BANDS CONTEST AT WELLINGTON

Southland Times, Issue 24056, 21 February 1940, Page 8

BANDS CONTEST AT WELLINGTON

TEST SELECTION IN B GRADE THREE TOP FINALISTS DECIDED (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 20. “We have had some very fine work tonight,” said Mr Frank Wright, L.R.S.M., M.R.S.T., at the conclusion of today’s performances in the New Zealand centennial brass bands championships in the Wellington Town Hall. He announced the three leading bands in the A grade first test selection as: St. Kilda Municipal, Timaru Municipal and Port Nicholson Silver, that, however, not necessarily being the order of merit. A word of praise, he said, was due to the people of Wellington not only for the way they turned up in such numbers, but also for the splendidly attentive way they had listened to the players. He was sorry all the people were not there to help the boys’ solo. There was some splendid playing and such potential talent augured well for the future of New Zealand bands. Tomorrow night the final of the B grade will be heard and on Thursday the final of the A grade. At the close of each performance the winning bands will be announced. The three top bands in the B grade first test selection, concluded late last night were: Hamilton Citizens, Wellington Boys’ Institute, Christchurch Municipal. That, according to Mr Wright, is not necessarily the order of merit. He said the bands found the selection Spohr’s “Faust” (Greenwood) rather a hard nut to crack. It was very difficult for B grade bands, but afforded scope to both the soloists and those in the ranks, gave the conductors an opportunity for imaginative treatment and enabled them to display their musicianship. Having regard to the difficult selection at least six bands gave a creditable performance. Results:

BOYS’ SOLO, under 17.—D. Christensen (St. Kilda Municipal) 95 points 1, R. Jackson (St. Kilda Municipal) 94 points 2, J. Rennie (Timaru Municipal) 91 points 3. B FLAT OR BB FLAT BASS SOLO.— W. Connors (Hamilton Citizens) 93 points 1, H. C. Unwin (Wanganui Garrison) 88 points 2, E. Hatton (Port Nicholson Silver) 86 points 3. TENOR TROMBONE SOLO.—G. Langridge (Timaru Municipal) 80 points 1, J. P. Clague (Matamata Citizens) 76 points 2,. A. Bennett (WellingtonWest Coast Regiment) 75 points 3.

B FLAT CORNET SOLO.—D. Christensen (St. Kilda Municipal) 94 points 1, E. Pheloung (St. Kilda Municipal) 92 points 2, R. Francis (St. Kilda Municipal) 91 points 3.