THE BAND CONTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 40, 16 February 1905, Page 5

THE BAND CONTEST.

THIRD DAT. lie garden party in the Domain yesterday was an unqualified success" in every way. There was a groat crowd of people present on the ground, and the performance of the band? was received with enthusiastic appreciation. There must have been about 8000 people present. There was a platform opposite the paviiion, and around it the ba-nds grouped themselves, while the committees, etc., went on to the platform with the Mayor of Auckland (the Hoc. E. Mitchelson), who then welcomed the bandsmen to tho city ia a typically happy speech. Mr Mitehelson said that though the- local bands had not been very successful, still the holdjjg of this first contest would, he hoped, have the effect of making the bands work the harder and turn the tables on the visiting bands in the future. (Applause from the bands. , ) Hβ emphasised the fact tiut music could not be produced except by the expenditure of money, a great deal of training aad much practice. He therefore thought it was a pity that the public did not give more support to the bands wliich supplied them with so much enjoyment. If the public would only realise their responsibility he was sure the town would be able to produce at least one good band. (Applause.) He was informed that the standard of playing had risen steadily every year, and this showed that the bands were improving themselves constantly, iir Cohen, the president of the association, replied on behiili of the association, and thanked the Mayor for his kindness and the local committees for their work. The Auckland people could claim to have materially assisted the association in discharging its functions —to develop among the rising young men of the nation the greatest civilising agency the world knew —good music. (Applause.) Mr Ring also returned thanka for the courteous way in which he had been treated.

QUARTETTES. One oi the most delightful evenings of the contest so far was that devoted to the playing of the quartettes and trios last night. Some really fine music wi3 played, the playing of the Kaikorai Uo. 1 quartette being practically perfect in "Les Wanganui Garrison also sent in a clever quartette, -which played a "Tannhauser" selection. The results were as follow: —

Kaikorai No- 1, 156 marks 1 Wanganui Garrison No. 1, 150 marks 2 Wellington Garrison No. 1, 148 marks 3

The judge's criticisms were: —

Kaikorai 3fo. 1. winners, IJ6 marks ("Les Huguenots") : Beautifully played. Beyond a slight tendency to over-empha-sise on a few occasions, the performance was practically flawless.

Wj.nga.nui Garrison No. 1. second prize, 150 marks ("Tannhauser"): A hard quartette to sustain. Many admirable features presented. There were occasional slips, aud in a few bars lapses of tone. The various movements were well interpreted, but the euphonium took breath, in wrong places in his solo, "Oh, Star of Eve." The accompaniment was excellent. A nice-toned cornet and horn.

Wellington Garrison No. 1, 148 marks (•Tndelio") : An intelligently-interpreted performance of a pretty quartette. It wa3 undoubtedly well rendered. The party blended well, and the solo cornet produced a sweet tone.

Waihi Federal No. 1. 146 marks ( K La Favorita"): A quiet effort- Yerj correct and well in tune, but lacking in warmth. .Nevertheless a most pleasing performaaee.

Wanganui Garrison No. 2, 144 ("Haddon Hall"): This quartette did not present any particular difficulties, but it was very pretty, and was admirable rendered.

Waihi Federal No. 2. 134 marks ("Nabueco"): Aa all-round pleasing performance. Evenly rendered, without presenting any striking features. Baritone did good service. Expression good. Wanted a little more dash in places. Battalion No. 1, 134 marks (•Dam PascLuale"): A good quartette Pot tfxe party was at fault in precision. ■Ene horn was astray in several places m this respect. Taranaki Garrison. 132 marks ("Les Huguenots"): Compared unfavourably ■With the previous performance of the same solo. There was not the combination, and the general effects suffered, too, in comparison Gisborne City 132 marks ("Oberon"): 4 difficult quartette. There was a noticeable want of combination and distinctness in the general rendering The choice appeared to be a little above the powers of the players. topey-s City, 130 marks ("The Return l? Prm C ,: , Anea8 yi Uartette - Moderately well played. Nothing particularly ■first Battalion (Auckland) No 1 I*9 marks ("Sweet and Low"): An exceedUflj pretty mterpretation. Too little UrS t' f ° r the P la y ers to h °P* for success but polished in many respects Some of the effects were beautiful letto a ?° r T X °- 2 ' 12S marks <" Ri &°" Wtto ): Too uneven. Good work at limes and uncertain at others. I noted evilv t r° DC l ° Ornet - Did not blend OUghout - Horn ° ut of tune, especially on the second space anH 3 £ UltOn TOWI1 ' 128 marks ("Town but n TT ,: A somewhat eas Y solo, toijL lCel ? treated *» many ways Not ndaied to get harsh in tone. BMtings, 120 marks ('-Lohengrin"): *£c No? "S* plrformQ tr^ short arrangement of this well-known 4? bar, buW P resented pleas--5 faults. WaS indecision d

TEOMBO2SrE TRIOS. Jwgaani Garris.m, marks j S^J 1^ 138 marks • WaUu Federal, 138 marks * judge's criticisms were as follow: marks Wf • Garri3On ' winners ' 146 fikmri • 3 a Bum pev"): Very well « ind eed . Just /little harshness and n i °- ceasions - Combination good, accurately. Well tuned. iwanaki Garrison, 138 marks ("Lucre2»wga», : This trio was helped by a I do not think be USed ta tMs dass ° f What + a I>ad trio ' but a some " w B v \ amfi Performance. The bass tromne st °PPed out of tune at times.

B FLAT TROMBONES. sqW the B flat trombone 7tZ WeFe •* the Theatre in the DMrf * rather a JMge number of £°gV considerable interest being taken *» Wβ filling, of exeeijet

out of the 120 mark 3 maximum be bad given the &>. g pkvep 114 . This player proved to be D. r ßovd. oi tte ,*f *°nu band, who gave a splendid rendering of '-The Gipsy's Warning-" To iT^w ek^f d J irsif Ea «alwa man. H. ,laylor, fell the second place, with 108. iappended are the results: !D. Boyd, Kaikorai, 114 points 1 n. Taylor, First Battalion, 106 points 2 waihi Federal, and C. MeCanj ueU, Taranaki Garrison.. 104 points. .3 I Following are the narks and the judge a criticisms of the whole of the I players:

■ -, ?f?' K ? ikorai > "The Gipsy's Warnj ing, 114 points: A really magnificent 1 executive effort. Quite a wonderful piece of work. There was hardly gui-I-cient tone colour perhaps, but I mu*t congratulate the performer on a very marvellous effort. This solo i s probably =o«idTi,r" uit t,mt * *"■*■* H. Taylor, First Battalion, "Air vane, by Randa, lOC points: An excellent executant, but is not light enough aiore grace wants to be imparted into tne general rendering. The variations were clean enough., but wanted differed treatment, so that a lightness of touch might be imparted to them. There was a tenaency to rush at times, and a little roughness. The observance of the natural accents was, too, at times fanltvUn the whole, a good performance C. Cook, Waihi Federal, 'The Rosy Morn." 104 points.- This was a good performance. The soloist produced a pleasing tone and was expressive, but the solo did not present the difficulties of at least two others. I should class this player as exceptionally good for bard abiJtT 8, laCklng ln eSecUtive

C McOonneii Taraaaki Garrison, 104 points: A capital exe- | eutant. Has not the expression quality oi thp previous player (Cook* but superior in variation's. Has a peculiar method of emphasialng the latter half of his notes, technically known as the scooping style. He should break down this tendency, which is a bar to success for it transgresses the canons of musical art. ' S Sly Wanpnui Garrison, The Crystal.Palace," 102 points.-Not quite so good a performance as that of Taylor (who preceded him). I 3 inclined to roughness occasionally. Wants refinement, is a good executant, and has a bold firm tone, generally speaking. Not air aid to assert himself; indeed Tn th-s respect he might restrain himself a little.

G. Coutts. Auckland Garrison, "The Crystal Palace," 100 points.— A fairly difficult solo carefully rendered. Player produce? a quiet pleasing tone. Nothing overdone. Might, However, assert himself more to advantage. Good executant. T. H. Lamb, Wanganui Garrison, "Souvenir dv Poiton," 98 points.—A moderate rendering. The player does not show to advantage in this class of work.

G. Tangye, Hauraki, "The Crystal Palace," 98 points.—A fair performance. Not quite so good aa Cook's" rendering of the same solo, but something the same class of performer. H, Wynyard, Devonport, "The Ash Grove," 92 points. A very rough performance. I should advise avoiding variations and giving attention to study in refinement. J. Richards, Gisborne City, "Men of Harleek." 92 points. A heavy-timbred instrumentalist. Inclined to blurr the tone in many plagea producing a cracky effect on notes. Does not read the triplets in variations two correctly. Nearly all the groups were turned into dotted quaver, semi-quaver, and quaver. This is a common faulty rendering of triplets by many bandsmen. S. MeCleary, Waihi Federal, ''Robin Adair," 90 points. A lifeless rendering. Want general all-round improvement, and. sliould endeavour to tlirow some warmth into Ms work. E. P. Andrew, Wellington Garrison. "'Flowers of the Alps," 86 points. Wants more time probably. There were too many shortcomings and inaccuracies, and the last variation was badly broken.

THE NEXT CONTEST. The North Island Band Association decided last night that the next contest shall be held at Hawera. The local committee has guaranteed £750. It was decided that in future £25 shall be charged for the privilege of holding the contest. A PICTORIAL RECORD. The "Graphic" photographers have secured some splendid pictures of the competing bands and the various gatherings that have been arranged in connection with the contest. These -will be published in the issue of next week, and bandsmen who are leaving befoire publishing day, February 22, should not forget to leave their orders for copies of this popular journal, whose reproductions are admittedly second to none- ia the colony.