HOW THE BANDS PLAYED

Wanganui Chronicle, 25 February 1947, Page 6

HOW THE BANDS PLAYED

TEMPOS WERE DRAGGED AND SOME OF RHYTHM LOST

(By

“Listener”)

The standard of tonal quality in the first B grade test last evening was very high. The music consisted of excerpts from five of the better known works of Schubert. One of the main faults with the playing was the manner in which tempos were dragged. Every work performed last night has been recorded by practically all the best orchestras in the world, or sung by many famous artists, yet few bands interpreted these numbers as they should be performed. Tnere is no excuse for any baud to drag such songs as Schuberts “Ave Maria,” or is My Heart.” These songs are so frequently heard on the raaio. Notwithstanding this, we heard both these numbers frequently played at painful tempo. The majority ot the Bands also fell into the old trap of playing semi-quavers as quavers belonging to a triplet. errors are due to sheer carelessness, and in contesting bands should never occur. Careful reading of the score would obviate these mistakes.

It is all a matter of rhythm. If the rhythm of a movement is not consistent with the composer’s intention, then the interpretation is hopelessly inaccurate. Band music must be virile and interesting, not dragged out to an endless monotony of ponderous and “funeral” playing. There must be buoyance and a lilt to carry things along.

The tonal quality of the bands was good and there was plenty of precision about the playing which indicated splendid control by the conductors.

Auckland Watersiders Silver (Conductor, W. H. Craven).—Opening very tuneful. A shade on the slow side. Muted cornets delightfully, effective. Good boay of tone forthcoming. Fortepiano chora most effective. “Ave Maria”: Cornet soloist plays tastefully. In bar 9 he does not spread the quavers evenly. The same applies to the third bar from the end. Finale to Symphony in C: Good attack, good close playing, but could go a snade quicker. Good ensemble work here. “Thine Is My Heart’’: Trombone soloist could afford to make his Semiquavers a little shorter. Cornet soloist plays very weji here. Vivace, tine attack, good body of tone forth/.ming. A very good performance. Wellington Boys’ Institute (Conductor, J. C. King).—Opening did not appear- to be quite in tune at start, but band quickly recovers. Horns play nicely, and muted effect very gooo. Quite a pleasant movement, in “Ave Maria” solo cornelist produces a very nice tone. In some bars the accompaniment could be a little closer together. A nice finish. Finale from Symphony in C Major: “This movement could be a little quicker. The iforzano chords are effectively played, particularly by the bass section of the band. Quite a good modulatic/i into •*Thine is My Heart.” Trombone produces good trombone quality. Cornet soloist also produces a good tone, but the movement may b? better if it moved along a shade more. The Rosa* znunde finale was played in a compact manner and moved at a good tfcmpo. An enjoyable performance. Christchurch Municipal ‘Conductor, Ralph Simpson).—The opening bars were effective, even an accent was introduced in the sixth bar. Tenor horns and euphonium did not appear to be in tune in the unison passage. As they progressed the quality improved. “Ave Maria”: A very nice solo cornetist. Accompaniment not quite together in the last two bars. A good compact tone forthcoming in the symphony excerpt. This movement was taken slower than the original score indicates. ‘Thine is My Heart”: Trombone soloist is a shade uncertain in the opening bars, but he recovers quickly. Some liberties taken in this aria and the accompaniment in the second time through is not as compact as it could be. There was some very good compact playing in the Rosamunde excerpt. Final chord rich.

Stratford Citizens (Conductor, C. A. Thomas).—The first eight bars were not quite in tune. The cornets don’t appear to be using mutes as indicated in the score. More precise toning by this sectiion of the band would have brightened the movement considerably. Had the tempo been a shade quicker it would have sounded more interesting. In the “Ave Maria” the accompaniment should have been more compact. The Symphony excerpt Is pteyed carefully, even if it is taken on the slow side. The rhyth-

mical context is not all that could be desired here. ‘Thine is My Heart”: ' Trombone and cornet soloists produce nice tonal qualities, but the movement is taken very much on the slow side. The opening bar of Rosamunde is not quite together, but the band quickly recovers and toward the close quite a 1 good body of tone is noticeable. A fairly satisfactory performance. Wellington Tramways (Conductor, B. Zinsli).—Opening bars taken at a good tempo. Cornets play the optional quavers instead of semi-quavers as • indicated in the score. This does not sound as effective as the muted semi- ' quavers. A tied chord preceding let- ' ter C is not quite m tune. Tn the “Ave Maria” the comet soloist plays very quietly. The accompaniment 1 generally is well subdued, but is not always together. In the finale from the “Symphony in C Major” the trombone section does not observe the sforzando chords as well as it should. In “Thine is My Heart” the trombone soloist does not play the correct rhythm, in that he plays his semiquavers as quavers bein? part of a triplet. The cornet soloist imitates him. This movement should have gone much quicker. The Rosamunde excerpt goes much better and there is much more life in this section of the work. A good body of tone is forthcoming in the final bars. Westport Municipal (Conductor, G L. Smith). —Very fine tone in the bass section in the openin e: bars. Cornets nicely comoact. Soprano very tastefully played. A good movement. The* “Ave Maria” is taken so much slower than previous bands, when treated with tutti cornets, not as a solo. In the melodic line the quavers are nicely spread. In the Symphony excerpt the sforzano chords a r e inclined to be treated as fortipiano chords. A little more speed would have imoroved this movement. “Tnlne is My Heart”: Tromtcr.e soloist a little unsteady at the start. He subseouentlv produces a very pleasing tone. The cornet soloist plays very delightfully. A tempo rubato was introduced the second time through. The Rosamunde finale goes very well : ndeed. A fine comoact bodv of tone concludes an interesting oerformanct. Auckland Waterside Junior (Conductor. R. Farrington).—Opening bars very pleasant, though the crescendo in the fifth and sixth bars may have been more effective had it been emphasised a little more, This movement has a nice lilt about if. A good beginning. In the “Ave Maria” the cornet soloist plays very tastefully indeed and the accompaniment is nicely subdued and comoact. A tuneful final chord. In the Syphony excerpt a fir-e body of lone was forthcoming and the expressions are nicely observed The movement could afford to go a little quicker. The modulation leading into “Thine is My Heart” is splendidly portrayed. The following move- • ment is taken on the steady side, but is none the less effective. A very good quality of tone end compact , hand playing is noticed in the finale to Rosamunde. A' good performance. Oamaru Garrison (Conductor, Thos. F. Ovens), —Opening three bars, bass is not quite in tune. The cornets following “open,” not muted, as indi- , cated in the score. This does not < sound quite so effective. This move- » ment could afford to move a little more; however, it is receiving care•jful treatment. The “Ave Maria” is . tastefully played by the solo cornet- . ist, but perhaps .t would sound more colourful if the tempo was not quite as slow. A fine body of tone was . heard in the opening bars to the C i Major Symphony, which is also in- - clined to be on the steady side. This » movement should move along at, a ■ good pace. It is taken at almost one ■» in the bar by the standard orchesi Iras. “Thine is My Heart”: This i* j taken far too slowly. However, a ; very nice quality tone to be heard s from the cornet soloist. In the Rosati munde excerpt the band is playing i very much better and is going along 1 in grand style. This movement is the best of all.

Feilding Municipal (Conductor. J. Fleetwood).—Opening bars not quite in tune, but a very nice tempo follows at the cornet entry. Quite a good tempo right throughout this movement. In the bar before letter D the accompaniment is not very compact. The “Ave Maria” is also taken as a nice speed. Occasionally the flugel horn and baritone are not quite together. Basses are nicely subdued. Soloist plays very sweetly indeed. (Finale to Symphony moves along nearer to the correct pace and plenty

of life again. A well played movement. “Thine is My Heart”: Trombone soloist observes note values very accurately. On the repeat the soprano and cornet soloist are not quite in tune. The lento is anticipated toward the close. The vivace produces a good body of tone and band concludes good performance with fine compact chords at the close.

Nelson Garrison (Conductor, Lieut. R. C. Trownson).—A nice quality of tone at the opening and muted cornets very effective. A nice quality coming from the tenor horns. Baritones playing very well. A good movement. In the “Ave Maria” the flugel horn and baritone parts are nicely treated. The cornet soloist produces a very iweet tone and is careful about his note values. A lovely final chord. In the symphonic excerpt a fine body of tone is forthcoming, particularly in the heavier passages. This movement could afford to go even a little quicker still. A nice iead in to “Thine is My Heart,” which is taken at a good tempo. Soprano and Cornet soloists play very well together. A good movement. Th-? Rosamunde finale, was splendidly played. A good performance by a fine-toned band.

Taranaki Regimental and New Plymouth Municipal (Conductor, Lieut. A. S. Ramsay).—A very nice beginning by the basses. Soprano player has a nice tone which blends pleasantly with the rest of the band. The “Ave Maria” excerpt was tastefully played by the soloists, but the accompaniment was inclined to be on the ponderous side. This movement is taken at a good tempo. The finale to the symphony is taken on the slow' side. Expression marks nicely observed here. The ensemble playing is quite crisp. The modulation into “Thine is My Heart” well treated. The trombone soloist occasionally treats his semi-quavers as part of a triplet, so does the cornet soloist. Both these players produce a pleasing tonal quality. In the finale to Rosamunde the band produces a fine body of tone. A splendid final chord, well balanced.

Ashburton Silver (Conductor, R Milligan).—Basses were well in tune in the ooei’ng bars. A cornet anticipates slightly the ninth bar. The movement could afford to be taken a shade faster. There was a slight accelerando just before the end of this section of the work, which is nearer the correct speed. In the “Ave Maria” the accompaniment was just a shade heavy at times, but the movement goes along at a nice speed. The cornet soloist produces a pleasing tone. The symphonic excerpt is taken on the steady side, but a very good volume of tone is produced in this movement. “Thine is My Heart”: Trombone soloist plays very tastefully and produces a nice tone. Under repeat, the soprano and cornet soloists play delightfully together. There is splendid cohesion in the Rosamunde finale end the final chord is well balanced.

Palmerston North City Silver (Conductor, W. R. Francis). —Bass section began well, but taking a breath immediately preceding the tied dotted minim is questionable. The cornet entry is nicelv subdued. The movement generally could have gone a little quicker. A beautiful cornet tone is heard in the “Ave Maria.” wnere accompaniment is delightfully subdued. Final chord well balanced. In the finale to the symphony the band plays with good cohesion and the expression marks are well observed. Tt may have been an improvement if the tempo was taken a little brighter. “Thine is- My Heart” moves alons nicely The soloists play splendidly. The Rosamunde finale moves along thythmically and the band is well compact here. A good finish.

Blenheim Regimental (Conductor. W. G. Horrocks).—A very nice opening indeed. A lovely bass quality. Horns and soprano play very sweetly and combine nicely. Band well in tune. Movemen’ taken at a good l tempo. In the “AVe Maria” the sol** ist plays with feeling, but the accompaniment goes a<ray slightly for two or three bai\. and the movement is taken on the slow side. A nice final chord. The band is rich in tone quality in the symphony excerpt, but could afford to go a little quicker. There was some nice compact playing here. “Thine is My Heart”: Trombone does not give the semi-quavers their correct value. The cornet soloist does Tfie Rosamunde finale is taken at a good tempo and the hand is very compact here. Quite a good tonal quality, especially toward the close.