GISBORNE CITY BAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2468, 5 April 1909, Page 5

GISBORNE CITY BAND.

ITS PERFORMANCE AT HASTINGS. THE JUDGE’S. REPORT. The foliowing is the report of the Judge, Mr Sydney Wolf, R.A.M., on the performance of the Gisborne City Band at the recent band contest at Hastings:—The Gisborne Band secured third place in the test selections at the contest:—

B. Grade Test. “Songs of Scotland.” —lst movement: Soprano out well from 9. Basses indistinct 20, soprano too loud 25, crescendo 29 to 32 not noticeable. t- ■ : ' 2nd movement:. Bari tone.find euphonium accenting first note of bar too much. Grace'notes by tenors not- marked enough; “pp” 22 to 2-5 good. Tenors and baritones not together and out of time 32.

3rd movement: Cornet solo not played as written, merrily, accompanist making a rest between first two crochets 15. Making a pause on the 3rd beat that is not written 17 and 18. Maestoso not cleanly attacked; out of time. 4th movement : Baritone and euphonium not together. Crescendo not worked up to “ff” 15 to 17. Basses dim on each semibreve. Triplets not together by corn etc. and baritones 34; “ff” at 38 not tongued nicely. 40 to 43 crescendo overdone.

sth movement: Inner parts not together, consequently it Is ragged; 10 to 12 phrasing overdone, making second quaver too short shake for cornets; 16 not together. Soprano horns and baritones not standing out at Allargando. Gtli movement: quavers too staccato. 14 to 16. Time should be the same at 18 no change. Nicely played but too glow. 7th movement: Accompaniment bad; playing quavers with rests in between. This is a war song. Trombone has no idea of it and is out- of time. Basses drop the tone in each bar and play crochets' as quavers 9 and 10. Do not give the tied note 12 to 13 its propervalue; movement too fast,_ by playing it quickly the character is lost. .Soprano solo very puny, accented note 22 overdone. Rep. and cornet 23 very nice.

Bth movement: Horns very nic-e. Basses accent too much after each two bars. They should simply tongue the note. Nice contrast at 27. 60 to 63 nicely played and well phrased. Sth movement: Trombone and baritone good. Rep. and second cornet not together; better from 10. Band working better now. Dolorosa good; 24 to 2-6 very good; 27 to 30 nicely phrased. Tenors not- standing out enough. IQth movement: Cornet solo very nicely played; cornet and rep. better at the repeat; maestoso good. 11th movement: Cornet rep. and soprano not together ; should ' play as one. Not sufficient contrast at “ff.” Finale: Bars 8 and 9 ragged. Gisborne 150.

B. Grade (own choice), “Mereadante.” Con Forza : Very good opening. Working well together; “mi” very good. Cornet out of tune at Pin Mosso. Articulation good 4 bars from B. Basses to heavy for other parts. Cornet cadenza very nice. Andante Express: Opening very nice : “pp” not soft enough. Crescendo good. Soprano weak at entry but- improves. Accompanist not so good. Cornet hesitates at C. First baritone playing obligato very nicely. Wrong notes in acempanist. Soprano and "baritone well together. Euphonium obligato very nice. Crescendo to “f” well done. Trombone sustaining very nicely. Cornet solo • very good. Accompaniment not steady. Basses at change of key verv good. Cadence duet nicely played. The whole movement showing great taste.

Scherzo Leggero: Harsh in £ ‘f” passages. Better in the repeat. Cornett? and soprano well together with euphonium. Euphonium good but could show more style.

Andante Sost: Accompanist good; nice rit at bar 4.Accompanist very good but not always together. Accented chords good; euphonium solo good. All parts working well together. Marks of .expression well carried out. Trombones, not so good. Baritones out of time. Crescendo a little harsh; cornet and euphonium nicely together. Basses very good, soprano cadenza good. Andante Devoto: Accompanist supporting well; played as marked. Staccato chords not together at rit. "sf chord very good. Soprano tone thin in “ff” passages, but plays his part very nicely. Aliegro: Modulating chord well brought out. Tonguing nicely together; Contrasts good. Cornets tonguing very well indeed. Obligato by baritones very good. Movement very well played. Andante Maestoso: Quartette by horns and trombone nicely played, staccato obligato by cornets not together. Nice contrast when band comes in at “f” cornets overblowing in “ft”’ notes. Cornets better at N. • Allegro deciso: Very well played. All Molto: Time good; "ff” very bril- fc liant. Bass obligato very good. Semiquavers a bit ragged in finale. A very .fine performance. Gisborne 176.