon" ("Leid, kindly Light"), by request; march, "Pomp and Circumstance" (Elgar) ; and "God save the King."

The Mornington Band, under Conductor Smith, rendered a programme to a "crowded house" in the Gardens on Sunday afternoon. The chief items in the programme wcire jtahe New Plymouth test selections, "Gems of Schumann" and "William Tell," and the march, which were much appreciated. Good progress is being made with the Quickstep.

George Buckley, the well-known cornetist, is coaching the Wanganui Band's soloists for New Plymouth.

It is more than likely that the next N. 1.8.8. Assocation's contest will be held at Hastings. Woolston have ' a splendid band, and should play well at the contest. "Bandsmen," writing from Gore, Bays thai the Gore Band fulfilled a two days' engagement at the recent race meeting, and the members mustering strongly, the music was much enjoyed. The band is up to full strength, and contains some very promising young players- Mr Harry Campbell, kite of the Dunedin Citizens' Band, waa a recent visitor to the bandroom, but as not yet decided definitely as to becoming a member. The local orchestra has been strengthened .by Mr Sid. Trownson (trombone) and Mr Campbell (flute). The picnic 'season is now in fulK swing in Dunedin, and good prices «re being obtained by the picnid band — in fact, players, especially cornets, are difficult to get at 12s to 15s per day. This is a pleasant ;ontrast to former years, wßen picnics were taken practically for nothing. . A Christohurch bandsman writes that band secretaries are daily; receiving applications tfirom mcnic committees for tenders fox a picnic Band. The system of caling for tenders appears to have the ling of cheapness about it. That no one likes to foe werohaxged for anything 1 ie idmitted, yet we like to be paid a fair price for our ability. When it comes to engaging a brass band, some committees appeal to think they should get a band at a minimum wage. That bandsmen aa» in a measure to blame is acknowledged; but picnic committees, and especially those who belong to trades unions, should see that no band is engaged on the score of cheapness. I think everyone will admit that those who have the ability of proyiding amusement for others (especially music) are ■worth more than an ordinary day's pay. i