The Band Contest

Southland Times, Issue 10965, 16 February 1907, Page 2

The Band Contest

THE BAND CONTEST, OWN CHOICE " AND SELECTION* Per United Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 15< Tha following are the completed results in the own choice ” and test selections ; Points? Wanganui ~ , 306 Kaikorai .. 303 Newcastle 302 Auckland Garrison 293 Wellington Garrison , v 297 Dunedin Citizens 295 Woolston . 295 Waihi 293 Mornington 291 Waihi Federal 293 Palmerston (North 294 Derry’s Private 283 Auckland First Battalion. ... 284 Dunedin Navals 254 Masterton Municipal 284 Jupp'si (Wellington) 283 Oainhru Garrison 253 Tuapeta 233 Timaru Garrison 280 Decniston 27S Invercargill Municipal 277 Taranaki Garrison 2"0 Hastings Town 274 Invercargill Garrison - 271 Nelson Garrison 271 Gisborne City 2-67 Greymouth Battalion. 2C(J Ruahine Battalion 206 Napier Garrison. ♦ 201 Timaru Marine 24.

YESTERDAY’S DOINGS. The Exhibition Band Contest was resumed this morning with a number of preliminary solo competitions, which were taken in both the concert ball and West’s Castle Theatre. In the B flat tenor trombone competition (judge, Mr W. S. King), the following took part :—J. Congalton (Mornington), W. Fellows (Newcastle, N.S.W.). T. Gray (Wanganui Garrison), S. Sly (Wanganui), W. Amos (Jupp’s), A. S, F.rskine (Napier Garrison), A. Handley (Taranaki Garrison), B. McCorkindale (Tuanoka), 11. Taylor (First Infantry. Auckland). W. Mussen (Lyttelton Marine)* W. Wernc (Lyttelton Marine), T. ’Williamson (Dunedin Navals), W. R. I.anham (Woolston), G. Saunders’ (Palmerston North) and J. Elliott (Palmerston North) ; Urn four players first mentioned he/rg reserved by the judge to d ’tide the final. The quartettes (Mr Otto Kchakrtz, judge) were contested by * ontingonte from Newcastle City Band (N.S.W7), Kaikorai. Wanganui Garrison, lioolstoo, (Palmerston North, Dunedin Navals, and Greymouth ; tho first three to play off this evening. In the BR flat Ibass competition (MrW. S. King, judge) those taking part were ■ F. Albrecht (Gisboin- 1 ), R. Coyle (Jupp's). B. Cudby (Taranaki), S. Fenton (Tnapeka), C. Bartley (First Infantry. Auckland).’ A. Oilmour (Lyttelton Marine), R. Wilson (Derry’s). R. E. f’h'slKilm (Kaikorai), A. E. Seager (Tlm.,n, Garrison). C. Maher (Masterton Municipal), W. Denton (Woolston), J. Neighl-ours (Granby)., J. Guthrie (Wanganui Garrison), E. C. TTansen (P.luff Navals), D. Flanagan (Morrington). W. P’ttani (Palmerston North), and RWhite (Dunedin Navals). LATEST RESULTS. The following arc the results of the Hand Contest to-day : B. Flat Tenor Trombones W. (Newcastle City) 95 points, 1 ; T, Gray (Wanganui) 90 points, 2 : ,S. Sly (Wanganui). 87 points, 3 ; J. Congalton (Mornington) 86 points, 4. Quartettes Kaikorai 100 points and Wanganui Garrison 300 points equal, 1 ; Newcastle City. 97 points, 2. E Elat Soprano Cornet Solos : —A. Mc--4) a filers (Nelson Garrison) 90 points, 1 ; U. Grant (Newcastle City), 85 points, 2; T. Dix (Lyttelton Marine) SO points, 3. Trombone Trios Wanganui Garrison, DO points, 1 ; Palmerston North. 85 points, 2 ; Woolston, 84- points, it.

A CRITICAL SUMMARY. OPINIONS ON INVERCARGILL BANDS (Special to the Times.) TIMARU. Rob. 15.: Tin* following notes on the performances of the winning bands and the Invercargill bands arc taken from the Lyttelton Times. Notes on. the TVoolston a'nd Auckland Battalion bands are added ; being Interesting to many friends oi Mr P. Mohr and Mr W. V, Siddall. Wanganui Garrison (Conductor, Mj

Crichton)—A polished performance. tv.e band showing itself of superior orderWhile it gave the best performance up to date of “ X Lombardi.’’ there were a few little weaknesses in the soprano trills. There wan slight hesitancy shown by the soloist in the euphonium recilative. On tutoring the following- movement in the euphonium nolo for a few bars, tlie high quality of playing seemed to fail slightly, but only momentarily. In the last movement in the allegro vivacissimo, the bam! was the only one in which the tenor horn parts were properly established, while in the general work in all the runs there was no wavering from spontaneity of action, and from letter M the ditlicuit cornet part was so excellently played that it might have been regarded ns a performance of one man. The intonation was practically perfect, and the tone full and warm. In the difficult accompaniments. even when they were staccato, the beautiful tone of the band never deteriorated. Time —10 i miuKaikorai (Conductor, Mr G. B. Laidlaw) —There was a good deal of fire in the general rendering anil also plenty of colour. In the euphonium solo there were a few moles mis-*truck. The b?ritone part was satisfactory. In the euphonium cadenza the run up was not clearly defined. Towards the end of the allegro vivace, the soprano was harsh in tone and also seemed a shade flat on some of the sustained notes. The trom-

bone ""os rough, and altogether, (or a high-class performance, the trombone was not satisfactory. In the adagio the nuances were well observed, and in bars nine and ten the accented crotchets were very well brought out, the best v.orb in that part done by any of the bands so far. On the whole, it was a very fine j>orfiirinancc, with a great deal of colour. There were occasional slaeloennessos in live accompaniments. The cornet solo was played very ' artistically all through, and the soprano managed the awkward triii passages very well. Time— IS min. Newcastle City (Conductor, Sir Barkel) —The o;>er,ing tias done with a fine and sonorous body of musical sound, and the parts were well connected ir£ this respect.’ As a consequence there was a continuity in the opening bars. The piano staccato part was very cleanly done, and the tone was not lost. The euphonium recitative was broadly treated, and the following solo was artistically treated in every respect. The accompaniment was all Unit could be desired. The difficulties of tho bars preceding letter E were most satisfactorily overcome, and the euphonium cadenza was made more off than by

any other player so far. The following allegro vivace was a very finely rendered movement. In the adagio the Intonation wa§ perfect, and the following andantino was probably the gem of the selection for beauty, the cornet and the tromhom. who were associated, giving if most artistic display, ihe trombone especially having a beautiful quality of tone and treating the solo with a very fine artistic appreciation. A groat ileal of warmth was pat into that movement, but where the soprano enters at tetter Cl the rendering of the trills wos not’ quite Satisfactory. The legeriaaitno was' exceedingly prettily treated. The morecido just before ttfe close of the movement was not observable. The last

tnovomeat waa at at along with rare Vigour and was very ’fine up to where the basses enter at letter; M. The run here, both in the first rendering and In the repeat, was not quite unanimous. Taking l£ all round, the performance waa a most excellent one. Time—l9J min, Invercargill Municipal (Conductor, Mr J. TV. Glttanie) —This band opened out of tune somewhat crudely. They gave on Uninteresting performance, and* there wore

ho particularly good features about the general rendering; but, at times, there were no particularly bad ones. The early part ol the allegro \tvace movement Waa taken altogether too slow.- The buns were very much mixed in the last movement. Time—l7j. min.Invercargill Garrison (Conductor, Mr R. Trist Searell)—This band opened finely. The euphonium solo was well ployed, but was somewhat marred by the ragged accompaniment, and there were later faults in the soloist’s intonation. Tho

allegro vivace was brightly played. Th» trombone solo in the aifdantino was played over-fast and wijlh a want o] feeling. Time —18 min. ■Wbolston (Conductor, Lieut. Siddall)— This performance ranked with tho leaders. There were very few flaws. The intonation was excellent from beginning to fend, and the solos were all well played. Much discretion was shown in the general rendering, and there was a fine volume of rich musical tone in the ensembles : in (act, the performance was

(excellent in every way. Time—l 3} min. Auckland First - Battalion! (Conductor. Mr P. H. Mohr) —This band opened very well indeed, with a fine body of good musical tone and judicious playing. Tho adagio bars were particularly, good. The intonation o( the band was beautiful, tmd the crescendos and diminuendos were excellently done. All the points ot good brass band playing were well established. The trombone solo was ver v well played. In general, the band performance progressed so well that it took k-ank. up to time of playing, amongst tho best. It was a beautiful performance from beginning to end, and the last movement w-as very solid. Time—l?i Jnin.