DOMINION BAND CONTEST

Southland Times, Issue 23128, 19 February 1937, Page 13

DOMINION BAND CONTEST

FURTHER RESULTS JUDGE PRAISES B GRADE CONDUCTOR (United Press Association) NELSON, February 18. “The most noticeable feature that was wrong, in the tenor horn solo in the Dominion band contest this morning was the tempo,” said the judge, Mr G. Goodall, of Wellington. “The competitors played it like a dirge. The marks awarded were low because so many expression marks were missed. The winner gave the best reading throughout, although it was not perfect. The first and second players were the only ones who gave a reasonable and consistent tempo right through.” The results were:— TENOR HORN SOLO F. Ormrod (Port Nicholson Silver Band), 89pts 1 R. Francis (St Kilda Band), 88pts 2 L. Scriverer (Port Nicholson), 87pts 3 The first and third places in the B flat cornet championship went to Woolston players. The judge, Mr E. P. Kerry, of Sydney, again criticized the thin tone of the cornets, although there had been some wonderfully artistic performances. The results were;— B FLAT CORNET CHAMPIONSHIP R. Simpson‘''(Woolston Brass), 89pts 1 F. Bowes (Timaru Municipal), 81pts 2 W. Stevenson, 78pts 3 BASS TROMBONE SOLO L. Williscombe (Dannevirke Municipal), 88pts 1 B. Redmond (St. Joseph’s Orphanage), 80pts 2 Wellington Tramways won the B Grade championship, being six points ahead of the Greymouth Civic. The judge, Mr E. P. Kerry, of Sydney, said that considering the difficulty of the selection, the performance of the winning band more than pleased him. He wished heartily to congratulate the conductor for the great detail he got into the selection. He was pleased also with such refinement from a B grade band. He pointed out that the piece was selected for an A grade contest in England last September and suggested the same number be set for the B grade next contest so that bands could get in 12 months’ solid practice. The results were:— B GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP Wellington Tramways (first test, 118pts; second test, 119pts), 237pts 1 Greymouth Civic (114pts and 117pts), 231pts 2 Hastings Citizens (116pts and 114pts),

230pts 3 Institute Silver Band, Wellington 123pts and lOlpts), 224pts 4

Also competed.—Christchurch Municipal 212pts, Dannevirke 206pts, Marlborough Mounted 195pts, Westport Municipal 186pts, Cambridge Municipal 183pts, Palmerston North City 183pts, Takaka Citizens 157pts, Nelson Citizens 155pts.

JAZZ ORCHESTRAS MORE POPULAR REPLY TO COMMENT BY VISITING JUDGE (United Press Association) NELSON, February 18. The opinion expressed by Mr E. P. Kerry, adjudicator for the New Zealand band contest, that jazz orchestras would eventually displace brass bands in New South Wales was referred to by Mr E. Palliser, president of the New Zealand Brass Bands Association when replying to an official welcome. Mr Palliser said Mr Kerry’s statement that the trend was for the displacement of brass bands by jazz orchestras, and that the death knell of the bands had been sounded might have frightened the public and the bands. “That fine sight in Trafalgar street, Nelson, today was a complete answer, and showed that brass bands in New Zealand are not dying,” said Mr Palliser, amid applause. “The New Zealand Association this year has 96 affiliated bands, the highest number ever affiliated in the Dominion, and it is a pleasing feature to the executive that, with the exception of two, all are financial. Mr Kerry can tell the jazz fiends in Australia that there is one place where bands can combat jazz, and that is New Zealand.” (Applause.) When Mr Kerry addressed the gathering, he said: “I quite expected Mr Palliser’s rub, but I still stand by what I said so far as Australia is concerned, and particularly New South Wales. I did not mention New Zealand in my comment.” Mr Kerry suggested that brass bands should receive a Government subsidy making a prize of £5OO possible at each annual contest.