Brass Band Notes

Southland Times, Issue 12010, 14 December 1907, Page 3 (Supplement)

Brass Band Notes

By “Metronome.” ’ A busy week for local bands: Garrison engaged at Theatre: Municipal at ’ the A. and I’. .Show; Dominion at the Zealandia Hall. Mr Gordon Brown, who was one of the founders of the Y.M.C.A. (now the t Dominion) Band, has returned from hie trip to the Old Land. ] The Test Selections for the New Plymouth Contest in February have been J 'distributed. One is "Gems of Scluiman,” which was the last test piece at | the Crystal X’alace Contest, and the other an arrangement from Rossini’s ( “William Tell.” The Quickstep num- ( her is entitled N.1.8.8.A., a compliment to the North Island Brass Band Association, and was composed by Mr C. Trussell, late of Wailii. The Royal Naval School pf Music was founded in 1003, principally through the interest exerted on behalf of music in the Navy by H.R.H. the Prince of \Vc.le=, Admiral Pir John Fisher, and General Sir Purvis Wright, Royal Marine 3. Rands on our warships. like Topsy. grew from a small begin ling, consisting generally of that amiable and solitary individual—The Ship’s Fiddler: hut with evolution in magnitude and armament, something of a more impressive nature was felt to he recessary. and we got a band of -•arts. it was found that then' bands were unsatisfactory, both is regards the music produced and the personnel employed. Most of the bandsmen wore not Englishmen, and it was felt by those in authority that the introduction of a system had become u necessity if solely British members were to ho the personnel of the bands. The bandmasters, too, wero of a nondescript nature, posje.sing the role ittiilificatic.il of being able to play and not always pas need of any Knowledge of tlie laws which govern harmony Dior the rules embracing instrumentation. This has now been altered and matters placed on a safe footing, which cannot do otherwise than produce sound ! results.-The headquarters of the school are at Etdney Barracks. Portsmouth, with branches at Plymouth, Chatham and Deal. T’. e branches are controlled from headquarters, each having its own ; -tuff of visiting professors, who train : •he candilcte:; on their '.ario.u instru- | meats and render them flt to lake a j place in one of the’many bands .that ■ are constantly being sent out to ship; ' going on comi.ii--sion. The training . comprises instruction on two instru- \ ments —wind and string—a knowledge j of the elements of music, harmony, i counterpoint, instrumentation, infancy drill and me licnl first aiik the latter dvalificatiou enabling the band-men to v-e attached to th c hospital staff In ’ war time. The In -.t! tv.tiy-n has justified ’ the expectations of the authorities, in- ' asmuch. as the hand-- sent from the 1 school have invariably given unquaii- i fled satisfaction to the commanding of- j fleers of ships, both in respect of mu-i- ! cal ability and military discipline. An ,

improvement is already felt in the riv;: of hey-- and men joining for this branch of set - ', ice, which will result in j the cour e of time in -a, largely in- j creased efficiency. Banda are allot- i ted to ships as follows: —Flagship, 24 men: battleships. IT men; cruisers, 15 men: smaller vessels, 13 men. BLUFF NOTES. . In my notes of last week I mentioned the four oldest members of the band. On further investigation it appears ithat Mr S. Ferguson is really the onlyone of the ori-rlnal members left, the other threc'having joined some two or three months later. In these olden j i day- the ban'! was k-own by the name j j of the “True Blue--." probably on ac- j i count of their adoptin’;' the old blue ll naval uniform. ] V-m vil! no doubt act 4' with plea -tire 1 the kindly action of mir bandsmen on t “nnday, Ist December. In playing o:i ] the wharf in aid of the castaways of : the wrecked barque Dundonnl.l. A co!- i ’ option on that occasion reali.ed £22 ! ; : ful. The only regret was tl-o short ; notice, which did not permit of comr-tu-nication witli Invereara'P! la -i-c -';, i wh<> would n-> doubt hate been only 100 pb-o ed to ;i wist on such, an occasion. It would be a good idea if our bandsmen could be induced to play out evo-y fine Sunday afternoon, but, wheth-u----rightly or wrongly, some of the bandsmen object to Sunday afternoon, considering the Sunday a day of rest, excepting in very exceptional cases. Perhaps, considering all things, this may probably be the right feeling, as the band takes up a good deal of time without encroaching on the Sunday. On Boxing Day the annual picnic of the band Is to be held on the Marine Parade, and hot water and milk supplied gratis, and bandsmen from other places (especially with their instruments) may rest assured of a hearty welcome.