A GENERAL REVIEW.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12715, 29 January 1906, Page 7

A GENERAL REVIEW.

(By Our Special .Representative.)

The Bawera contest will be chiefly remembered by the good playing of the first and second bands, and, what is probably more remarkable still, the fact that, as far as can be ascertained, the conductors are satisfied with the judging, and it is generally admitted that, including the soles, justice has been done. Last year Mr .King made his maximum 200 points, but the !big differences in tflie placing possible under these figures did not find favour. On this occasion Ihe used the usual 120 'maximum, with 'the result that the bands are much closer together. Indeed, tthis question of judging by points, as it were with a two-foot rule, will sooner or later have to be faced by tho Association, as at Home a number of the front rank adjudicators absolutely refuse to 'be hampered with numberless miles and regulations. Recently in England the well-known Mr Gladney was appointed to judge the South Wales Band. Associations Contest. "When bo arrived he was told he,must judge under certain conditions, allotting numerous points, [have the assistance of short-hand reporter,, etc. He caught the first train for home. The duty of tihe judge is obviously to place the bands in their proper c<rder, and it only increases his difficulties and gives cause fcr additional controversy by asking him to mathematically record the exact difference. It is quite notioeable both in Great Britain and Australia that the popular judges, almost without exception, make very little difference in giv- j ing points. But to aieturn to the Hawera Contest. I had a most interesting chat with tihe veteran conductor, Lieut. Siddalls. who by the bye seems to thrive at the arduous work of band training, for to the writer's knowledge he has not aged amy this last fifteen years. Finishing so close to the -winners, it is hardly to be expected that the decision would" give the lieutenant unbounded joy, tout, as he expressed it, he was too good a -sport to complain. He was quit* satisfied with the position occupied by his soloists. Lieut. Siddall'e experience dates Iback to 1887, and he conducted tihe Invercargill Garrison in their halcyon daysT* He lias'been in charge of tihe Wcolston Band four years, and they have improved wonderfully since the Timoru Contest two .years back. The lieutenant is not quite satisfied that bands have improved so greatly of late years, and p&rsonally swears 'by a performance of the \oamaru Garrison,; in 1884 of the "Flying Dutchman " salection as the finest 'brass band work he has had the (pleasure of -listening to. It is interesting to note that Mr W. S. King, who was a member of the above organisation, is.firm on the point that in all his experience the Wanganui Garrison's rendering-of " Gems of Mendelssohn," at Auckland, last year, has never been approached., The Woolston Band if they retain their pme4ent combination should finish well up at the Exhibition Contest, and"their conductor is entitled to the credit of training the best brass band that Christchu'rch has ever possessed. Heir 'Fritz Paul 3ias been in charge of the South 'Canterbury Battalion. Band, Tknaru, about 12 months, and is a decided acquisition to the list of New Zealand conductors. He has effected a decided improvement an th© band, and will doubtless bring them further on. The -Herr comes of a musical military family, and although still a young <man is a very experienced conductor. Asked the question directly, he expressed unqualified approval of Mr King's judging both in the tests and solos, and ihad nothing but praise for Mr King, whom he described as most consistent throughout. Conductor Tombes, of the Palmerston North Band, was also pleased with the judging all round, and 'he is also to be felicitated upon his first appearance with the baton at these contests. I understand Mr Tombes shortly takes over the Hastings Band, and feel confident he 'will accomplish good work. The Taranaki Garrison (have lately suffered the loss of several good players, and the duty of training others^ to fill their places is a constantly recurring one for Conductor IMcConnell, wh'o is a most painstaking and capable enthusiast. At present he has the makings of a very good band. The Taranaki conductor is quite in agreement with the judge, so that for once we have the unique experience of a contest with no domp'laining conductors. Lieut. Herd, of the Wellington Gar-r-scn, who was present throughout the W'.sek, coincides with the published verdicts, and congratulated Mr Crichton upon the playing of the "Wanganui Band. For tihe first time sino& the Association started ih© Ruahine Battalion (Wwodville) 'missed the contest. Their conductor, htowever, Mr J. V. Lawrence, was ther©, and he has nothing but pradee for the man in the box. On 'this evidence Mr King is entitled to be heartily congratulated. The Press also are indebted to him for thoisie in't-eiresting notes, as with the exception of Ord Hume he is the only judge who assists in this" way. They are, of course, distinct from his official notes, which will shortly be published. The Wanganui Band put up two fine performances, but the test pieces hardly afford sufficient scop© for highly trained bands. For instance, neither oi them can in any way be compared with ■the " Gems of Mendelssohn " selection.

'The quartette—Bandmaster Buckley, 'Bandsmen JWnest, Grey and '.'Northey— giave a very 'fine rendering of " Fidelio" and fully, desierved their win. This talsiot applies to the Trombone 'Trio, Bandsmen Lamb, Sly, and Boyd, who pleased the judge greatly. Mr King is himself an ex-champion trombonist. Forrest (tenor horn) and iSignal (E flat bass) have repeatedly won in their class. Sly (tenor brombone) won for the second time, 'hie previous win being tat Palmerston in 1903. Lamb was third to his band mate. Jensen won ■with his initial effort on the baritone, and should develop into a fin© player. Estaill, of Woolston, who 'beat 'Grey in the euphonium 'class, is a very nice player, although he has not tih© Matter's "warmth of tone. Gray played particularly well in the selections. Gould (flugel horn) ■would probably <ha<ve won but for What

might .be fairly termed 'an accident, and he same may 'be said Of Truesell (soprano OGu-net). ißoyd got a creditable second dn the bass trombone section, and Nort'foey was third amongst the B flat cor. nets. The winner, 'Fox, of Palmerston North, comes of a, Christchurch nrusjeal iiamily, and is a very brilliant player. This 'was 'his first appearance in solo competition. •In 'tdie tests Bandmaster Buckley played splendidly, and further enhanced .'hie amputation as a great cometist. What sihall we say of Conductor Criohton? ißememberdng tihe axiom, "Deeds, not words," it is probably unnecessary to say anything. Granting that he has a good baaid of capable musicians, there are other conductors as well favoured w'hioT enjoy many advantages denied Wanganui's conductor, and the labter'e success is all the 'more creditable. No matter how capable the players, the responsibility bf correct rendition, interpretation, and the many artistic effects that go to build up a selection rest almost entirely witib the weilder of the baton j and Mr Crichton's record speaks for itself. The citizens .pay be pardonably proud of the .band its conductor. The management of the Hawera Contest left nothing too be desired, and the chief credit 5s due to Mr A. M. Conroy, 'Who is quite a model secretary. Mrs Major, wife of the member for the district, presented tihe prizes to the successful competitors, and displayed unusual aptness for tohe function. She had a few apropos remarks for each, and packed them all off smiling. The contest treasurer banked over £600 to the committee's account, and this should just about clear all expensiss. A function of this kind is a very big thing for ■a comparatively email place like Hawera to undertake, and the result should be generally satisfactory. Those who were present •will have nothing but pleasant memories of the 1905 contest.