Band Notes.

Southern Cross, Volume 4, Issue 24, 12 September 1896, Page 5

Band Notes.

By “Bis.”

The following nominations have been received for the country bands’ contest at Gore :—Milton, Winton, Bluff Navals, Matanra, Riverton, West Plains, and Gore. MrW. V. Siddall has been appointed judge. That the utmost satisfaction will be given by that gentleman is assured. Efforts are being made to engage Ward’s large store for the contest, and arrangements have been made for excursion fares on the 23rd.

The Winton Band gave a concert last week, when the contest selection and quickstep were performed very creditably. The Milton, Mataurai and West Plains Bands have been practising for months past, and each -xre confident they will give a good account of themselves. The Bluff Havals Band wall no doubt be well to the fore. It has beeh in existence some four or five years, and although, like most bands, it has had its ups and downs, yet the members have been in pretty steady practice during that time. Mr A. Slater, the bandmaster, is well-known, amongst bandsmen all over the colony. Prior to coming to Southland he held the position of a leading player in the Oamaru Garrison, so that he is an old hand at contest work. The selection and march, chosen will (bring out the full parts in the band. Amongst the players t noticed were Messrs G. W. Nicbo!, solo cornet,'ißurtenshaw, tenor trombone, F. Johnson, solo baritone, F. Tipping, solo horn, S. Ferguson, euphonium, and M. Russell, bass trombone. The last-named is, I consider, a real artist on his instrument.

I dropped into the Zealandia Hall the other evening, and heard the Garrison perform the two contest selections, Paritani and Tannhauser It was really a treat to listen to. What struck me most was the tremendous volume of tone produced. Has Mr Siddall being conveying to his men the valuable information, that came out at a meeting of bandsmen held a week or two back, when the best means to produce the largest volume of tone from a brass instrument was discussed ? There are, of course, many nice points to come out yet, but with another six weeks practice ahead of them they should be very fit.