POSSIBLE IN B FLAT CORNET SOLO FOR AMATEUR PLAYERS

Wanganui Chronicle, 25 February 1947, Page 6

POSSIBLE IN B FLAT CORNET SOLO FOR AMATEUR PLAYERS

Awarded 50 points, the highest, number possible, D. Christiansen (Woolston Brass won the “Bb” cornet solo competition for amateurs when the New Zealand brass band contests were continued in Wanganui yesterday. The adjudicator, Mr. Hugh Niven (Melbourne) described the winner’s playing of “Silver Threads Among the Gold” as a very fine rendition. Second place in the competition went to Keith Caldwell (Hawera Municipal), who gained 49 points. K. Smith (Westport Municipal) was third with 48 points and N. Goffin (Woolston Brass) was placed fourth with 47 points. W. R. Francis (Palmerston North City Silver), I. Bassett (Kaikorai Brass) and L. A. Francis (St. Kilda Municipal), each with 46 points, tied for fifth place. More than 70 entries were received and the competition, which began in the Opera House at 9 a.m., lasted all day, the adjudicator’s placing being made known shortly before 6 p.m. Before the results were announced from the stage, the adjudicator said that he had been treated to all sorts of playing that day, but there were some wonderful exhibitions of “fireworks.” In some respects this was the most surprising he had Jieard in more than 30 years of experience with band work.

Mr. Niven added that after the first few' notes a player should become acquainted with the acoustic properties of the building in which he was playing and should adapt his work accordingly. In the competitions that day there had been much “overblowing.”

‘This is all a matter of shrewdness and if some of the recognised good players are not included in the placings, please don’t blame me,” said Mr. Niven. He added that he had awarded the winner the full 50 marks because he was one of the few who played to suit the acoustic properties of the building. So far as the player was concerned, he had never heard his equal for fireworks, but. his technique with an arrangement of “Carnival in Venice” was remarkable, said Mr. Niven.

“He was an extraordinarily good player and his technique was marvellous,” Mr. Niven added. “If he would devote a good deal of time to the finer side of the art he would be a splendid player.”