BAND GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6132, 19 March 1898, Page 7

BAND GOSSIP.

FROM FAR AND NEAR. [By Tomtom.] Mr R. Trist Searell, late bandmaster of the defunct Christchurch Garrison Band, has been appointed conductor of the Stanmore Band. There is every likelihood of the Canterbury Engineers' Band being appointed to provide regimental musio for the Canterbury forces. It will, in brief, be a newGarrison Band, should information from Wellington prove correct. The Greymoutb. contest test pieces will be gems of modern melody, arranged by Mr Henry Bound. Seven bands have entered for the contest, and as everything is in excellent order, a successful contest is anticipated. Christchurch has missed its turn for the Association contest. Dunedin takes up the running, and all honour to the Dunedin bandsmen. Not much can be Baid in, favour of the Christchnrch bandsmen, who certainly ought to have provided the contest for this year. Messrs Wright and Bound and Messrs Boosey and Co. again provide the teat selection. Special features will be introduced, and I heartly congratulate Mr M'Lellan and his confr&ns on°th« practical start made. Quartet and duet contests are quite the rage m England. Sixteen sets recently competed at a contest in Yorkshire, no less than twelve being entered for the duet prize. Aa a means of providing excellent practice nothing beats this class of contest. As English publishers make a speciality of suitable pieces I once again l recommend colonial bandsmen to take up V the idea, especially as winter time is not fef ar off. ■ . Amon R st favourite quartets now issued ■ by Messrs Wright and Bound are the fol- ■ lowing:— "Return of Spring," "Village K Chimes," "Reapers' Chorus," "Evenino- ■ Prayer," and " Mozart's Litany." They ai^ ■ arranged for two cornets* horn nnd and are obtainable at an oxcsed- i low price. American firms, nlso, are | special attention to -this -class oi ; music, and issue excellent pieces. ;" Patience," of Reefton, writes and wiahes to know whether there is any likelikelihood of Herr Von der Mehden's promised waltz being circulated. During the stay of the genial cornettist in Christchurch I appreaohed him on the matter, and ascertained that the non-appearance of the piece was due to a hitch with the Melbourne printer. Herr Mehden assures me that he will have it printed in New Zealand, and has promised to forward me two hundred sets for circulation. When I receive them I will forward without delay. A Christchurch friend while recently in San Francisco visited the establishment of Messrs Kshler and Chase, CFarrel Street. His description of the huge show, sounds somewhat strange, as everything is on a big scale, and each department is supervised by one specially trained for the work. No lack of attention was wanting, and my friend grows quite eloquent at the cordiality of his welcome, and the desire to entertain and interest the "stranger from New Zealand." Under the guidance of Mr K&ufmann he was shown round and made the bearer of good wishe3 to certain Christchurch residents. He also brought away a budget of band parts, consisting of marches, selections, garottes, &c. The marches are splendidly arranged, printed and very f nil. Herr Von der Mehden, of Fitzgeralds' Circus, secured she of them, which he tried, and pronounced to be splendid. A selection, "A Cluster of Peaches," a romance from Spohr's Zelmina and Aeor; "Day Dream" caprice, by F. L. Dahn; "Klondyko," "Wheeler's No. 9/' "Promiscuous," "Old Times/ "Hard Times," "King Milan," "Sunny South," and a score of other marches, made up a very welcome budget. The instrumentation differs from the English, and is as follow ►— Piccolo, E flat clarionet, baritone, B flat bass,' iJ flat cornet, tuba, solo B flat cornet, second and third cornet, second alto, third and fourth alto, first and second B flat tenors, first and second trombone, first and second B flat clarionets, drums. Parts are double-banked and full for a band of thirty-two. They are from M'Millin, of Cleveland (Ohio), Ramsdell (Boston), Coleman, Philadelphia, (Pa.) ; Bell Brothers, Lawrence (Kansas), Biohards (Ohio), the Standard Company, (New York), and other favourite American writers. Mr Herd, of the Wellington Garrison, and the Christdhurch Professional Band, are subscribers to various American firms, and judging by the quality of the music sent out by Messra Kdhler and Chase, others will follow suit.