A RETROSPECT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7293, 4 January 1902, Page 6

A RETROSPECT.

This tune last year " Safcanella " and other selections were the topic of 'the ihour in band 1 circles. From the performanpe and virtues and victory of Wellington t3«rrison to t(he last on tbe list, there was not any lack of debatable matter. The period has whipped by and ha® gone. A new vteta opened, brightened with a prospective visit of iihe Imperial troops, accompanied by tire " Highland Light Infantry Band." They came, played and charmed. Their " King Cotton " (Sousa) even yet has made a difference. Then followed 1 the North Island contest. It was a clinker, even witih Wellington Garrison albsentees. The results were highly satisfactory to all concerned and a credit to <th© secretary and the North Island Band Association. Th© West Coast fellows followed with their usual annual bill of fare, which, was well supported, drawing fall entries. The Royal VMt was a musical godsend, and those bandsmen who had the two-fold privilege of hearing the clever, yet small, section of "the Royal Marines play were dunderheads if they could) not learn much from the musio and! their highly-finished style. It was an object lesson too good to be lost, and I am pleased to know that a few of our bandsmen condescended! to learn, therefrom. As regard's Ghristchurch, one feature is worthy of record. On the first Thursday in October the now firmly-estab-lished municipal concert® were inaugurated; This d'ashi from th© old order places Christchurch, quite in the lead; of other cities, and is evidently an unalloyed! joy to the public. Councillor Gray opened) the subject, and at date the eeriea has proved 1 an astounding success. Later we had the Southland Band Contest and a meritorious win for Queensltown, and! 'her© again special credit is due to the Southland! Association, the local committee, and! the genial enthusiastic doctor who acted as secretary. The big Ballarat Contest, though, not of vital interest to New Zealanders, is worthy of mention, and the fact that the five-days'' battle was adjudicated! 'upon by Lieutenant Herd, of Wellington, is not to be forgotten. Our own marching competition held on Christmas Day wound up a fairly busy year for colonial bandsmen, yet riot so fast if the New Zealand Brass Bands' Association was operative. The outlook for "this year is excellent. The New Plymouth contest at present is responsible for much, interest amongst bandsmen, and it is sure to be a good contest. The rapid increase in the number of bands proves that we are a. musical lot, and musio cannot foe said) to be a neglected study here. In Christchurch the municipal concerts are a fixed institution, and ere this year is out I hope to record the formation of a municipal band. It would be a right step. To form a higher school of band music would have a great effect on, Canterbury bands. But it must be of a high calibre, composed of only the best players, under a good conductor, play programmes on English lines, andl then possibly Canterbury would rise above its present standard of mediocrity, arod the undoubted taJent now scattered amongst so' many bands would be concentrated. To Councillor Gray «nd the Council I oommendi the idea, and hope nest October to see the municipal band the pride of Christchurch. It would do away with little jealousies, and the public would 1 be entertained with a musical combination unsurpassable south of the line.