BAND MATTERS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4218, 1 December 1939, Page 5

BAND MATTERS

SERVICES APPRECIATED. ITEMS OF INTEREST. (By Cadence.) The Band will be assisting at the Red Cross Concert, in the Empire' ' Theatre on Wednesday next, and a full muster is requested at rehearsal on Monday. Several businessmen have expressed their appreciation of the Band’s services in the main streets on Friday nights, and one gentleman showed his appreciation last Friday in a practical way. We wish to thank these gentlemen for their kind en-coux-ageraent and to state that the Band will play out when possible. The Smith Family were seen and heard in public for the first time on Wednesday evening, when they gave an item at the Presbyterian Concert. These youngsters are a credit to the band, and have shown wonderful tai- ' ent in the short time that they have been practising. In the afternoon these youngsters gave an exhibition at the High School and were well received. There is every indication that the Centennial contest will be a memorable one, states Mr J. G. Osborne, secretary of the New Zealand Brass Bands’ Association. The winners in each grade will be presented with a Centennial Cup given by the New Zealand Brass Bands’ Association,.. these cups to be the sole property of the winning bands. In connection with' our drive .‘fbr instruments for our Junior Band, we are pleased to acknowledge the loan by Mr Lascelles, of Wharepuhunga, of an excellent silver cornet. His action is very much appreciated. We are pleased to report that our . Ladies* Committee now numbers twenty, all willing workers in the Band’s interests. z The cricket team is travelling "to Auckland during the week-ond to try-: conclusions with the Mon Desix- feam. We wish the team the best of luck and trust they will be victorious. A record entry of brass bands has been received for the Centennial Contest, to be held in Wellington from February 18th to 25th. they include the following:—A grade (12): Ist Battalion Auckland Regiment, Auckland Artillery, Invercargill Civics. Kaikorai, Palmerston North, Garrison, Port Nicholson, St. Kilda Municipal, Timaru Municipal, Wellington Municipal Tramways, Woolston, and Wanganui Garrison. B grade (18): Battalion Band Southland Regiment, Dannevirke Municipal, Christchurch Municipal, Feilding Municipal, Gore Municipal. Hamilton Citizens, Ha-.. - wera Municipal, Lower Hutt, Civic, Lowex* Hutt Municipal, Masterton Municipal, Napiex- Citizens, Nelson Garrison, Oarnaru Garrison Municipal, Palmerston North City, Petone Citizens, Stratford Citizens, Wellington Artillery, and Wellington Boy's Institute. ~ The executive of the New Zealand Brass Bands* Association has been advised from England of the acceptance of the post of adjudicator at the Centennial brass band contests, to be held at Wellington in February, by Mi- Frank Wright, at present director of music for the London County Council and formerly conductor of the famous St. Hilda’s Band. England. Mr Wright was adjudicator of the national band championships in England in 1934, 1935, 1937 and 1938, adjudicator at Belle Vue in 1936, and this year he presided at the West of England championship contest held at Bugle, in Cornwall, last July.’ "" ’— Arrangements have been made with Mr Wright for him to give a series of lectures and demonstrations* to conductors and bandsmen after the conclusion of the contest. The visit has been made possible by the Government, which granted a subsidy to the Brass Bands’ Association. The test music for the' Centennial Contest, to be held at Wellington, is as follows: A grade: (1) Grand selection, “Beethoven’s Works,” arranged by W. Rimmer; (2) grtind selection. “Tschaikowsky,” arranged by W. Rimmer. B. grade: (1) Selection, Spohr’s “Faust,” arranged by. J. A. Greenwood; (2) selection, “Macbeth,” arranged by J. Ord Hume.' ’