THE BAND CONTEST.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3451, 16 February 1912, Page 2

THE BAND CONTEST.

BIC CROWD.AT THE RACECOURSE. A NOTEWORTHY DAY. FUNCTION SPOILED BY RAIN. Shortly before one o’clock yesterday the Gisborne City Band marched away from the Post Office to the lively strains of “The Emperor” and thereafter at short intervals followed the Waihi Federal (“The British Flag”), Westport Garrison (“The Rowan Tree”), Wanganui City (“The Pedestrian”), Palmerston North Municipal (“The Challenge”). and Whangarei Municipal (“Strathcona”). The pavements were thickly lined with interested spectators who accorded each band a cheerful hail as it proceeded to the railway station. After entraining the. bands continued their progress to the "Park racecourse, where a number of visitors had already congregated. The two trains which arrived at the course from town were full, and visitors continued' to arrive by road until after the commencement of the contest. Those who came by the first train had a long wait until about 2.40 p.m., when the first band entered the marching ground, and they whiled away the time discussing the relative chances of the various bands competing. B GRADE CONTEST.

The first B grade band to go out was the Gisborne City, and the appearance of the well-known uniform was the signal for a burst of loud applause from the stand and its environs. This greeting was repeated each time one of the bands presented itself oru the marching field, and altogether those present displayed a keen appreciation of the spirit of the contest. The marching ground was arranged in the straight in front of the stand. The test selection was “Our Sailor King” and the City band opened their interpretation very brightly and preserved! a- nice tone. They were nicely in tune, and as they passed the grandstand their splendid body of tone w T as fully appreciated as was also their fine attack. Their tone was well sustained, and the effect produced was decidedly good. The 'Whangarei Municipal was the next to enter the arena, and they likewise received an ovation as they proceeded to the marching base. They opened with more life than the first bands, and preserved a fairly even tone. Their recital, however, lacked somewhat in color, but this was counterbalanced by marking their light and shade well during the early stages. On reaching the halting point they were applauded for their precision in drawing up. Their tone was not full, hut they played clearly and crisply. The band played with the precision which comes only from assiduous practice. On the whole theirs also was a very creditable performance. Wanganui City were the next hand out, and they unhappily were cut of tune when they left the starting point. They, however, marched well and kept a good tune with the exception of one or two minor lapses. In the opinion of a capable critic the B grade hands all performed well, it could not, however, he said that they were versed in all the points of inner tone. Tlie points awarded for music were as follow: — Whangarei Municipal 90 ■Wanganui City ‘ 88 Gisborne City ... S 7 A GRADE CONTEST. Tile latter part of the A grade testwas considerably marred by rain, which commenced to fall just as the second hand went out at 4.15 o’clock and continued until after dark. The Westport Garrison was the first hand to play, and they marched To the starting point finely. They played with good tone, their light and shade was very fair, but their tune was a little out at certain stages. The Waihi Federal, which followed, opened with a pleasant full tone, and sustained their light and shade throughout. In some respects, however, there was a lack of distinction in expression, which is prescribed by the manuscript writer. It was, nevertheless, a good performance, characterised by good balance, tone, intonation, and arrack. v The last band to play was Palmerston North Municipal, and they went over the marching ground in torrents of rain. Their opening was just a little thick, but they finished a great deal better than they started. Their attack also was good, their intonation fair, their light and shade well marked, and the whole a very creditable performance. The points awarded for music were as follow : Waihi Federal 91 Palmerston North ... 90 'Westport Garrison S 6 THE JUDGE’S OPINION.

In. conversation with a “Times’ reporter at the conclusion of the contest the judge (Lieut. Herd) said that the work of the bands,was’not quite as good as he had anticipated, but this, no doubt, was attributable to the difficulty of the march selection. The piece was

not ail casv one to play on the march, and, taking this into- consideration, tli© performances were gojod. Regarding the marching, one of the judges told a reporter that the marching on the whole was good. While the men were playing they marched well, but when moving without music they lacked vitality. • / From the following table it will be seen that the A grade event was won by Palmerston North with 251 points, with Waihi second with 2405 points. Wanganui won the B grade with 236 of the possible 250, Gisborne being second with 2295.

THE EVENING SELECTIONS. A WIN FOR WESTPORT. Despite the continued wet weather last evening His Majesty’s Theatre was well filled when the contest was continued punctually at 7.30 o’clock. The first item on the programme for the evening was for trombone trios, for which six bands had entered. Three were scratched, however, and Westport Garrison (Messrs Jas. Cumming, T. Neighbors and John Gumming) was the first to play the selected piece, “How Merrily We Live” (W. Short). They gave a most finished interpretation. Wanganui City (Messrs Birmingham. Spur die and Humphreys) followed, and then Waihi Federal (Messrs Ramsford, Dunstan and McCleary), all being accompanied by Miss Shearsby. The playing was so well sustained by each hand that it was confidently expected that the judge would have difficulty in placing his award, and so it turned out, for the decision was as follows : Westport Garrison, 49 points 1 Wanganui -City, - 48 points 2 Waihi Federal, 46pts 3 In commenting on the playing in this piece the judge (Lieut. Herd) said that lie had had quite an enjoyable time listening to the- trombone trios, as each one of the parties* played particularly well. Generally speaking the tone and good quality of the balance was good, as likewise was the interpretation.

QUARTETTES. WANGANUI TO THE FORE. There was a very pleasing entry of parties in the quartette section/the selection to be played being the wellknown piece “Forester sound thy cheerful Horn” (Sir H. Bishop, arranged by Ord Hume). Eleven entries had been received for this, and with the exception of Masterton and 'Whangarei all played. . The draw for places saw Gisborne No. 2 (Messrs J. Davis, C. Hansen, W. Norman, and R. Leader, conductor E. R. Miller) make first essay, and in the order named followed Wanganui City No. 1 (Messrs Buckley, Gray, Law. and Jacobs), Palmerston N. No. 2 (Messrs Edge, Beattie, Findlay, Graham, conducted by Mr Pike), Waiu-i No. 2 (Messrs Gilchrist, Gibson, Beadle, Pascoe and F. Russell, conductor), Palmerston N. No*. 1 (Messrs Berryman, Pike, Tonkin, Harvey), Westport (Messrs Mc-Master, Hardy, Taylor, Bevan and H. Oppinson/conductor), Wanganui City No. 2 (Messrs Whiting, Boyd, Eccleston, Whitcombe and T. Gray, conductor), Gisborne. No. 1 (Messrs Wilkinson, Somervell, Falconer, Harris, and Lawrence conductor), and "Waihi No. 1 (Messrs Sharman, Carlyon, Lawn, Mills and Russell, conductor). The piece for a contest certainly did not contain many technical difficulties, and all the parties had a fairly complete mastery of it. The judge’s award was as follows:

Wanganui City No 1, 48pts 1 Gisborne City, No*. 1, 47-pts 2 Gisborne City No. 2 46 points, Waihi No. 1 46, Palmerston North No. 2 45, Palmerston North l No. 1 44,- Westport 44, Waihi No. 2 43, "Wanganui. City No. 2 43. ' Wanganui City No. 1, who were conducted by Mr Buckley had a deserved'v popular wiu, but tlie fact that Gisborne. No. 1 had run them so close in gaining second place was. a matter that pleased those present highly. Lieutenant Herd, in announcing his decision, said that the quartette playing generally was very good. Of course, the quartette didl not present many technical difficulties, hut he would have liked to have heard, a broader treatment. However, there were some very good performances, though some were a little shaky in the first part. During the necessary interval before the Judge made his announcement tlie audience were treated to some entertaining items by Bandmaster Hignley (Westport), and T. Gray (Wanganui), accompanied by Bandmaster F. Russell, Waihi. THE FIRST CONTEST. [TO THE EDITOBJ Sir, —In. giving your representative particulars of the first contest held under the auspices of the N.1.8.8.A. at Napier, among tlie bands visiting. I inadvertently omitted to mention Waihi Federal. Trussing, out of fairness to the Waihi Band, you will make this correction, —I am, etc., E. IT B. HOLBEN, %. Sec. N.1.8.8.A.

A Palmerston 21 Waihi 19 Westport 20 3 Wanganui 20 Gisborne 19 Whangarei 18 Dressing, Intervals, Steadiness. f—* t-> OOtO CD 00 CO Form March'" Order. cdcdco 03 GO 00 Clean, of Instruments. -.TOCO +•!»-* "-1 C3 CD C-,k3 tOj" March from A to B. 03 03 03 00 00 GO 'First counter March. -1-3-3 u;r* WIK K1K *sf<j go March from B to A. OCCO uy -3 CS 03 2nd Counter March. 4— 4— Left Turn. 00 -}CD 03 co go March turn C. _u* 4— j_* U[K ai«> rfi- tp*- £- uy ltight Turn. -1350 Kjh* «!"«,*- — tco co March from C to D. oooooo UVBpup -3 00 CO Bight Wheel. CO coco U|K 03 03 03 March to E and halt. to to to i£- t- 1 03 w t0H 00 O l -3 MlTime. to to to fcote-rf- > — 1 >—* to 00 CD fcO Paces. H* J 1 — *1 — > ife- tP-'Oi <bco h- 1 J*P t-j 03 OUO03 —H CliO Military points. occdco CSS 1-1 O CD 00 03 O —3 CO Music. t o to to to j£- Ot ffiOH 4*1- W» to to to to to co Dl CD C3 wl- «ita Grand Total.