BAND CONTEST OPENS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19773, 22 February 1927, Page 7

BAND CONTEST OPENS

HYMN TEST AND SOLOS WANGANUI BANDS PROMINENT. [ Special to “ Chronicle. ” ] WELLINGTON, Feb. 21. The opening day of the band competitions was marred to some extent by rain in tho afternoon, when a civic welcome was accorded to the bandsmen by the Mayor, Mr C. J. B. Norwood. In consequence, the attendance of tho public was not large, but the bandsmen listened to the brief address of Mr H. D. Bennett, president of the Wellington Band Contest Committee, the Mayor, and Mr William Halliwell, the judge from England, with interest. They evidently hoped for the visiting adjudicator to say something that would give an indication of his likes and dislikes musically, but tho only satisfaction in this way was that they gaz an expression of hope that he would not be disappointed wi’.h the New Zealand bands, or that they would be disappointed with him. Boy Soloists. The proceedings began somewhat late, and it was after one o’clock before Mr Halliwell announced his decision in his first task, tho boys’ solo, in which 22 players took part. Wanganui was not represented in this event, which was won by L. Moody, a member of the Woolston junior band, really a pupils’ band. The second prize went to Dick Wills, the sixth boy of the famous Wills family of Invercargill to engage in contest work. But for a few lip flaws, he would have pressed the winner even more closely, if he had not beaten him. The real find of the section was the third prize winner, Z. Williams, a 14-year-old trombonist of Woolston’s juniors. He has a sweet, singing tone and fine executive capacity and should become a champion, while still young. Halle’s Performance.

Wanganui Garrison was represented in the bass trombone competition, F. Halle scoring points out of 100, the winner (L. Willicombe, of Danna virke) being awarded 99. Captain Herd, who judged, said it was a close and keen contest, and ho had difficulty in separating several of the performers. "* There were only five competitors in the section for double E-flat basses, which was won by J. P. Cowlishaw (Palmerston North) who gained 98 marks. A notable competitor was T. H. Hughes, of tho Taranaki Regimental Band, who is about 70 years of age, and is as keen a bandsman as ever. -He scored 94 marks out of 100, an indication of his sterling performance and qualities. Queen Alexandra Band Fourth. There was a crowded attendance at the Town Hall at night when the hymn test was decided. Twenty bands took part, the ball being opened by Woolston and closed by Kaikorai, each giving performainees worthy of their high reputation. The first Wanganui band to appear was Queen Alexandra’s Own. Captain Buckley’s men gave a refined and careful rendering of “Lead Kindly Light,” and so pleased the judge that he placed them within one point of tho second prize winners (Kaikorai and St. Kilda, equal) and two only away from tho first prize band, Greymouth Municipal, which, according to Mr Halliwell, gave an interpretation of “Nearer My God to Thee” that fitted the words very closely, and, combined with other good playing qualities, had decided the hymn contest in their favour. Garrison Play Well Wanganui Garrison was twelfth to appdar on the platform and their playing of “Fierce Raged the Tempest” was also a splendid piece of work, receiving 25 points from the judge. A full, round, musical tone, sweet in piano passages and broad and organ-like in the forte parts, characterised the Garrison ’s playing. It was a most promising effort. St. Kilda comes with a big reputation from Dunedin, and so does Kaikorai, and this year, in tho selections and championship, are going to be very tough propositions. St. Kilda gave a masterly rendering of “Nearer My God To Thee”. Kaikorai gave the most subdued performance in sotto voce work of any bland, and its heavier playing was in proportion, all being rich i and beautifully in tune. Port Nicholson ! also gave a good account of itself, but the Wellington Tramways, who lare reported to be a “dark horse” for the selections, did not take part. Of the B. Grade bands, Hawera Municipal did best, gaining 25 points for a good even rendering of “Bcthsaida”. Taranaki Regimental’s was another nice performance, earning 24 marks, equal with Hamilton Municipal and Ashburton.

To-morrow will be a busy day, B. B. Flat bass and Euphonium solos are down for the morning, land tenor horn and trombones for the afternoon. In the evening the B. Grade bands will engage in their first test, “The Magic Jiutc” (.Mozart).