BANDSMEN'S COLUMN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7417, 31 May 1902, Page 6

BANDSMEN'S COLUMN.

♦ FROM FAR AND NEAR. (By TOM-TOM.) (Specially compiled for the " Star."). "Music the poor man's Parnassus." — Emerson. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Screvrgun," ■Wellington.— - Next week. BAND NOTES. All credit is due to our Australasian fellow 'bandsmen for their enterprise in trying to/secure the renowned Mr J. Ord Hume, 'arfanger and composer, to adjudicate on. their; next contest. A visit from such a well-Joiown musician: should! 'be of incalculablewenefit to colonial bandsmen, . and I hope the negotiation will prove successful. Tie gathering of Volunteer veterans on Memorial Day, May 24, included a quartette of old-time bandsmen. They were Messrs «J. M. Thompson, J. • Painter, H. Crooks and W. Thompson. The lasfcnamed is still on the active list, bub the other three have retired. References to the old Battalion; Baind : , under Richard Kohler, which was really, attached to ©Id No. 2 Company, were not made, but from any of' the above-named reminiscences of a novel nature . might be -expected. It may not 'be generally known tbait we had a mounted band here some years ago— the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry Band. It is a Canterbury record and; worthy of remembrance. x Bandsmen rejoice 'now that a Wellington resident has opened an establishment where instruments of ail descriptions can be rendered playable. Bandmaster Collins, of Lyttelton Marines, is more than pleased. He writes: — "The Wellington Instrument Hospital effects some marvellous cures. Instruments sent there by my fellows were made new, and the old damaged windjammers' tools rendered fit for work in the band circle." The institution is one that our bandsmen far and wide will welcome. It is a colonial requirement supplied. Mr David Birth, a Canterbury musician of mo mean, ability, has done serviceable work with the Canterbury Engineer Band. Of late year's this old established band (formerly Addington Workshops) has been content to work «long quietly, yet none the less steadily, and to-day it as in a .thoroughly safe and sound condition, both musically and financially. There have been defections, additions and various changes, but "C.E.8." is more vigorous end promising than ever, a fact which it is pleasant to note. Mr Blyth holds the position -of conductor, and' does exceedingly well. Mr T. Waddell, the late secretary, resigned, and Mr G. Hobbs now fills the post. During the last ten or twelve years this old band has only had four secretaries. Messrs W. Larcombe, G. W. Jenner (who had a long and valuable innings), J. Waddell, and at date Mr- G. Hobbs. The last-named rejoices in a full measure of "C.E.8." confidence, and certainly lacks neither enthusiasm nor ability. Thus the Southland (Invercargill) "Daily News" of May 20:— At last ' night's Volunteer parade Lieutenant-Colonel Robin asked- the Garrison Band (which made its first appearance since the amalgamation) to play a selection^ and fche conductor Lieutenant P. H. Mo-hr, chose the march "Rough and Ready," which was performed 1 in a style that gives promise of great things in the future. As is well known, -tine Wellington Band has for some, years taken the leading position in contests, due in a measure, it is believer!, to the fact that it has had the benefit of the (services of well-known instrumentalists, who have in years gone by belonged to bands in different districts, inducement having 'been given these to remove to the capital city. It is, however, expected that when next the- Invercargill Garrison meets the championa there will be a. close contest, if it does not actually wrest the honours from them. Attention to practice is all that is necessary, as the 'baton could not be in more skilled hands. A correspondent at Wanganui writes : — As a subscriber to your valuable paper, I would! like to call your attention to a band formed some twelve months ago in Moawhango by its painstaking and popular conductor and bandmaster, Mr Clarke Gosling. During the diort time it has been in existence the band-. has made considerable progress, and the (members are nearly all young players who had never had an instrument in their hands previous to joining the band. They have found 1 it very hard, not having the aesistamce of any experienced playevs. The popular 'bandmaster has worked 1 very hard indeed on their behalf, and ihe deserves every credit for the manner in which !he has brought the band forward 1 . Their first public, performance was given on- the night of April 4, when the band gave a ball in aid of funds for instruments. The band's first item wag a pretty selection specially composed by their conductor, called "Reiti's Farewell." The attendance was large, and I hear from their leader that a handsome and welcome credit balance resulted.

DENNISTON NOTES. (By CON AMORE No. 2.) I suppose a few lines from the West Coast will not go amiss, seeing it is so Jongsince you got a/ny news from this quarter. Bahdi matters, as far as Denniston is concerned, are, I am/ pleased to say, on the up grade. We have a full contesting baria 1 , and a band-room .of our own to practise in, a igood set of instruments and uniforms and ,a good! bandmaster. We have held! the championship of the .Coast since 1899. We attended the North Island Contest held at New PlymoutJb last March, and were fairly successful considering it was our first attempt at any of the big contests. We tied for third place jn the Marching Competition 1 , which is a big thing considering that we cannot get over 'fifty yards straight to march on. I noticed, im the remarks on the late North Island Contest, tihat Grasnity Band used' to travel (about twenty miles to practise and then wialfc back, which is a lot of nonsense. The facfa of the matter is that Westport and Go-amity combined for *he occasion, and it was the Westport members that went to Gramity for practice (by train there and back). Also it was mentioned that Granity had no ground) to practise on. It should have been) Dewniston< We scored fifth place in the selections, beating good bands like the DunedSn

Navals, Waihi and others. All being well, we intend to attend the next North Island Contest, which, I believe, will be held! at Masterton. Amd now, what about tlho West Coast Contest? Ido hot hear anything o& it coming off this year. Surely it is mot going to die out ; every contest t«hat hits been held has been v a success. Surely they are not frightened ofDeamistomßand, are they? Come then, Greymouth, Reefton, or Wistporb, the only three pkcea where a contest can be held! Westport Band has lost a sterling player in Mr J. Richards, wJao has jyone to New Plymouth. Where are the judge's remarks on the North Island Contest?' We want to see our mistakes, so that we can. put them right for the next occasion. We are goingi to run a series of cheap popular concerts this winter to rub out a little debt andi get on a solid footing; for nest contest, either on the Coast or the North Maud. It is no good mentioning the South Island, for they are "not dead, but gone before."

GKEYTOWN NORTH BRASS BAND. (By ZEPHYR.) The Grey town Brass Band was established in the year 1874, and since that time has had many conductors, among whom were Messrs P. Linn, M. R. Varnham, T. Tierney and J. Maguire, jun. About two years ago tilings were at a very low ebb, but at thafc time Mr H. T. Rees (the present popular conductor) took the band in hand, with the result that it is now a- very strong combination, having a membership of twenty-five. The various parts are allotted as follows :.— E flat soprano, P. Cowan ; solo cornets, H. T. Bees (conductor), M. R. Maguire and H. Haag ; repiano cornets, T. Renata and T*. Manihera; second cornet, W. S. Maxton; third cornets, A. Anketell and! C. Hawke ; solo tenor^ H. Madsen; first tenor, W. Eang; second tenors, T. Fisher «nd C. Maxton; first baritone H. Manihera; second baritones, J. Hawke, J. Fuller an-d E. King; flrsb trombone, T. Ngaire ; second trombone, A. Madsen ; euphonium, ' A. C. Bicknell ; E flat basses, J. Maguire and H. W. Duff; B flat bass, N. Madsen; bass drum, D. Dockery ; side drum, J. Leww. The officers are :— Secretary, A. H. Lawson ; assistant-secretary, W. S. Maxton ; treasurer, H. Haig; conductor, H. T. Rees ; bandmaster, M. B. Maguire ; custodians, N. Madsen a.&d -W. King. On a recent Sunday afternoon, the band'tendered a really bjgh-class programme of music at the Soutih Wairarapa Hospital Grounds. Practices are held every week in the commodious band-room, and 1 these are always well attended.' Mr Rees is sparing no pains to bring the members forward, and, needless to say, his efforts are much appreciated. Several visiting musicians from different parts of the colony have expressed high opinions on 'the playing of the band, which they consider is a credit to a town the size of Greytown, the' population numbering in ! all 1200. About eighteen months ago the band secured a splendid uniform, of naval design, and it has also secured a number of new instruments, by the wellknown firm of Besson and Co. The new instruments comprise : — 3 B flat cornets, 1 tenor hora, 1 baritone, 1 euphonium, 1 E flat bass, and 1 B flat bass. It is intended to secure a full set of the splendid instruments aa soon as funds permit. The majority of the old instruments are Gautrots, although there are a few Booscy's. The institution is a very popular one, which is due to the fact of it being always ready to give its services when' called upon. Besides receiving liberal' grants from the local Borough Council and Town Lands ' Trust, the band is well supported by the public, and, being in the centre of a large district, receives numerous engagements. The band-room has recently been installed •with acetylene gas, and is now up-to-date in every respect. * — *