MUSIC AND DISCORD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13306, 16 February 1914, Page 4

MUSIC AND DISCORD.

CONDUCT OF DISSATISFIED

BANDSMEN.

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, this day

Several of the bands which competed m the contest at the last week expressed dissatisfaction with the judging of the test selections and quickstep. ' This -resulted m aii unfortunate incident, on Saturday afternoon, at the conclusion ot' the quickstep, m the cricket ground. The massed bands were announced to play the march "Ihiperator," under the baton' of the judge (Captain Bentley). The -bands 'duly massed at, the. far end of the cricket ground, and swept towards the grandstand, making strange sounds oil tlieir instruments. When Captain Bentley took his stand, baton m hand, some of the bands continued tc- play tunes which were certainly , not? in. the music of the marchi, , When silence was restored, Captain Bentley motioned the bands into the strains' of the -"Imperator," but presently some swung off into other re-, frains, till the confusion was worse confounded. One of 'the Contest; Committee appealed to bandsmen 'to "play the game," and not: be discourteous' to the judge. Thereafter the. march was played according to the programme. The muster of the bands for the concert in' the Exhihitioiv' ground m 'the evening- was very disappointing, many Of the bands which- had failed to win prizes absenting themselves, Tlie reason given by sonic of the men for challenging- the judge's decisions is that sonic 6f tho bands which were considered the crack bands of. New Zealand have been given comparatively low marks. During aii interview Mr Bentley took occasion to rehia_c ' that his ' 'musical knowledge extended \back" 40 years. It was rather idle for competitors who had been perhaps only a few years studying music to question the decision of a man who had been educating' himself musically for a lifetime. It was a matter of opinion, but opinions on music ought to he formed on" mature training and experience, riot from a little know-' ledge of the art. A little knowledge m music was often a dangerous thing*

The Gisborne bandsmen were not mixed *up , m, the trouble.' . They - left the ground at 6 o'clock, and went' straight to the wharf to join the s.s. Maitai for Gisborne. s ;