The Bands Contest.

Southland Times, Issue 8088, 17 August 1885, Page 3

The Bands Contest.

♦ ; In connection with tho Bands contest at Wellington, a correspondent signing himgelf "Trombone," writes to 'the Post as follow* :— - c \At the Exhibition on Saturday evening, during the performance of the Oaroaru /Garrison Band, I was at a loss to know who were the judge?, as I could detect none present as thosv responsible officers. After making a few inquiries, I was surprised to learn that the previous number (three) had, at the Inet moment, been reduced 'td one, viz., Mr Mackintosh of this city. This gentleman was pointed put to me, and I being very much Interested in this contest, watched him very scrutinisingly. After a number of- Belt-ction«--bad been performed, a piece of badly -written manuscript (a march) was given to them to be pi uyed at sight. During this piece — which I most say, was a credit to the composer— the judge was noticed to be engaged in conversation with some parties present, instead of listening to the band with a copy of the music before him, and following it with all his attention and faculties. In fact, he was not noticed %o have a score of any of the selections during the whole evening, but seemed to depend solely on Ms leair, which must indeed be very capacious, when it is considered that he will not hear the last bind for at least two months. This piece (sight-reading) should have been written in it least three movements, and each movement in a different key, as it would" then have shown that each member depended more upon himself than the leader. As it was, the piece selected for this test could have been go.t through by an inferior band,so long as the lead was kept up and the music -plainly writ»en, which some members of tbe performing band said it was not. I fail to understand how a fair decision is to be arrived at if each band is to be judged in this manner ; and I was extremely sorry to know that this great responsibility had devolved solely on this gentleman. With doe deference to Mr Mackintosh, this manner of judging leaves room for a great deal of dissatisfaction tnd criticism."