BAND CONTEST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19248, 27 February 1925, Page 5

BAND CONTEST

MALVERN WINS A GRADE A GREAT PERFORMANCE 7000 PEOPLE LISTEN TO BANDS At the Band Contest the second test played last evening. Malvern again won, and carried off the championship. Woolston was second. Timaru third, and Queen Alexandra’s fourth. Then in order, came Port Nicholson, St. Kilda, Wellington Tramways, Auckland Artillery, Southland Battalion, Wanganui Garrison, Palmerston North and Kaikorai.

A GRADE CONTEST THE SECOND TEST. By Telegraph—Special to “Chronicle” AUCKLAND, Feb. 26 A crowd of over 7000 assembled in the Domain to hear the second night of the A Grade. FIRST TEST SELECTION “EROICA’ ’ (Beethoven). First prize £4O; second prize, £2O; third prize, £10; also N.Z. Championship Shield, presented by Or. Thacker, Christchurch; the Besson Challenge Shield; the Hawke Challenge Shield; the Conn Challenge Shield; a. gold medal for the conductor of winning band, and silver medal for each member of the winning band. SECOND TEST SELECTION. “ON THE CORNISH COAST.” (Henry Geehl). First prize, £4O; second prize, £2O; third prize, £lO.

Following are brief comments on the bands in the order in which they ».p--peared:—• KAIKORAI. A good all-round reading, but there was nothing special or outstanding. The spirit dominating the work was largely lacking. Several serious blemishes. TIMARU GARRISON. Mediocre performance. Band not up to standard .for a work of this nature. WE LLINGTON T RAMW AYS. A good, massive performance. Intonation weak in several places, and no mutes used in the muled passages. Only a fair interpretation, as the spirit of the work had not been caught. WANGAN Ui GARRISON The performance generally was on Hw loose side; not sufficiently firm. Ensemble passages massive and intonation creditably close. Muted passages were very effective, the cornets securing practically clarionet tone. The simplicity of the folksong themes generally was lacking. QUEEN ALEXANDRA’S OWN, WANGANUI This was the first band to give a really stylish interpretation of the work. Lack of unanimity marred some of the band’s best playing, and the florid passages proved troublesome for some of the parts, noticeably the basses. The muted effects were particularly good. SOUTHLAND REGIMENT, INVERCARGILL A very uneven performance. Tempo frequently astray. Intonation faulty, and tone quality poor. WOOLSTON Woolston was received with warm applause. The band gave an excellent opening tone, massive and organlike m quality. The crescendos were magnificently worked up, and the softer passages were in places almost ethereal. Intonation was above reproach. The euphonium solo, an old English folksong, was wonderfully sonorous, particularly in the storm movement. The florid passages in this movement were wonderfully crisp, and scarcely a note was mishit. A slight lack of unanimity I in the penultimate movement was the only real weakness in an otherwise brilliant performance. MALVERN TRAMWAYS Malvern followed, so the crowd had lan excellent opportunity of judging be- ' tween the two champion bauds, who I had secured first and second respcci lively in the first test. The band I opened magnificently, but one of the [trombones made a nasty mishit in one I of the first few bars. Generally, howlever, the opening movement was a wonIderr'ul exposition of brass playing. The horn solo was excellent ,and the soprano excelled. The ensemble fortissimos were almost thunderous in their sonority, and could not possibly have been improved upon. The storm was a most realistic piece of playing, and by this time it was obvious that Malvern had Woolston well beaten. A more refined, yet withal restrained, performance could not have been imagined. Comparing Malvern with Woolston, the essential difference lay in the restraint shown by the latter. Woolston’s per-

formancc was inclined to be boisterous in comparison. The Malvern conductor (Mr H. Shugg) at no time appeared to drive his men, whereas the Woolston conductor (Mr Estall) appeared inclined to be nervous aud excited. PORT NICHOLSON This band showed marked improvement on its playing in the first test. Balance was excellent, and the spirit of the work admirably caught. A thoroughly good performance in every department, lacking only finish in a few passages. AUCKLAND ARTILLERY A good all round performance. This band is inclined to be weak in the middle parts of its composition, and I lacks unanimity in passages calling for speed. A feature of this performance was the beautiful cornet playing of C. H. Hayes, winner of the cornet solo championship. ST. KILDA MUNICIPAL This band failed to measure up to the standard of its playing in the first test. There was a lack of finish in several places, and the performance lacked warmth. Some first grade playing was 1 heard, but. lhe florid passages tripped some of the players particularly in the. brass department. The ensemble work was massive, but the lighter movements lacked daintiness. PALMERSTON NORTH A carefully studied performance, but not of sufficient merit to place the band above tenth place. The last, bana finished playing at 10.45, and the results were, announced at 11.30. The announcement, that Malvern had secured the premier honours was greeted with a great outburst of applause. THE SOLO CLASSES (By Telegraph.—Special to Chronicle) AUCKLAND, Feb. 26. To-day’s solo classes, E Flat, and Double B Flat basses, attracted a large number of contestants—23 in the former and 17 in the latter. Both classes were of a very high standard. Wilson (Woolston) added another first to his already long list of wins in this class, tieing with Smith (Malvern). The winner of the Double B Elat was easily the best of his class. The quartettes were a very uneven lot, most spoiling their performances with overblowing. Wanganui results— E Flat: Miller 92, ninth; Coleman and Birch, 91, tenth. E FLAT BASS SOLO R. Smith (Malvern) and B. Wilson (Woolston) gained 961 points. G. Munro (Auckland) 96. Also competed.—N. Forbes (Malvern Tramways) 95J, W. P. Goughian (Kaikorai) 95, H. Neilson (Auckland Artillery) 95, F. Bourke (Port. Nicholson) 94, A. Nelson (St. Kilda) 934, C. Miller (St. Kilda) 93, N, Jamison (Waihi Federal) 92, W. Miller (Wanganui Garrison) 92, W. Coleman (Wanganui Garrison) 91, E. Birch (Queen Alexandra’s Own) 91, A. Homer (St. Kilda) 90, S. Nunns (Gisborne City Band) 89, C. Pollock (Woolston) 89, P. Batchelor (South Canterbury) 88, J. Young (Te Awamutu) 88, T. Hughes (New Plymouth) 78, J. Matthe wson (Dunedin Artillery) 78, McDermid (Invercargill Battery) 78, J. Scatt (Dunedin Artillery) 77. 8.8. FLAT BASS SOLO. Rasmussen (Malvern) 9G points. 11. Booker (Palmerston North) 89. R. Spurdie (Queen Alexandra’s Own, Wanganui) 86. Also competed.—C. Hansen, Senior (Woolston) 85, L. Fogo (Dunedin Artillery) 85, 11. Maher (Auckland Artillery) 84, T. Williams (St. Kilda) 84. J. J. Collins (Wanganui Garrison) 84, A. Guthrie (Wanganui Garrison) 83, Edwards 83, O. Sandberg (Wellington Tramways) 82, C. Hansen, Junior (Woolston) 77, G. McVicar (Onchunga Municipal) 75, 1). D. Miller (Invercargill Battery) 75, S. Fenton (Woolston) 74, W. Fenton (Christchurch Municipal) 74, J. Milne (Wellington Trainways) 74, E. Mulonc (Queen Alexan dra’s Own) 7.1. QUARTETT E COMPETITION. First Taranaki Regiment, 112 points, Woolston No. 2, 98. Also competed.—■ South Canterbury Battalion (No. 2) 92, St. Kilda (No. 1) 92, Woolston (No. 1) 92, Greymouth Municipal 91, Otago Field Artillery 91, Auckland Artillery (No. 1) 90, Waihi Federal 90, Woolston (No. 3) 90, Queen Alexandra’s Own 88, Wanganui Garrison 88, Kaikorai (No. 1) 87. B GRADE CONTEST PIECE Following is a brief resume of the B Grade contest piece “Der Wildschutz” (Lortzing) which will lie decided this evening. The work is a selection of gems from a comic opera which is verypopular on the Continent. The selection opens with an instrumental ensemble, double forte in unison. The second movement is the song of a supposed country maid (she is impersonating one). This is taken by solo cornet. A pretty solo for the trombone follows. The third movement is a gay and lively measure, finishing with a brilliant

cadenza for the soprano. This leads into a polacca, with a fine solo for euphonium. A showy cadenza leads into a merry movement full of grace and energy. The cornet has a grace* ful cadenza at the end of this move, ment leading to the next section in which the trombone has a melodious solo with the .repiano doubling it and the solo horn playing what is really a duet with the, soloist. After this solo tho soprano has a modulatory passage leading to a brilliant movement with a line cornet solo. A showy ensemble makes a brilliant ending to this showy work.

1927 CONTEST

FIXED FOR WELLINGTON. Bv Telegraph—Special to “Chronicle” AUCKLAND, Feb. 26. Tho contest for 1927 has been fixed for Wellington. ANNUAL CONFERENCE (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND. Feb. 26. At the annual conference of delegates of the North Island Brass Bands’ Association the annual report commented upon the satisfactory agreement between the North and South Island Associations for the conduct of contests alternately in lhe North and South Islands. The large entries for the first championship in Auckland had given a fresh impetus to brass bands generally, bringing together tho finest bands in Now Zealand to contest the championship. The following officers were elected: —President, Mr. Holbcn (Palmerston North); secretary, Mr. Scddon (Wanganui; treasurer, Mr. J. Meuli (Wanganui); trustees, Messrs Cohen, Williamson, and Colonel Dingle; executive committee. Messrs Williamson (Auckland, Catlley and Hooker (New Plymouth), A.nderson. Crawford, Humphries, and Hall (Wanganui), Barton (Marton). Goodall (Wellington), and Hale (Palmerston North).

THE AGGREGATE. Malvern 1st test 147 2nd Aggro test. J H J.,a tc 291 Woo 1st on 138 134 — i L Tiniaru 130 130 260 Queen Alexandra’s Own 132 124 256 st. Kihla 127 126 253 Port Nicholson .125 128 - O O Wellington Trainwavs 130 121 251 Auckland Artillery 126 116 236 Invercargill . . J 13 119 232 Wanganui Garrison .117 112229 Palmerston N. .. 123 102 Kaikorai 116 108 224