MUSIC FESTIVAL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20542, 18 February 1935, Page 7

MUSIC FESTIVAL.

Dominion Bands at Timaru. CHAMPIONSHIPS OPENED. “ Star ” Special Reporter. TIMARU, This Day. Proceedings in the Dominion band championships opened to-day in brilliant weather and everything is complete for a great week’s festival. Seventeen bands are attending, including the 1934 winners of the A and B grades. The first competition was disposed of this morning, the E-flat soprano cornet. Ten took part under the judge, Mr E. Schnack. Lieutenant C. Webb, of the Queen Alexandra’s Own Band, Wanganui, won, giving a superb exhibition of “ Tancredi,” arranged by Kappey, one of the most difficult and brilliant solos ever written for the instrument. Lieutenant Webb, who won also last year, is admittedly the best soprano soloist in the Dominion, and among the finest ever heard in New Zealand. The adjudicator, himself an old-time soprano player, expressed admiration of the fine rendering and congratulated the class on its generally excellent all round display. The bass, trombone and euphonium solos are proceeding. Following are the results: SOPRANO SOLO. Lieutenant Webb (Queen Alexandra’s Own. Wanganui, 92 points out of 100 1 J. V. Carmody (Invercargill Civic), 89 points 2 These two players take a gold and a silver medal respectively. Other competitors scored as follows: —J. Foster (Christchurch Municipal), 88 points: W. Russell (Grevmouth Municipal). 88: K. M. Cutler (W. 5.8.), 87; C. Thompson (Queen Alexandra’s Own), 86: F. Greig (Grevmouth Municipal), 85; J. Bannin (Palmerston North Silver), 85; C. Unwin (St Kilda), 85; D. Taylor (Timaru Municipal), 82. Bass Trombone. In the bass trombone competition, ten took part. Mr E. Schnack was the judge. The winner was B. Redmond (Kaikorai), 91 points, and R. Waterson (Invercargill Civic), 90 points was second. G. Birch (Christchurch Municipal), 88 points, J. M’Math (Greymouth Municipal), 87 points, were among the well-placed division. Euphonium Solo. Twenty-four took part in the test piece “ Harmonious Blacksmith,” arranged by Ord Hume and judged by Mr A. Baile, the principal adjudicator, who said in announcing the awards that two renderings stood out for their artistry and all the work made for high grade platform performances. The competition was very close between the first and second players, only one point separating them. The winner was slightly more accurate, but each excelled in a manner that was best described as a difference in a Melba and Dolores. The effort of each was equally fine, but differing. The winner was A. Ramsey (Queen Alexandra’s Own), 93 points, while J. Smith (Nelson Garrison), 92 points, was second, and J. M’Kay (Invercargill Civic), 88 points, third. V. Sharp (Christchurch Municipal) scored 82 points, T. Dephoff (Christchurch Municipal!. 81 points, R. Prvde (Westport). 81 points, and T. Adamson (Greymouth) 81 points. T. Hughes (Nelson!, formerly of Woolston, and several times champion, scored 84 points and was fourth equal.