HASTINGS BAND CONTEST.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13921, 26 March 1909, Page 8

HASTINGS BAND CONTEST.

THE JUDGE'S REPORT

Mr Sidney Wdlf, judge oi the. band contest at Hastings, iv the course ci his report to the Association says: — "'Jhe solo pla^'ing on the whole was not us good as 1 expected to hear. Some of the players evidently did not understand the first rudiments of music and }js for signs and marks of expression, they were in many cases totally ignored. Players should learn their solos as the composer or arranger wrote them, taking notice of all signs and and marks of expression, and then, if they have any original taste, it will naturally show itself in their playing. They should also study breathing by the natural method, that is, abdominal, and only when they are perfect in that should they attempt 'lateral. 1 Many players could be heard all over, the building, as if .they were sucking in their breath through, their instrument, and so making a hissing sound, like the escape of steam from a boiler. Then again many. of the solos were marred through a noise made by ,the rattle of a key as it was depressed int6 the piston, giving a most inartistic accompaniment. This would have been easily avoided if care had been used to pad the key properly. Very few players know how to tune their instruments correctly. They should use the tunmg slide to get the proper pitch, and the other pistons should then be tuned to it, just the same as % violinist tunes his A string to the pitch required, and then tunes his fcther strings accordingly. I would' suggest that at the military inspection .there be a competent man told off to inspect and examine the instruments, not only to see that they are perfectly clean and bright, but also to see that each slide » in good working condition. , This is^ or the utmost, importance, and young players cannot be iold often enough t,he necessity of keeping their instruments in good order. The quartet was evidently not understood by the players, one thing being sadly wanting— an- intelligent interpretation. The chord of the dominant 7th was in most cases very much out of tune. The Wanganui No. 2 played with two flugeV horns | and baritone. A euphonium .would have made a better balance.'* "The E flat horn and the baritone (another saxehorn, but one tfith a brighter tone) play the inter-parts or the score and most of tne accompaniments," continues the report, "It is here that we look for the balance of, the band, and it is here that the Wanganui band,-, was so good. There .was no top and. bottom, as in most of the bands, but in all their chords, both! ppp. with the different graduations of : force up" to fff., one solid mass from the basa foundation gradually tapering uy to the cornets." ' \ ' " The judge states tliat the finest solos lie heajd at the contest were played by Hughes, of Nelson, on the BB flat bass, and by Hickman, of Wanga-;nui.->;nui.-> on the euphonium. , He says in 'conclusion:. — "I only hope that the younger bands in the.'B grade listened carefully to the excellent uerformances given "by the Wan^junui Garrison Band in their rendering of II Crociato' and 'Heroic.' It is at these contests that the B grade bands can learn from th£ A grade, .and more experienced bands a great deal that cannot ho taught in the practice rooms, namely, character, and stylo, which lead to good interpretation, hut which can. only be attained after efch indivi* dual has had a thorough grounding in the rudiments of music, and has a thorough kndwleclge of his instrument."