BAND COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 66

BAND COLUMN.

Notes bi Cornet.

Secretaries of bands are invited to send in interesting paragraphs, also brief reports of parade* and other functions in which their bands taka part. All communications should be address?! to " Cornet," Otago Witness office.

The Wellington Garrison Band continues to draw crowded houses to their concerts in the Town Hall, the last one given being the most successful of the Sunday series. A member of the band kindly sends a report of the concert. Lieutenant Herd had selected an appropriate programme, which was excellently rendered. The most pleasing numbers were the cornet solo. "La Eeye Dv Amour " (The Dream of Love), with band accompaniment, by Corpora] Goodall ; and the sacred air " Sandon," with variations for cornets trombones, basses, etc. The balance and tone in - this number was excellent. A pretty intermezzo, "Rose Garland," was daintily played. The collection was a substantial one, amounting to £27 4s 9d. This will show a good margin over expenses. It is yet early in the season for outdoor concerts, " especially at the St. Clair rotunda. A month or 6O must elapse before this resort is "playable," and the Citizens' Band were wise in postponing their proposed cdnoert for last Sunday. The editor of the Australian Bandsman thinks it a tremendous waste of time and energy and money for a band to travel from New Zealand to Balla-rat to compete in -one contest only. In citing instances in the visits of former bands to the sister States of New South Wales and Victoria, of the Wellington Garrison to Bathuret in 1899. Oamaru -and Invercargill Garrison Bands to Melbourne, he contrasts the outlay of the bands for one contest only, with the visits of football teams that rrlay perhaps a score of matches at perhaps the same expenditure. The editor's remarks suggest a feasible project that would certainly srive more return for the outlay incurred by the visiting band. The difficulty would be on the score of time, competing at even say half a dozen contests within easy radius would mean at, least another fortnight before or after the bip competition at Ballarat. Mr Gartrell suggests that the Victorian Band Association should at once get to work and arrange a contest at Bendicro. Geelong, and at ono or two other suita-ble centres. A oommittee in each town could be_ ?ot together and each committee could prive a guarantee of a sum of. say, £50 or £60 to the Kaikorai B&nd. This would probably ensure the acceptance from the visitors, who could meet the local bands in contest, tfie latter to have any profit after expenses bad been met. If any steps are to he taken to adopt these pronosa.te it will, of course, be necessary to act at once. For the Sydney Fleet Week confceet, 29 bands hav<\ entered — a record for Australia. H<>rr Slapoffski has been appointed ■iide:e. rhp test pieces are: — A Grade. " Oberon " (Wehor) : B Grade. "Carmen." Tsach band will play one own cTioie-e and onn feet selection. As. conductor of Williamson's Grand Onera Companic= Tlerr Slapoffski is best known to u°. To mv knowledge he ha-5 not prpviouslv done nnv+hinar in the wav of judsrinfr "brass." and his decisions and remarks will ho intero«tinK. Whether or not ho will {rive satisfaction rem-a-ins to be spen, bni: a^ a rmi^ioi&n he is "on ton" and rannot be told or taught anvthincr about <he v>lav'nsr of brass instruments. T.iki? all er-^od rr>«n flint thoroughly understand fhoir bu-sin* I^. ton" from an instrument '« his nr't — a.nd the ?ast. His own words to the "bra=s" of the Ditnodin Orchr"*+raA Society on one otva?ion were: — " Without tone it's noflu'nsr "" — a lesson in ifsplf. The success o£ the Christchuroh contest af- Christmas time? at>poars to be practically n«ured. All that is now reciuiro<-T i« a. ccoad entry. Mr .Tenner, the ener<rotic ««civfarv. recorte:— A mppHno- of tho T-ir»d Contest ?>nd Musical Carnival Oom--"Ht'** 1 w« h^-M on VC/vTnrsfi.av cvonin<r. "Rev. M "Rerufrtfin nrr>«ir!irg-. It was an"onncvi <-V"i*- iiHioti^h fho o-uarnnt' 3 *> forr^c had only heen issued a fow <!ar« ovpt one week, half of the total number had been

taken up and several amounts in cash had been promised. It was decided to engage the Colosseum for the band contest, which would commence on December 28, and to appoint the military judges for the marching competition prior- to entries being received. A vote of thanks was passed to the Woolstori" Band for their assistance on Sunday last, the collection amounting to £10 0s 3d. An offer from Stanmore Band to give a programme on Sunday, September 6, was accepted. A brass band is to be formed at Waitemata, Auckland. This decision was reached at a meeting over which the Major (Mr A. Bruce) presided. Mr L. J. Cohan will fill the position of secretary and Mr Greenelade of treasurer. Other offices will be filled later. The annual contest of fhe North Island is fixed for February 17-23 of next year. A writer from Dunedin to the Australian Bandsman says it is rumoured in Dunedin that the judge for Ballarat (Mr Short) knows nothing about brass bands. When the numbers go up it will be found that Mr Short knows enough about brass and military bands to satisfy the most fastidious band <fr bandsman that ever donned a uniform. Dear T., — If you .say you are really desirous of becoming' a player, first discard your battered tenor horn. * An instrument that is leaky and dented is no good to anybody. The tenor is th© easiest to blow,, and a quarter or two under a teacher would give you a "grounding in tone production the principal item in learning. With a book tutor it is possible to acquire proficiency, but in many cases wrong methods, hard to eradicate' by a teacher or bandmaster, are acquired. I would advise you to call at Begg's, see Mr R. Cook, or at the London Music, and interview Mr Laidlaw, either gentleman would be only too pleased to help you in the selection of a good second-hand or new instrument. The local bands always have extra instruments which they are pleased to lend to prospective bandsmen who show anxiety to persevere. The bandmaster is the best judge of what instrument a learner should take up, the formation of the lips and teeth being- an important factor in the matter. As you are practically in 'the district why not attend a practice night of the Caversham Band and interview the conductor, Mr Simpson. I am certain he will bejtbleN:o fix you up satisfactorily. Harry" Nor they, the ex-Wanganui cornettist. is returning to New Zealand from >i.S. Wales, where he has been residingsince the Exhibition contest. * In a recent report by Sydney Truth, the conductor of the Royal Artillery Band was made to say disparaging things about brass bands. Needless to say, the report caused consternation widespread. Mr Smith now challenges the report, and replies to the article- thus:— "l was not surprised to see your article anent myself in regard to my speech at Mr De Groen's dinner given to my band in Sydney, as misrenorted in Truth, but in justice^ to myself I beg to inform you that the report- as given by them is so cut up as to be entirely misleading. The comparisons made between us and Besses are unfair. Personally, I believe in military bands, and said it was impossible to get the same effects out of a. brass ba.nd as from a full military, but 'the report that I dealt scathingly with brass bands is untrue. What I said in regard to contesting was that brass bands and brass band contesting had undoubtedly contributed largely to the education of the masses, but at the same time I did not believe in the system at present in vogue. The issuing of a well-known piece of music for each band to practice in a given time was not a fair test of their capabilities; some bands have better., opportunities of rehearsing than others. For instance, I quote the contest at the Crystal Palace, at which Besses (one of the finest brass bands in the world) was beaten by a sixth-rate band,, Besses securing fifteenth place. That, in my opinion, proved* the defect in the present system. I suggested that at band contests an entirely new piece of music should be issued to each band on the field, and the band that rendered that piece of music the best would prove b^ the only correct test which was the best band. I have had many brass band contestors through my hands who have been good performers on their instruments, but sadly defective at sieht reading, hence my- objection to the present system, as a military band like ours does not rehearse a piece of music more than once, consequently they have better facilities for learning than do brass hands that practice one piece for months. With regard to comparing contesting with footballers, I said : 'Under the present system contesting was too much like a football match, where tho prize does not go to the best team, whioh was a furtherance of my remarks re Besses at the Crystal Palace." Mr Smith adds that he felt the remarks on his speech very much indeed, especially as he and his band were sreatly indebted to Australian brass bands in general for the warm reception and assistance accorded to the Royal Artillery Band since coming to the country. Rumour hath it that a municipal band is to be formed in Wellinjfton. There is some talk of the Fame thing in Dunedin. It would be good if rumour proved reality, as a good programme band all the year round could be selected from Hie most capable players. In our city something 1 may br» done towards the project on the return of the Knikorai Band from Ballarat. As a bandmaster Mr Barkell, of the famous Newcastle City Band, is held in esteem by the various bands under his charge. Practical proof of this was recently shown by the present-ation of a framed group of the West Wallsend Band and (heir -conductor. Mr Barkell, in replying. thanked the band for the sift, which he treasured more than if it had bee.n a £50 note. The Wallsend Band, under Mr Barkell's tuition, secured first prize in B Grade section at the Sydney Easter contest. A full house greeted the Kaikorai Band's playing in connection with the Rev. W. Thomson's divine service at His Majesty's Theatre on Sunday evening. A programme of sacred items were ariven in rood style, and ,was well received by the aud-icnoe. Passages for 32 have been booked for Ballarafc by the Kaikorai Baaid. In addition ■ to the 27 players for the marCh, a few emerprencv players are being taken. The "Kilties" Band, which is at present tourtner Australia, is a military band with the addition of baanipes. They give variety programmes, vocal and instrumental, and include 40 nerformers. A writer says .Jhat if our New Zealand band' which went Home had gone upon the satne lines greater buccess would have resulted from the trip. In reply to "Boomerane," T may fay variety work, apa-rt from Maori hakas and talented singers, was a speciality of tho N.Z. Band's programmes. Ifc is certain sure

if Besses tour had eventuated in 1902 orearly in 1903 the N.Z. Band trip to England would have died an early death, the same as happened the projected tour of the Perth City Band to the Old Country. With that body it was a case of hear Besses before you sail. They did, and saved their money and reputation.