OUR BANDSMEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12082, 10 August 1917, Page 8

OUR BANDSMEN.

LOCAL NEWS AND FOREIGN j NOTES. (By TROMBONE.) The C D.C. Band will give a. concert, in Cathedral Sr,uare on Saturday night of next week (August 18). in aid of the hospital ships assistants' OlinstmnA presents. A collection will he made by returned soldiers, under the authority of the Mayor (Mr H. Holland). The hand is arranging a Rood programme for the occasion, the final rehearsal of which will take place at the practice room on Tuesday evening next. \DJUDTGATOBS AND THEIR . METHODS. Th 6 question of adjudication and adjudicators was referred to in this column last. week. The matter ha* been siven quite a lot of attrition, recently m the columns of The Bntish Bandsman." MrHorbert Bennett, a well-known English musical a.uthoritv and competition judge, m opening an article on the subject .remarked that the most accomplished musician may spend all his days in a, musical academy and r,till be temperamentallv unfit to be an adjudicator. . "To mv mind," Mr B,ennett goes on to say, ""the successful brass baud judgo'is a man who, in his early days, showed a. natural fondness for music, and whoso talents were fostered by his pa.re.nts or guardians during his school dnvsand the impressionable days of vouth." He has availed himself of the''bfst tuition within his means, and has lost no opportunity of hearing the performances of others. Ho has not confined his attentions to any single branch of music, but pianists, organists, singers, choirs, instrumental soloists and bands of every description have received his attentive audience. He has been a playing member of a brass band, has studied the technicalities of valve, and slide instruments, has; studied (not necessarily, copied) tha methods of the best teachers, and has himself been a bandmaster. It is so obvious to my mind that an adjudicator should have, this essential experience, that I believe it will not bra necessary for mo to take up space in precluding favourable evidence to prove my statement. A further quality, however, is still essential; and that is, shall I sav, for want of a. better term, the) adjudicator's temperament. He should not he a highly strung, nervous, or excitable individual, neither should he be sullen, stubborn, or asinine. He should not bo conservative in his views, but should give a, patient, and sympathetic hearing to a band whose conductor's idea, of teaching a selection is different from his own. He should possess sufficient will power to concentrate) all his thoughts on the playing, and be impervious to tlio applause of tlv| crowd. He should calmly review each respective performance after the last band has played (again proving himself imperturbable), and finally give his decision in such a. manner that the competitors will readily see that it lias the weight of his full convictions. A congratulatory speech, eulogising the contest committee on the manner in which the event has been conducted, etc., etc., is not necessary; if the derision is a good one, h e wi'll bo asked to come again."

Mr A., .Lawton, another well-known adjudicator, is of opinion that judges' remarks should not be published except, by consent of the competing hands, the reasou given being thai many young bands and bandmasters have been crushed by judges' remarks. In writing remarks, no word is more damaging than the word "very," contends Mr Lawton. It applies many ways. Con fid ('.'ice and experience are necessary for judging big contests. Of course, one .would say it requires the same for small contests. Certainly it does, but every adjudicator must have a start ai, .some time or other. •'"' I well remember my first few contests; f was anything but myself. But since then I have been trusted with many firstclass contests, and. I venture to say anyone that, can win his way through the brass baud world, either ■as soloist, teacher or adjudicator, he will have to work very hard and show his worth, as my thirty years' experience amongst all classes of bandsmen teaches me that thev are not as dense as some people make out."

Mr George Hawkins makes a plea for brevity. He asserts that a. judge Cannot satisfy himself and the competitors too, when much of. his time is taken ur; with clerical work. He prefers a good system of points ('the value of which every judge would determine for himself), with just sufficient margin why die had deducted points. This. he. contends, would lead to a better decision and avoid the publication of flattering remarks to one against fAie wolHmev?ted, whnlesonic condemnation of a neighbouring band. This creates incurable hatred and i>nlous.v. "Least said, soonest mended" i.s Mr Lawton's adjudieatorial motto.