BANDSMEN'S COLUMN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7541, 25 October 1902, Page 6

BANDSMEN'S COLUMN.

FROM FAR AND NEAR. (By T.OM-TOM.) (Specially compiled for the " Star-") "Musio th« poor man's Parnassus." i — Emersoa. • ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. John Trussell, Wang'jui'ui Garrison.— Kindly fulfil promise regarding your bamd. B.M. .M'KilLop, Gisborne Band.— Oannob recommend . any player as requested an your telegram.

BAND NOTES.

The Stanmore Band, under Mr C. F. Bunz, is doing famously, and the practices now held augur better days for the old "Canterbury favourite." In most details "5.8.8." ought to hold its creditable own | with any Maoriland band, and: if the present stream of practical enthusiasm- is mainj tamed ere long " 5.8.8." will be well up to the others. Though it lost the Municipal contract, and small wonder considering last year's musical struggle to fulfil its undertaking, Stanmore's downfall was solely owing to internal ripples, and; a toleration of a section of bandsmen whose absence would be a. blessing. I have known Stanmore from 1885 to date, and with genuine pleasure echo Sergeant Dunn's thanks to Mr Edward Derry, who last year helped the 'band at a time when a solo cornet was sadly needed. Mr Derry's services were admirable, hence the grateful remarks passed in the bandi-room on Sergeant Dunn's special request " that Mr Derry be thanked by the Stanmore Band', for his excellent services to the band at the municipal concerts of last season." I know that Mr Derry has always been ready to help, and I am pleased to ha.ye the opportunity of acknowledging a service that Stanmore Band and the writer can duly appreciate. Matters in connection with the New Zealand Band for England are highly promising, and the interest is accentuated' as the date for selection draw® near. The English firms intend to give our fellows every advantage, and from many quarters generous offers have been received. Lieutenant Herd arrived in Christchurch -tihis morning,, amd will stay at Warner's Hotel. He will be pleased to meet anyone interested in the New Zealand Band project and those desirous of taking shares, and will gladly give full particulars ctf the scheme. He can be seen by special appointment after 1 p.m., and will be in between" 7 and 8 p.m. He will leave by Monday's express for Mosgiel, where he is to judge the band contest to be held there. The appeal to our bands to play programmes and take up a collection, in aid of the uniform fund- of the New Zealand Band has met with already response, and here m Umstchurch, Derry's Private" Band Avill give a programme on the Rotunda. Other bands will follow, aud our local bandtemeni are sure to do a full s-ihare of the work. • " Cuivres," in Wright and Round's "Band News" writes as follows:— The outdoor baud season has been brightened up by the engagement by the London County Courooil for a full week of the King Cross (Halifax) Prize Band, which has given a, round of very good performances in the metropolitan area It has played good programmes and has done much to convince the London public that a brass band can be a source of pleasure, instead of a source of ear-split-ting torture. I have heard it asked, " What good is this bringing here of country bands going to do London bandsmen ?" The answer is plain. They will, in the first place, get a valuable object lesson, if they will only turn it to account ; secondly, they will see it is time they put their houses in order if they want to keep the Council engagements ; and, lastly, they will learn that it is time to strangle and cast from them the remaining prejudices and hindrances to progress, which still, though almost moribund, are determined to die hard. SometJiing has beern done this season, more will be, done next. Ten years ago any man who would have stood up in a metropolitan band practice-room and said that a north-coun-try brass band, built and trained on the stupid contesting fashion, would play twice daily in London for a week, in* public places, and would have drawn crowds of listeners, received generous applause, evea to encores — if any man had dared to say this he would have been laughed at or kicked downstairs. And if to this he had dared to add that his Majesty the King, in his great and noble desire for the fostering of the musical art, wiould give audience in <his palace to such a band, he who prophesied it would have been relegated to Colney Hatch Asylum, or some other place, here unutterable. Yet all this has come to pass. And the brass band cause throughout this great empire has received such a stimulus that nothing can ever kill it. Those of our metropolitan bands who, guided by men sensible enough to see that there was something better worth striving after, have for years been striving, against heavy odds, will now find tm supporters where before they had! hard work to find one. And tliosc bands who have be«n standing, trembling on the threshold, not knowing whether to venture on a clean sM'eep of I'll© Augsean stable, or not, may now tnfee heart' of prace. There is no time like the present. Tire 1 mightiest oats have onca been' saplings. Sousa's celebrated American Band is announced to arrive in Sydney late in December. The probabilities are that New Zealand will be included in the tour.

a marked musical improvement has beer, noticed. The immense crowd at the concert la*t Thursday amply proved that the band has charmed, and is worthy of patronage at its fortnightly programme of music. Its. playing of Starke's prize march, " With Sword and Lance," gave it a suitable opening. The programme, already published, was of the popular order, arid the vocal numbers were a novelty- Lieutenant Siddall submitted " Verdi" (Round.) It was one of the Christchuroh contest pieces in November, 1803, and is a musical number that will always be welcome. To Ohristchurch bandsmen it is ( no doubt familiar. The items were well . chosen and certainly pleased. The band's tone and balance were delightfully crisp, and its finished style made its performance enjoyable. It was an exhibition of the real delicacy of a brass band under competent control. The appearance of the band on the Rotunda, its marching, and its general virtues, were again very satisfactory. It is not out of place to pay a- modest meed of credit to the officers of the band, and to Mr E. Round, who is an ideal secretary. During the season, Woolston will play some of the best selections extant, of which the band has secured quite a large number.