HOW THE BANDS PLAYED

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 February 1947, Page 6

HOW THE BANDS PLAYED

(By

"Listener”)

Feilding Municipal (Conductor, J. Fleetwooa)—Quite a good body of tone at the start. Minims held a little too long for sforzando chords. The allegro letter A quite well played. Leading cornet plays very nicely here. Cadenza nicely played. The andante aolo was tastefully played. Horns are a shade on the light side. Horns produce a nice tone toward the close of this movement in which the band produced a good volume of tone in the forte passages. Cornet soloist upon return to the theme plays very sweetly. A good.attack bv the band at the allegro energico. The tremolo effect could have been better had the rhythm been emphasised a little more. A surprisingly good volume of tone was forthcoming from this combination. A good performance. Nelsen Garrison (Conductor. Lieut. R- C. Trownson).—A splendid body of tone in the opening bars. The allegro well played. Horns and basses nicely In tune. Cornet cadenza very nicely

played. The andante goes fairly well. Quito a nice quality of tone by the soloists. Two bars a shade uncertain. Horns play peacefully toward the close. Cornet plays very nicelv on return to the theme. The allegro j energico moves with a nice pace, t Band very compact here and a good I volume of tone forthcoming. Delight- • ful rhythm toward the close. An in- 1 apiring performance. Blenheim Regimental (Conductor, W. G- Horrocks).—A very good body of tone at the start The accentuated minims were inclined to be on the broad side. Energico nicely played. Choral work before the allegro was splendidly portrayed and the cornet soloist plays very tastefully. Th--* allegro at letter E is taken at a good tempo and goes with a good lilt. The comet solo is well played and the accompaniment is nicelv subdued. Tenor horns play with taste. Quite good playing leading up to letter M. where the cornet picks up the theme again. A nicely-balanced chord precedes the finale, which is played at a good speed and wth a fine body of tone. A good toned band and a meritorious p#*forrnar.ee. Taranaki Regimental and New Plymouth Municinal (Conductor, Lieut. A. S. Ramsay)— A good attack, bur a little more emphasis on the accented minims would have been more effective. The short energico played in a crisp manner. Following chords very compact. Cornet solo artistically played and a fin** body of tone noticeable from the band approaching the cadenza, which was quite well played. Cornet solo goes fairly well, but a top note missed. This player has quite a nice tone. Tenor horn a little uncertain here. Band works up nicely in the following eight bars and soprano plays tastefully. Chords preceding the allegro energico sweetly played. This movement could have cone a little quicker. The piu mosso quite well played, but could afford to be a little more rhythmical. A good performance. Auckland Watersiders* Silver Junior (Conductor, R- Farrington).—Nice smooth chords at the beginning. Could afford to make these more emphatic. A short energico very well played. In the allegro leading to the cornet cadenza the band is splendidly balanced. Cadenza nicely played. A very sweettoned cornetist. In the piu mosso the nuances are nicely observed. The cornet soloist again plays tastefully. The allegro energico goes with a great swing. The band 'r? very compact here. A good performance. Westport Municipal (Conductor,

Kenneth G. L. Smith).—Opening chords nicely accented- Quite a good tone forthcoming here. Energico does not commence very clearly, but in the ensemble work the band is nicely

balanced. In the allegro the top end of the band carries the movement along with a nice lilt. This band has good cornets. A nice cadenza. A good solo follows. The whole of the andante movement is nicely played. Horns very tasty in this movement. Finale was taken at a very snappy pace and in this movement the band produced a very fine body of tone and neat, crisp playing. Palmerston North City Silver (Conductor, W. R. Francis).—A good opening. A fine-toned band. Lead in to the allegro played in a colourful manner. Lovely tone quality in the cornet solo. Cornet cadenza was nicely played The andante goes very well Good attention is paid to the expression marks and the band is well balanced throughout this movement. In the fine the playing is very compact and the band well balanced. A fine body of tone in the coda. A very good performance.

Auckland Watersiders’ Silver (Conductor, W. H. Craven).—A spelndid opening. This band has a fine body of tone. The chordal work preceding the allegro is delightfully played and is well balanced here and expressiveThe allegro is nice and rhythmical. Cornet cadenza artistically played and some nice rubato introduced in the solo which follows. The whole of the andante movement is very well played indeed. Good a f tentlon paid to the expression marks. Allegro energico: A good movement which goes along at a jolly pace. Rhythm very good here. A fine compact tone toward the dose A verv fine performance indeed. Band well in tune. A grand final chord. Ashburton Silver (Conductor, R. Milligan).—A nice broad opening. In this movement there was some artistic treatment present, but perhaps a little richer tonal quality in the fortissimo bars would have been an advantageAllegro very well played. Cornet cadenza: Player produces a very nice tone and plavq the subsequent solo with taste. 7*7e whole andante went well. The horns, perhaps, could have been a little richer in tonal quality. The movement is satisfying. Allegro energico: A good movement taken at a nice pace. A splendid piu moisso and a good finish. A Stirling performance. Wellington Boys’ Institute (Conductor, J. C. King).—A rich opening. A short energico was taken at a good pace. Some neat crisp playing hereAllegro: Cornet opens splendidly, accompaniment nicely subdued. A good movement. Cornet cadenza splendidly played. Soloist produces a true cornet tone. Andante very well played. Balance good here. The movement is taken a little on the straight side, but the tonal quality is good. Allegro energico: This movement is taken at the correct pace. Some very neat playing, but the top end of the band could afford to be a little stronger. Band very compact toward the close. A good performance. Oamaru Garrison (Conductor, Tho>. F Ovens).—Opening minims could afford to be accented more firmly. Energico: Band compact and much better balanced here. The following | allegro taken a shade on the fast side. Cornet cadenza nicely articulated anu solo goes well. The whole or the an|6ante movement is colourfully played , hut the best movement is the allegro finale, in which the band produces a fine body of tone. A meritorious performance.

Wellington Tramways (Conductor, B. Zinsli).—A fair opening. Band well balanced, but more maestoso would have improved the attack. The chord preceding energico was slightly untuneful. Allegro was taken a shade on the steady side, hut the band produces a good tone here. Cor-

net cadenza was quite nicely played. Andante: At letter I there was some uncertainty at ihe first bar- The rest of the movement goes quite well, though a better attack at letter J would have been more effective. Th? andant« leading into the finale from letter was well played. Allegro energico: A very good body of tone forthcoming in this movement, though a crisper toning would have improved the rhythmical context. Quite a good performance. Stratford Citizens (Conductor. C. A. Thomas). —Opening chords could afford to be more firmly accented. A fair beginning. A richer body of tone would have improved this section of the work. Allegro: A beautiful cornet soloist. Lovely tone and plays with artistry. Movement inclined to bo a shade ponderous. Cornet cadenza is very beautifully played- The subsequent solo receives artistic treatment. At letter H ripieno and solo horn are not in tune. Allegro energico: A fairly good movement. .The top end of the band could afford lo be a little more brilliant here. A satisfactory performance. Some untunefulness in the middle section of the band a! times.

Christchurch Municipal (Conducto r , Ralph Simpson).—A good solid opening. Fine body of tone and band compact. Allegro moves along at a very nice pace. Quite a good movement, but more contrast in expression would have been an improvement. Cornet cadenza is quite well played. Solo very melodious. The andante movement receives artistic treatment- Allegro energico is played with decision end good rhythm. Good work by the bass section. A \ cry good movement. Good 'performance.