BAP GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6090, 29 January 1898, Page 7

BAP GOSSIP.

FROM FAR_AND NEAR. [By Tomtom.] Bandmaster Derry is in Napier — not competing, but merely as a visitor. The Onmtiru Garrison Band has decided to compete at the big contest to be held in Melbourne at Easter. Herr Von der Mehden will soon be here again. His long promised special march should then be available. Mr Gibbs, an ex-Oamaru Garrison member, has settled in Christchurch, and is evidently .willing" to assist any band. y "Trombone " OHrlsworth, cx r member of the Oamaru f arri3 >v, i 8 doing splendidly in New South Wn ds. He is aa clever as ever on the slide. Conductor W.- S. King (Oamaru) will again compete for the Eifle Belt. He is not one whit behind any competitor, and after his brilliant Bisley career, bandsmen are. sure of a sterling representative. •Matters in connection with the defunct \ Garrison Band remain in a ohaotic state, j The application made for an inquiry i has been declined, though I fail to I see just grounds for Colonel Pole- j Penton's refusal. Should the formal demand for an inquiry be refused, there is trouble ahead, and the question of the Christchurch Garrison Band will receive the attention of Members of Parliament. The result I do nob care to predict further than that it will clear the troubled musical , atmosphere considerably. " H.Wharton B." my old Sydenham friend, writes from Buluwayo, under date Dec 7. After describing the opening of the railway, he says :— Explorer Stanley, fihodes, Dr " Jim," our railway opening festivities, and the rainy season, are all here. * * * * Music— well, it was splendid, and would not old Mr Martin, whom I knew in Dunedin, like to be amongst us. The old Wanganui polka, which goes under an African name is a favourite here. Remember me. to M'Killop, Martin, "Daddy " Painter, Glanville, Billy .Thompson; M'Lean, and. my old Christchurch . v comrades., and .though here in Rhodesia, I hold fond memories of Canterbury. A Kaiapoi correspondent informs me that the local- band is progressing satisfactorily under Bandmaster HosMn, who is working hard to make the members efficient players. He:ently the band lost three of its best players, which naturally put it back, but the vacancies have been filled by learners. Kaiapoi is so quiet that the band has few engagements, and does not get the chance to increase its revenue like town bands ; but all the proceeds earned by the band and the subscriptions from members go into the band fund. This is a refreshing item, as it shows that the Kaiapoi bandsmen are in the band for the love of music and not for anything they get out of it, a characteristic not so-general as it might be in many bands. Bandmaster Hoskin is capable and is held in the highest esteem, and from the men he receives the attention which encourages him in his duties. The committee works harmoniously, and the townspeople have every reason to be pleased with their band. Mr J. E. Burns, the honorary secretary, is quite a host in himself, and deserves the good opinion of members. I hope to be able to accept the invitation tendered me, then I shall be able to note the " X.8.8." at some future date. "Mandoline" (Dunedin) writes as Follows : — " We have with pleasure noticed that you . have mentioned our mandolin band, and hope yon will continue to write interesting ' pars ' about our doings * * * Like Christchurch we are growing stronger every week, and under Mr Lionel Cox, the progress made by players is surprising. * * # -$2 pri orj the leader (mandoline) 19 an excellent player, and very highly esteemed by us all. * * * Eegarding our projected tour: We have communicated with Mr Post, of your city, and others in the north, and should we tour feel sure of assistance from our friends everywhere. Our band contains several ladiea, whose powers as players you must hear to appreciate ; and our library of music is well selected. The members are : — Mandolines —Mrs Hopkins, Messrs Ross, Prior, Harris (honorary secretary), Hoff and Rough ; bandurrias — Messrs Cox, Stokes, Colvin and Cameron; guitars — Misses Begg, Bland, Eraser and Murdock; mandolas — Miss Prior, Messrs Cameron and Galloway ; lute — Mr Hopkins. Eighteen players in all." " Mandoline's " notes will always be welcome, and his good wishes are heartily reciprocated by myself and the Christchurch Banjo Bend. The Lyttelton Band continues to improve, and after the playing on the flagship Opawa, at the Lyttelton Regatta, I congratulate the members on their programme, which was admirably suited to the occasion. Marches are a special virtue of the Lyttelton fellows. They have a leaning towards the Jubb marches, viz., " Little Brunswick," "The Brunswicker," and others. Amongst waltzes is " Morning Glories," jind here the " boys " proved their capaoilities. The slow introduction is, a pretty movement, starting -piano, then m f to ff, and finishes dim to piano. They gave an excellent rendering cf i capital waltz. Of the overtures "The Tolly Band" was the most pleasing. Were the Lyttelton bandsmen equipped with good instruments their work would £>c infinitely better. The absence of soprano and solo baritone was noticeable, and in " L'Emotien " the solo cornet played the baritone and his own solo, a task which evidently was not light. During the festivities the band was greatly in evidence, and conduced much to the eclat of the annual fixture. I hear with regret that the band is likely to lose one or two of its Oest players, but with pleasure that special efforts will be made to purchase a set of Boosey's Class A instruments. The following letter, written by a ChristJhurch gentleman, well-known in musical jircles, is worthy of perusal, and as the Suggestion is one of considerable importance I shall be happy to receive the names Df those who are willing to assist : — Dear Tom-Tom, — Although personally a stranger to you, yet I am a regular reader of yoiu* 'Bandsmen's Column" in the Canterbury rimes. On the strength of this I hope you will allow me to wish you and our Christshurch bands a prosperous and Happy New Year. I have been wondering lately if you could use your influence in assisting in the formation of a reed band in Christshurch. Of course, I know that we could not get a complete reed band at first, but It might be managed after a time. Failing a reed band, would it not be possible to form a band containing both reed and brass Instruments? I have nothing to say against our brass bands, many of which nave done good service in the cause of anisic ; but Ido think we ought to have an organisation in our town which should assist in training players of reed instruments. I have heard it stated that an attempt to form a reed band, or to use reeds in conjunction with brass, would bo folly, as we cannot get a complete set of reed instruments and players. This reasoning, I think, is short-sighted, for if we never make a beginning we shall never have a complete band of the kind I mention. To follow up the same line of argument, we ahould have no orchestral music in Christchurch, because we have not got a complete orchestra. I x venture to say that there are no bandsmen or other musicians in Christchurch who will go so far as to say that we must abolish our orchestras because they are not full or complete. By all means let us keep Blithe players on brass instruments which we already possess, but let bandsmen and others who have influence, try to induct out musical young men to take up reed instruments. Might I suggest that anj gentlemen willing to assist in the iorma tion of a reed band, or a reed and brass band Bend their names and addresses (togethei with the name of the instrument thej would play) to you, and then a meeting o: those interested could be held and arrange mentsmade for the formation of such. £ band ? May I add that the saxophone is ai instrument specially worth studying, ; auartet of these instruments in either i |»ed or brass band being particularly beau I . ■. . *tttl and effective.— l am, &c., Tausoaa.