BANDSMEN'S COLUMN

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 61, 18 April 1914, Page 5

BANDSMEN'S COLUMN

(By "MAESTEO.")

On Thursday last the Woolston Band gave the final concert of the season. The playing on the whole was creditable. Several slips and minor errors were noticeable more than is usual with this combination. The programme included three good selections, viz., Spohr's "H.M.S. Pinafore" and "Gems of the Classics.'' Taking into consideration the short time at their disposal between one concert and another, the bands have done very well, so far as variety is concerned, in playing the various pro : grammes which they have worked up and presented to the public. There would be no need for repetition at all if, during the winter months, these bands would settle down to good solid work and prepare a variety of works for next season. There has been far too much valuable time lost in the past in this direction. Instead of using the whole of the winter months to rehearse a good number of overtures, selections, fantasias, waltzes, marches, intermezzos, entr'actes, descriptive pieees, etc., for the oncoming season, they have waited until theTlast month or so, and have had to rush in just which was easiest for them. If the bands want engagements they-should, be prepared to supply good music, and present it in such a form that it will give pleasure and education at one and the same time.

The Salvation Army Silver Band (Wellington) paid a visit here for the Easter holidays. Good reports were given of the band's playing, so I went to hear them for myself. But I was not well pleased. STEAY NOTES. Mr D. Burtenshaw and Mr C. Euston, both of the Napier Band, tied in the cornet solo event in connection with the Napier Musical Competitions, each obtaining 80 marks. The former played "The Lost Chord," and the latter "At Break o' Day." Mr R. J. Young, of Waipukurau, got 78 marks, playing "O Lovely Night." ' Wanganui Garrison have a new double Bb bass, a real beauty, by Messrs Boosey and Co. Last Sunday was the first time it was used in public. Carterton Band are working hard to get a new set of instruments —silver plated" if possible. It is not yet known who will supply them. They have at least one genuine supporter—he has already promised to pay for three of them himself.

Only, recently the Feilding Brass Band United with the Masterton Pipe Band and played marches, etc., ensemble.

While Mr James, a Masterton bandsman, was cycling home from the races last week, where his band had been engaged, lie was run into by a motor-car coming in the direction. There were great clouds of dust that obscured the car from view, and he was carried several yards before the car dropped him, and went over him. His instrument and cycle were smashed to atoms, but he escaped with few- injuries, and is making fair progress. Mr Edwin Stead, the great trombonist, has passed away. He is a brother of that great band adjudicator, Mr Eichard Stead. Mr E. Stead has an experience which is unique, for he was in the Old Metheun Mills Band when they won the Bell View Cup three times in succession—in 1876, 1877, and 1878. He joined the famous Black Dyke Band the next vear. That band won three times, viz., 1879, 1880, and 1881—he was thus in the winning band in six successive years.

DON'TS FOR BANDSMEN. (One for each day of the week.)

1 ' Don't begin unless you , mean to stick to it.

'' Don't leave off sticking to it be* cause your neighbours complain. "Don't play oft a decrepit instrument. "Don't buy a cheap new one —it is sheer waste of money. "Don't engage a cheap teacher —unless you can afford to pay him to look on. Then he might learn something. "Don't have an expensive teachei unless he is something more than expensive. "Don't neglect your scales, or when weighed you'll be found wanting." MUSICAL MAXIMS. "The most important thing is to cultivate the sense of hearing. Take pains early to distinguish tones and keys by the ear. Play in tune. The playing of many 'virtuosi' is like the gait of a drunkard —make not such your models.'' "Love your instrument, but do not have the vanity to think it the highest and only one. Consider that there are others quite as fine.'' "Seek for your associates among those who know more than yourself." '' Tune your hearts and tempers as well as your cornets, horns and basses.''

BAND ADJUDICATORS. (Continued.)

Now a word about the experienced man who understand? what brass bands are, and who are musicians. Their methods and general work in connection with bands and judging contests are far more businesslike and the results are generally far more satisfactory. They inspire confidence. When a eontest is over, and the judge makes his awards, he generally gives a little time in giving advice on band playing and training, and sometimes gives a short lecture on music—especially on that which has been played as the test piece.

Many conductors in New Zealand have not had the advantage of a firstclass musical education, and, as a result, they frequently have misconceived ideas regarding the treatment of some of the classics. And, as they have not a good knowledge of harmony and counterpoint, how is it possible that they can read a full score correctly ? In most such cases they rely upon' the - advice of others, many oi whom are no better than themselves. When the judge who knows his business gets to work, he is not long in detecting all the essential things, and more besides, and prepares himself at an opportune time to assist all such conductors and, bands of all grades out of these difficulties. There is not a first-class 'band judge living who could not tell a welltrained band by the first phrase it played, and, further still, he could give a pretty good guess as to the musical ability of the conductor. The judge who knows all that is required of him, and who is unbiased, is never in doubt in placing the bands in order of merit; and he does hot have to wait till the test piece has been played by half-a-dozen bands before he grasps the situation or decides in his mind how it should be played. This, because he thoroughly understands the music; and there-is not a sound, or even a chord, represented on the pages, of the score but that he can correctly imagine its true pitch by looking at it. And the man who cannot do this should not attempt to act in the capacity of a brass band adjudicator. x How often do we hear this kind of remark concerning a new piece of music: "Play it over, and let us hear what it sounds like?" This applies not only to selections, but to simple melodies and solos also. It is evident that that sort of individual cannot read music in the proper sense of the word. (To be continued.)