BAND MUSIC

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 February 1940, Page 7

BAND MUSIC

CENTENNIAL CONTEST OPENED IN WELLINGTON YESTERDAY. - i AUCKLAND ARTILLERY WIN HYMN TEST. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. In fine weather, before a crowd of 9000 at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, yesterday afternoon, the New Zealand centennial band contest was opened with the hymn test for A. B. and C. grade bands. Twenty-two brass bands and more than 500 bandsmen from all parts of the Dominion took part. Auckland’ Artillery, with 93 points, won the test, one point ahead of the Port Nicholson Silver Band. The Woolston Brass Band (90 points) was third. Though points awarded for the hymn test do not count in the championship, the test devoted to sacred music is considered an essential part of the New Zealand brass band contest. A feature of the 1939 hymn test, held in Christchurch. was the success of B grade bands, two of which, Ashburton Silver (1) and Christchurch Municipal (2). gained premier honours. This year the bands gaining the first six places l were all A grade. The adjudicator, Mr Frank Wright. L.R.S.M.. M.R.S.T., London, said that in some ways the playing yesterday was a litle disappointing, though in such a test brass bands hardly had the scope to show what they could do technically. “Even after the twentysecond band had finished playing, I was still waiting for the band which would sweep me off my feet, but that did not happen.” said Mr Wright. He added that he had heard some pleasing performances, and that the work on the whole was tuneful.

The first prize was £l5. the second was £lO, and the third £5. Placings were:—

Auckland Artillery (“St Leonards"), 93 points 1 Port Nicholson Silver ("Rochdale"), 92 points 2 Woolston ("Old Earth”), 90 3 Wanganui Garrison ("New Rochdale”), 88 4 Timaru Municipal ("Plain an’ Gwarry”), 87 5 St Kilda Municipal ("Rock of Ages”), 84 6 Lower Hutt Municipal ("Carleton"), and Queen Alexander's Own (“Lead. Kindly Light"). 83. equal 7; Christchurch Municipal ("Fierce Raged the Tempest”). 81. 9; Nelson Garrison, . (“Nottingh2m’').'ahd- Wellington Boys’ Institute Silver ("Deep Harmony"). 80, equal 10; Hamilton Citizens’ ("Rutherford"), and Feilding Municipal ("Vale Mater”), 79, equal 12; Wel-lington-West Coast Regimental (“Deep Harmony"), and South Regimental ("Im Praying For You"), 76, equal 14; Napier Citizens ("Vale Mater”), 75, 15; Invercargill Civic ("Maidstone”), j 74. 16; Oamaru Garrison (“At Even I ’Ere the Sun Was Set"), 72, 17: Stratfor Citizens’ ("New Rochdale”), 70. 18; Lower Hutt Civic (“Elsie”), 68, 19; Waipukurau Municipal ("Ivory Palaces”), and Wellington Artillery (“Abide With Me"). 67, equal 20.