BAND CONTEST.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20238, 23 February 1934, Page 9

BAND CONTEST.

Results in Yesterday’s Competitions. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, February 22. The band contest was continued today. The following w-ere the results: Championship B Flat Cornet Solo, “Mermaids Song” (Alex Owen), for the Budd-Wills Memorial Challenge Shield (judge. Captain G. Buckley)—lt. B. Wills (Invercargill Civic), 96 points, 1; J. Bannin (Port Nicholson Silver), 89 points. 2; N. Aldridge (St Kilda Municipal), 87 points, 3. This was a long and difficult section to judge,” said Mr Buckley. “ though a decision was not difficult to make so far as the places were concerned. It was quite a tonic to me when I heard the winner. He has a tone of good quality and is competent in all departments. I am sorry I could not give him more points. But for one or two slips 1 would have done so. There was a big difference between him and the other competitors.” % Captain Buckley said he looked upon the judging of this section as a great duty for he would like to see New Zealand produce better cornet players than it had in the past. He had given lengthy reports to every player, and help id 56 VGry pleased proved of Test Selections. By consistency of playing the Wellington Artillery Band secured the highest aggregate of points in the two test selections, the first of which was heard on Tuesday and the second to-night, and thus wins the B grade championship. The test piece on Tuesday was Flotow’s “Martha,” the result of which was announced to-night. Wellington Artillery gained third place witn 142 points. In the second test “The Mock Doctor.” by Gounod, it was placed first with 141 points, giving it an aggregate of 283 points. The result of the second test brought about some surprising reversals of positions gained in the first. Masterton Municipal, which Won the first test with 145, came only seventh in the second test, and Christchurch Municipal, which was second on Tuesday’s playing, was down to eighth to-njght. This brought It down on points, being added to sharing fifth place with two others. On the other hand Hastings Citizens Band did badly the first night, gaining seventh place, but was second to-night, and so secured fourth place in the aggregate. Westport Municipal was consistent, being fourth on Tuesday and third tonight. The playing of the bands, said the Judge, Captain G. Buckley, after the results had been announced was of the standard of A grade bands. The most apparent defect was overblowing, which created at times an undesirable roughness. “This must be got rid of. We want music, not noise,” he said. Some of the bands spoilt excellent work by rather overdoing things and so making thenperformances rough. Some of the bands who showed consistency. Captain Buckley added, gained more thin others, whose brilliance was marred by roughness. He considered that the B grade playing at this contest corresponded more than favourably with the A grade playing of a few years back Points were as follows: Ist 2nd

test. test. TV Wellington Artillery .. 142 141 283 Westport Municipal .... 1 41 1 38 273 Hastings Citizens 13« 139 277 Christchurch Municipal . 1<3 IMS 2<6 Dannevlrke Municipal .. 133 137 -76 Fast Coast Regiment .. 140 1.38 276 Wellington Roys’ Inst. 136 18* 271 Wellington Regiment . 137 131 268 Southland Rattalion .. 135 132 26< .1 upp's silver 136 -lot 26,