THE WOOLSTON BAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17017, 16 April 1923, Page 3

THE WOOLSTON BAND.

JUDGE’S NOTES ON CONTEST.

The judge’s reports on the recent band contest held at New Plymouth sre now to hand, and a study of the notes makes it easy to understand u ool.ston's win in the three tests, and especially in the hvmn tests. The judge (Mr Fred Hainesf said that the hymn test was one of the finest examples of hymn playing he had ever heard. Every bar in the selections was numbered and criticise'!, as the following note* indicate:— HYMN TEST. (“ O (iladsome Light-.”) Here we have something a-n as possible approaching an organ. Soprano inter* in keeping with the sentiment of this splendid hymn. A slight vrarer r.n the word *‘ Sacred.'* At letter E a slight waver in Baritone. A fine conception of this beautiful hymn. This is one of the finest examples of hand playing of a hymn I have overheard in my life. Thank you very much. 98 marks. FTP ST TF,ST “ A ” GRADE. (“ Robert T 1 Diavolo.”) First movement. A good start. Trombone.-) doing well. 4, 5 an* t> excellent. 7 goo-i. Jo, 11 and 1-2 exceedingly. l.«od entries at 13. Band working well together. 'June oif -at. 23. Trombone nice fine tone: slips at 25. 2T> good. 27 excellent. 31 and 32 the right style. .-second movement. You have got t*d s movement ths best yet; a right conception of this movement- Scarcely together at 20. 23 bravo: all doing well from 24. No fault to find with you here. From 32 you are excelling yourselves; the right -tyle—the best, .yet At 52 a slight waver in tune, but Third movement The best yet. Hand dodo ing well from 18. Slight Jlip in 22 s lo cornet. You are a musician, and you are pleasing immensely. 26 well done. 27 not so well done. 29 excellent. From 30 and onward you are pleasing ine. From 35 and onward you have got this movement- well measured. It pleased me very much. <.••• on, you are doing grandly. From 4G and very well done. 52 excellent. Tune off at 53: otherwise excellent. Basses a feature. 58 and 57. excellent. Fourth movement. Trombone enters in like an artist, band accompanying him. Well done, trombone. Fifth, movement. Very well done trombone entry. Everybody doing well in thU movement. In 11 trombone excellent-—the best yet; euphonium excellent—the best* yet. T would like this a little softer from 12; otherwise very nice. 29 and 21 quite right. 24 and onward excellent. 31 and 32 well lone. Cadenza at 33 excellent, a musicianly rendering; water in the instruSixth movement. Like an organ—magnificent. 3 well done. At 1 this is great playing. At 16 musicianly;- thanks. Upper parts might he softer. Good work between euphonium and solo cornet at 19 and 29. hand working well now. 23 well done CRdonr,n well done—the nest vet. Seventh movement. You are giving me the right pace, as well as tone and style. 7 excellent. A. grand hand 8 and 9 right -n. 11 splendid. Cadenza, and excellent rendition, save for slip on upper note; you Eighth movement. Tlie right conception of this. 8. 0. 10 and 11 well done. 19 21. and 23 the best yet—grand. From 25 and onward you are pleasing me. This is magnificent playing. Bravo. A grand ending: you are the best, hand yet—you have given me a real musical treat. Thanks. If the other bands heat you it is not your fault. I congratulate you. SECOND TEST “ A ” GRADE. (” Jessonda-.”) First movement. Another fine toned baud. A good start. All parts moving well. 9. 10* II and 12 excellently done. Basses too peckv at. 13. overdoing >t. From 13 and onward excellently played. 19 organ like, doing well. A shade too loud for my liking in piano at 28; otherwise all doing well. Good entry of trombones at 26. 27 and 28 grand. Second nioveiiK-ut Here we have got some fire. Grand playing at 9, 14, 15. 16 nnn 1 'Third' movement. Rhythm well un-let-Stood. Euphonium enters grandly All working beautifully. Good entry of trombone and soprano This is great playing. Nuances well v attended to at 12 and 1,-. Scarcely together at 15. Trombone an artist. All grandly. Nice tenor at. 17. 21 good. Trombone an artist and playing with refinement. Ba*s work at 23 good execution and tone, hut a trifle loud. 2o and °7 verv good. Nice soprano at 98. All moving well- I would like it a little sorter at 28. From 30 and onward this is grand playing here. At 33 two artists excellent. Fourth movement. This is a groat, performance. Excellent a' 17. Interior of . ns hand a- feature. 25 and on sounds like an orchestra. Good. On repeat improves. Goo,, from 41 and onward: go on. 17. 48. 19 tnt 50 excellent. At 51 another artist; a slighslip at piano; excellent indeed Fifth movement. This player has sou,, ircomii?r-imeuts nice and subdued. I would like this a shade faster. This is grai. 1 playing. 9 excellent. .0. 11. 12. 13 and 11 splendidly done. Semiquaver figure in !-• all to be deiired. Solo cornet you play v. i?h soul, and the band accompany you like musicians. This movement excellently rendered. 29 beautifully rendered. Sixth irovement. Here is some great nhivinc. 19 and onward -nlenrlid. 22 and 26 quite right. 37 right. At 59. 51 a.nd 52 this btrange chord nice: band sweet. Cadenza —another artist, hut slins several tira-s: excellent. Seventh movement. Fine -hytlim 11 well done now. Go on. V gr«-at niece of rdaving this. 32. 33 and 34 great work in hass«s and all hand. A great performance. 96 marks. QUICKSTEP. “ A ” GRADE. f‘ Ravenswood.”) tic playing in soprano. 20 quite rif*'it. Slight untiinef illness at 27. Band doing magnificently at 13. but at, 47 that is not

ferret phrasing; attend to it. At .53 prnmsion in attack excellent, especially at 6b. This is a well balanced band. 66 again splendid. At 69 all doing well, but drummer should beat obliquely and his drum wants bracing up to insure a orisper oeat i do not notice it in piano passage. The has, drum is the suul of a m»r<*. Excellent bass drum on 100. At 103 wrong note in horns. 110 grand Repeat. This is a great performance, and you have set a standard in this grade. Excellent soprano. AH the band doing well. Do not bang the bass drum; this is not a circuit-. Magnificent band from 46. Beautiful playing from 52. Ditto on repeat, save at 63, sloppy second and third cornets. As you approach me your band is playing magnificently. Excellent rhythm, tone and time. 84 and onward well done. At 88 a slight slip in basses. From 100 grand: this is fine playing now - beaten this afternoon it is not. your fault* •Second Repeat. Now your band sounds like an organ from 12. This is a great performance. That, is right from 29. You have rehearsed this march, and it docs you credit. Slight slips at 44 in upper cornets. Beautiful work by baritone and euphonium from 52—1 mean better than before. I am enjoying this. A slight waver in trombones at 60 on repeat. A well-balanced band: tune. tone, everything one could wish for. A most excellent finish to a bit of good band playing in a 98 marks. QUARTETTE, No. 5. <“ Fidelio.' ) Allegro. A good opening. Molto Men to. Cornet at 2 not sure—nervous. Very nice; all pleasing me. Corhet not safe at 13 and 14. Allegro Conbrio. A nice start : all working well here. A nioe bit of playing here. Second cornet, not moving with tenor. This is a rich treat: you are pleasing me immensely here. Prom 29 and onward excellent. Scarcely together at 31 aud 32: otherwise a beautiful rendition. Now you are feeling it. and you are pleasing me. Here we have a quartette of artists. 45 excellent. Quire right at 16; beautiful rhythm. Andante Sostenuto. Like an organ. Very fine; nuances quite right. Adagio. Second cornet does not move and support the first. A very beautiful hit of playing, except firet cornet slips. Tenor unsafe at 10. At 14 upper cornet seems unsafe. Bettor onward. Unsafe tenor at 19: otherwise very nice. Quite a pleasure to listen to from 3*2 and onward. Tenor slips on 30. You can safely take this movement a shade faster and then be playing Beethoven. Bar 32 good. Moderate. Now you are feeling this movement and you are doing well. A nice bit of playing from 11. 13 and 13. Slip in euphonium at 15. At 30 euphonium unsafe: otherwise all doing well. Scarcely in tune from 27. A fine bit of playing, this move* m«nt. . , Presto. A fine ending to a capital performance. S 3 marks. Letters and telegrams of congratulations hav'e c-onie to the band from all parts of New Zealand and Australia • showing that the city has been considerably advertised through the band. Nearly every letter states taht the city should be proud to hare an . oi ganisation such as the band. To the and business firms that subscribed towards the expenses, tin band’s win is most pleasing, and the members arc proud to hare such support.