MUNICIPAL BAND

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18498, 20 February 1930, Page 7

MUNICIPAL BAND

PRE-CONTEST PERFORMANCE. Last night the Timaru Municipal Band gave its last performance on the Bay. before it leaves on Saturday to take part in the New Zealand championship contest at Dunedin. The weather was anything but kindly, a cold wind and thick heavy drizzle making things extremely uncomfortable for the listeners, of which there were a large number. Mr J. Hole, patron of the Band, said that he was sure that the people of Timaru and South Canterbury would send the Band away to Dunedin with the best wishes possible for a successful contest. The Band had given Timaru a great deal of good music, and they had improved wonderfully under Lieutenant Osborne. Timaru had thought a lot of the Band in years past, but they thought considerably more of them now. (Applause.) The Mayor, Mr W. Angland, said that they were gathered for the purpose of listening to the farewell performance of the Band, before they left for Dunedin. Timaru appreciated the work that they had done in the past, and would wish them the best of luck at Dunedin. After witnessing the splendid performance that they had given that night in the Quickstep, ana the hard work that they had put in, he was sure that they would win this section of the contest as well. They would be competing against bands that came from cities of 125.000 inhabitants, as against 18.500 in Timaru, but he was confident that they would ably hold their own. Timaru and South Canterbury had in the past always proved to be as good as most men in the field of competition, and he hoped that when he welcomed the Band back, he would be welcoming a New Zealand Championship Band. (Applause.) The Mayor then called for three cheers for the Municipal Band, which were most heartily given. Lieutenant Osborne was greeted with prolonged applause. He said that the weather had been against the Band on many occasions, notably during the recent Band Carnival. He wished to thank the public of South Canterbury on behalf of the Band, for the splendid support that they had given the Band in all directions. At the contest in Dunedin there would be all the champion bands, but the speaker was sure that this year’s band was a better one than that of 1929. (Applause.) Lieutenant Osborne said that he wished to thank the Salvation Army, Pipe Band and Military Bands for the support they had accorded the Municipal Band at all times. It showed the fine spirit which prevailed among the Bands in the town, and it -was greatly appreciated by the members of the Municipal Band.

Mr Hole said that he had just been informed that a motor transport firm in Timaru, Lister’s Motors, had ottered to transport the Band to Dunedin and back without charge. (Applause.) Continuing, Mr Hole said that this was a generous act on Mr Lister’s part, and it showed that the interest in the Band in Timaru was not on the wane.

Prior to the Band’s performance on the Bay. the combined bands of Timaru composed of the Municipal, Pipe. Salvation Army and the Military Bands, paraded from the Drill Shed through S '.afford Street cn to Caroline Bay. On their arrival there, the Municipal Band gave an exhibition of the Test Quickstep, which was watched with great interest.

At the conclusion of this, the Band stationed themselves in the Rotunda ; where, after the foregoing speeches had been made, the programme was opened with the test hymn. “Eternal Father,'’ which was played with great expression and beauty, and was accorded a warm reception.

Then followed the two test pieces, “Victory,” and Beethoven’s Sonata “Pathetique.” Next was rendered the song hit “Tip Toe Through the Tulips To Me,” and the programme was concluded with the stirring “New Colonial” march and “God Save the King ” “Victory,” by Dr. Cyril Jenkins, which v/ill be the first test piece to be played at the Dunedin contest, is an original composition for brass bands. The selection opens maestoso, boldly and fiercely, the theme having considerable rugged grandeur. A few quiet calls between the solo cornet and the horn, herald the second movement —moderato, a short movement of considerable power and originality, in which the trombones do some splendid work. The next movement andante dolente, alia Marche Funebre, makes very fine music, poignant yet beautiful. This is followed by an allegro moderato, a short movement of much power, on to acllolto maestoso, enlarging the theme. A few bars of presto close this highly interesting piece. Beethoven’s Sonata “Pathetique,” the second test piece, with its bold and passionate first allegro, its melodious and feeling adagio, and plaintive rondo, has, by its descriptive intensity, become a household word. The work was one of several, including the first symphony in C Major, published between the years 1797 and 1801, and therefore belongs to the Beethoven early period. This work is complete as Beethoven wrote it, except that it is transcribed from the pianoforte original to an arrangement for brass bands.