FIRST B GRADE TEST

Wanganui Chronicle, 25 February 1947, Page 6

FIRST B GRADE TEST

/N.Z. BAND CONTEST

THREE BANDS NAMED AS LEADING FOURTEEN ENTRANTS The standard of playing in the B grade test selection, when the New Zealand brass band contests were continued at Cook's Gardens last night, was commended by the adjudicator, Mr. Hugh Niven (Melbourne) after he had heard the 14 bands which took part.

The three placed bands, not necessarily in the order of merit, are: Auckland Watersiders’ Silver Nelson Garrison. Palmerston North City. Mr. Niven said that some of the bands were better than B grade bands ■ he had heard anywhere else, including Ballarat. "It shows,” he said, "that you b/ve some very good teachers in ' New’ Zealand.” The adjudicator's report on last ■ night's performances and the score • sheet were placed in an envelope and ■ sealed in the presence of bandsmen and spectators. The envelope was ■ handed to the town clerk, Mr. C. R. White, by the secretary of tre New’ Zealand Brass Bands' Association Mr. White will retain the envelope in safe keeping and it will not be opened till after the B grade bands have played in the second test selection to-morrow night. The final results and placings for the two test selections will then he made known. Bands which took part in the test last night were: Ashburton Silver., Auckland Watersiders' Silver, Auck- • land Watersiders’ Silver Junior, Blenheim Regimental, Christchurch Municipal, Feilding Municipal, Nelson Garrison. .Oamaru Garrison. Palmerston North City Silver, Stratford Citizens, Taranaki Regimental and New’ Plymouth Municipal (combined). Westport Municipal. Wellington Boys’ Institute, Wellington Tramways.

The test selection was “Echoes of Schubert,” arranged by George Hawkins, a well-known British band composer “It is quite a pleasure to speak to you to-night after hearing these bands,” said Mr. Niven. “During the day I have heard players in the amateur cornet solo competition, but why they are called amateurs I do not know. If the championships are going to better than the amateurs, it will be a treat for me - Some of the- 1 cornet playing I heard to-day has been equal to what I have heard anywhere. So far, I have been agreeably surprised with the standard of New Zealand bands.” Mr. Niven said it was an advantage for hijn not to see the bands or to know them. There was no bias in his mind and he was therefore a freelance and in a position to give a candid opinion. He expressed the view that if the A grade bands were better than some of the B grade bands he had heard that r-glrT they would reac a very high standard. Some of the performances were better than B grade bands he had heard anywhere. “The three bands which will be announced to-night are not necessarily in the order of merit, but I give you the bands which I think are the best three. There is not very much between the first half dozen and with another test selection to be played it is difficult to know what the final result will be/' said Mr. Niven. The contests will be continued at Cook’s Garden? to-night with th® A grade first test selection.