BAND CONTEST.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20543, 19 February 1935, Page 7

BAND CONTEST.

Comment on Performances at Championships. 4 TO-DAY’S RESULTS. (Special to the “ Star.”) TIMARU, This Day. Though two A Grade bands headed the list in the h.vmn contest last night, the B Grade section asserted itself by running into third place with the Greymouth Municipal band under Mr. W. L. Francis, a son of an old time soprano instrumentalist in the Wanganui garrison band. Naturally Timaru people are A*ery jubilant at the success of their band. The placing of Greymouth met with popular approval as the demonstration indicated. This band gave a finished, interesting and entertaining study 9f the favourite hymn choice, “ Deep Harmony.” If the playing in the hymn test is to be taken as a guide, then Greymouth must be well to the fore in to-night’s first selection test for B Grade bands. The placing of the Timaru Municipal and Port Nicholson bands, first and second, met with general approval, but after an artistic presentation of “ Nearer My God to Thee,” St. Kilda’s relegation to equal seventh place caused some surprise, especially as it was beaten by two points by another Dunedin band, the B Grade Artillery Southern Command band. The performance of this band was heavy and somewhat disjointed and lacking in many of the finer qualities of the St Kilda and Invercargill Civic bands. A Big Surprise.

The biggest surprise was the placing of the Palmerston North garrison band last, the champions in general playing in 1934. It was much superior to the Dunedin Artillery band. The performance of the Queen Alexandra’s Own band was also heavy, considered from hymn requirements and devotional interpretation, but the band work was good.

The adjudicator frankly admitted that he had a most difficult task as was emphasised in the points allotted, for of the fourteen bands playing no fewer than ten were assessed in playing merit at from 90 to 97 points out of the maximum of 100 points. Hymn playing is not necessarily an indication of what will happen in the selection tests as the players confined themselves to simple melody studies, but as a weathercock denotes the direction of the wind, last night’s placings point to the direction from which the ultimate victors may come The judge (Mr A. Baile) evidently is keen on variety in playing and it was noticeable that the hymn test leaders did display more individuality in this way. To-night’s Test.

To-day commenced with two long solo sections, champion B-flat cornets and E-flat bass, but the piece de resistance is the first B Grade selection test to-night, “ Gems of Wagner.” It is an excellent work, instructive and entertaining alike to competitors and listeners. The bands to take part are the Ashburton Silver, Dunedin Artillery, Christchurch Municipal, 5 Gore, Greymouth, Palmerston North City, Taranaki Regimental, Wellington Boys’ Institute and Westport. The champion B-flat cornet solo was heard by Mr Baile, and the E-flat bass test was judged by Mr Schnack. Sixteen took part in the bass section, which was concluded, while the cornet section is still progressing. Judge Pleased. Playing in the bass section was particularly good, especially the work of the leaders. The adjudicator said he was glad' he had heard so many nice solo interpretations. He had had difficulty in separating three players. V. Abraham (Timaru), who gained 91 points, M. Cody re (Christchurch Municipal) and A. Harrod (St Kilda), each of whom scored 90 points. These players gave outstanding and artistic performances. The trouble with several otherwise good soloists was faulty intonation in the top register with the piano. This jarred on him too much for players concerned to gain higher marks, though he realised they were sound band performers in which the bass section has not so much upper register work. The leading men are well-known exponents of E-Flat Bass interpretations. “ The Victor,” test number by J. Lapont was quite good and artistic in the case of the leaders. Results E FLAT BASS SOLO. V. Abraham (Timaru Garrison) 91 points 1 M. C-odyre (Christchurch Municipal) and A. Harrod, 90 points equal . 2 H. Buck (Wellington Bovs’ Institute) 89 points 4 Others gained points as follows: S. Dougall (Wools ton) 87 points, J. Dunne (Ashburton), F, Fregrathen (Gore), J. Mathewson (Dunedin Artillery), J. H. Jacobs (Wellington Boys’ Institute) and J. Baittain (Palmerston North City) 86 points, N. Rose (Timaru), T. Stevenson (Dunedin Artillery) and T. Lim (Greymouth) 85 points, A. Homer (St Kilda), M. Gillespie (Port Nicholson) and S. Pike (Palmerston North Garrison) 84 points.