NEW PLYMOUTH CITIZENS' BAND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144851, 1 December 1915, Page 7

NEW PLYMOUTH CITIZENS' BAND.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. A committee meeting of the above Band was hold on Tuesday night. Present:—Messrs. E. Solo (chairman), 15. Whittle, A. Milne, C. Ward, E. L. Humphries, Archdeacon Evans, F. Coleman, P. Btooks, A. h. Wiley, W. Coulthard, and the secretary, H. K. Cattloy. Tho bandmaster presented his half-yearly report on tne band. After some discussion, it was decided to invite applications for a new bandmaster. In tho meantime Mr. J. Cummins, the present conductor, has consented to act until his successor is appointed. Following is the bandmaster’s report:— in pursuance of tho recommendations of tho independent committee, his term of engagement expired on Novemher2o, Ho regretted to say that the band at tho present time was not up to the mark and he had not made good; but be impressed upon the committee that it was not altogether his fault. No doubt, during the six months, the band bad given some very good performances, especially at the lirst concert with tho new instruments. However, it must bo remembered, it was a totally different baud at the present time.

•Several very useful members had left tho town and there wore only about four players who were able to read at eight even the music he. was forced to play with the present baud. If ho attempted to work up a piece of music with any difficulty in it, he found it took so long to got the whole band to make anytuiug of it. that it became monotonous to tho.se members who practised at home and attended band practise regulany. lie had therefore to give it up ns a forlorn hope. In fact, it was narrowed down to a fine art, what to rehearse and what to put on tho programmes, to get the best result. Ho had men in the band who never touched their instruments, only on parade nights and when the band turned out. Tho consequence was that before they were half way through a programme thoir lips gave way and, naturally, thoir tone was anything but good. As regards tho attendance at practise, it was not the best. Some were generally working and some had excuses (?), It was tho latter, when things were not to their liking, who, when they developed a sudden fit of enthusiasm, wore the first to throw tho blame upon anyone but tbemselvos.

It was not Mr, Cummins 1 intention to individualise , but if tbo band were analysed, it would bo found the cornets, with one exception, were a very ordinary section, tho horns were very fair, euphoniums, trombones, and baritones good to very indifferent, and basses very indifferent (there were only two and ono was a learner). Ho was not finding fault with tho band, as several of them were only learners, and if they stuck to it, and were given a hotter example by some of the more advanced players, they would turn out very good bandsmen. In conclusion, Mr. Cummins stated that had he insisted on a strict adherence to tho rules of tbo band and the progress a man should have made, he was afraid there would have been zk> band in New Plymouth at tho present time (there may have been about four members). In fact he had had nothing but a struggle to get -and keep a band since coming to New Plymouth, and ho was afraid he would have to give it up as it was tolling on his nerves. Ho took tho opportunity of thanking tho committee for their courtesy and consideration during their term of office, and also those members of the band who had kept tho flag flying during tho last live and a half years.