OUR BANDSMEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12064, 20 July 1917, Page 8

OUR BANDSMEN.

LOCAL NEWS AND FOREIGN NOTES. (By TROMBONE.) Mr •James Crichton, ex-conductor of tho Wangauui Garrison Band, who wi*ut to England during 1915, has, 1 heard recently, been working in a munition iactory. His ability and enthusiasm as a. band trainer have no doubt been reflected in his work, what-c.ver branch jt may be, and Mr Crichton's part will have, been of the. kind that would add to the standard of British efficiency. Mr Baxter Buckler, the well-known solo pianist and teaclier, has taken up his residence in Christ-church. Mr Buckley js very well known to New Zealand bandsmen, particularly those of the South Island, for when he first came to New Zealand, about twelve years ago. he was associated with the firm of Messrs C. Regg and Co., of Dunedin. agents lor the Besson band instrument manufacturing firm, and he Look considerable -interest in Dominion band contests. Mr Bucklev was at one time an exponent of the' tenor bom, and lie has played with the Bosses-o'-ihe-Barn Band. ft is not generally known to bandsmen that .Air Buckley served in the Boer ar as a member oi the Loyal Lancashire Regiment, and was severely wounded in the head by a bullet. His life hung in the balance, for some time, but good surgery and medical and nursing attention resulted eventually in his recovery.

Bandsmen will regret to learn that Mr Richard Cook, the veteran Dunedin bandmaster and conductor, who has not been in good health for a lengthy period, had t-o subiTm to an operation recently and is in a weakened stale. Mr Cook is about seventy years or age and has led a very active life. 'J - I 1 ? 011 a faithful worker on the staff of Messrs C, Begg and Co., Dnnerlin for over forty years, and as a musician he is well known throughout the Dominion Mr Cook is one of the oldest bandsmen in New Zealand, in jengt.il of service as well as age, and he has for inany years been one of the most popular figures at Dominion band contests. I trust—and all ba.ndsmen will join me- that Mr Cook may fully recover. and bis genial presence will grace many band contests of the postwar period.

Mr T. H'unter, of Dunedin, whoso name is a household word in Dominion band circles, passed through Christchurch towards the- end of last week on his way to the southern city, after an extended visit to the North" Tsland. Mr Hunter heard tho Auckland f-lar-i ison .Artillery Band, under the conduetorship of Bandmaster Cater, and was most favourablv impressed ' with the playing. The band looked well, with its neat uniform and fine set of silver-plaferl instruments, which are comparatively new, and from observation Mr Hunter considers it not only one of the best-equipped bauds of New Zealand. hMt also one of tho best playing combinations.

At New Plymouth Mr Hunter had an opportunity of hearing the Regimental Band (old Taranaki Garrison), which is controlled by Mr F. W. G. M.'Leod, erstwhile of Oamaru and Masterton and Tpswich (Queensland). The band showed with its form on the last, occasion Mr Hunter heard it, and he predicts that when contesting days boom again the Taranaki Regimental Band will bo found playing a big part in championship decisions. Mr Hunter stated that the two 'Wanganui. bands, Garrison and Queen Alexandra's Own, were both playing well, but he was sorry to sav ho, heard no good band work in "Wellington. The Kaikoi'ai Band is making good progress under Mr Hclmer Davie, and Mr H'.inter is of opinion that the band will come to the front again when tho contests are resumed.

Tho matter of a bandsmen's roll of honour Mas mentioned in the course of conversation with .Mr Hunter, -ukl tho conclusions we came to were that arrangements should be made to procure a complete list, of Dominion bandsmen who have engaged in the war, and that .such roll should be unveiled at the first band contest that tokos place after tho close of the war. Air Hunter had previously mentioned that as soon as the war were concluded steps would be. taken to inaugurate a. band competition, to bo held in Dunedin. As a result of tho. last contest held in the southern city thoro was a, fair credit balance. This money was placed in a. bank and has since been earning interest and will be- available as the nucleus of a fund for tho proposed court est. Air Hunter ' considered that Dunedin offered tho best prospects of running a competition, and that considering tho interest Dunedinites had always shown in band matters and contests it would be q. most, suitable place for the ceremony in connection with tho unveiling of the roll of honour. Tho matter will bo kopti .steadily in view, and bandsmen may take it for granted that a. contest take place at, .Dunedin ;it tho close of the war.

It was not until the matter was mentioned to mo by Mr Hunter last week that I became aware of the fact tha:. Mr Ti. Hoben, for many years secretary of tho North Island Brass Bands' Association, recentlv lost a. son in the war, nor that Mr Hoben himself had gone to England some time ago to help in war work, and is now holding an appointment a.s an inspector at one of the big aeroplane factories. When Air Hoben's gallant son was wounded word was sent to tlie father, and, as tho case was serious, he was permitted to journey to the French hospital in which in's boy lay in a, dying state. Mr Ifunber told mo that it was a source of ■;reat comfort- and consolation to the family that, Air Hobrn arrived in time to bo with his son in his last moments. _ brave young soldier, in fact, died in his

father's arms. Bandsmen will join with mo in extending tho deepest sympathy to Mr Hoben and relatives. -sy ptrt'a; S3[«AV 'n no S < W9 N sociation lias decided to hold a. baud contest early in 191 S. Tho " Australasian Bandsman" remarks that the news will be hailed with pleasure by all associated bands, but says that *' very few. tf any, of our bands arc the bright musical organisations they were prior to August, 1914." Tho citizens of Batlrurst (New South Wales) has adopted a novel idea to perpetuate the memory of the 500. Bat - hurst, younq men who hare gone to tho iront. This consists in planting 500 wattio trees. The Bat hurst District Band turned out on a, recent Saturday, and after playing selections sank twenty three, holes to commcmorato their iourtcen members who hare enlisted.

Tho "Brass Band News" recently made tho following remarks concerning scalo practice We have no confidence in scalp practice acquired entirely by reading from the printed notes. Scale' practice is a, matter ol ear training; there is no use at all in practising scales on a. biass instrument unless ear training be the end aimed for. It k different on the piano, on which the tones are iixed; then it is a. matter of acquiring fingering dexterity. But on a buss instrument, the training of fingering scarcely «*omes in, and certainly it is of no use unless the ear be first trained. if the pupils have a grip of tho steps of the scales, and the actual sound effect of them—major and minor—in then eais, then the road i.s clear for practice by oar. The player will be able to start his scale—major or minor—on any note named, and will bo able both to proaueo the correct steps and correctintonation of them. If he can't- do this it is pi oof i.hat he has not got them yet rooted in him, and mere playing of printed notes won't implant them in inm. Uive him a. diagram for the eye. and tho_ scale in actual sounds for tho ear. Allien he has both of these he c.a.n iepioduce thc-ni from anv starting point.

Brass trombone players com pi ain that there is a scarcity of polos, both in band and single handed, jnr their instrumerit. That is true (remarks the editor of Messrs W right and Round's band join nal), and the fact, is that it is for inc. present unavoidable, so far as publishers are concerned. Whilst, giving the few ambitious players of this {.rand instrument, the bull? of them have neither capacity nor ambition for solo playing. And publishers cannot eater where there is no prospect of a remunerative demand. Wo get, applications from a few ambit-ions players, but really thev are but a.s a, drop in the ocean, and they have our sympathy in the fact that the bulk of their confreres are so easily satisfied. The best- we can recommend is that they should seek some horn solos of a. suitable, character -•melodies, not airs varied—and read them as though they were in bass clef and m a key a. minor third higher. Then it will go with the piano part. Such an air as " II Balen " so played in JO-fiat would make a grand shine"for CI trombone, giving him a range of nearly two octaves from low D to upper 0, and there is no brass tone more satisfying in such music than the grandly rich tone of the G trombone.