THE BAND CONTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 42, 18 February 1905, Page 6

THE BAND CONTEST.

SECOND "PEST SELECTION. v WAJSTGAJSTJI "WINS THE PRIZE. The second test selection in the North Island Brass Band iissoeiation's contest was held last night in His Majesty's Theatre in the presertce of an audience which thronged the building from ceiling to floor. The dress-circle even was uncomfortably crowded to the doors. The evening was a. memorable one and remarkable to a degree, for the playing of thje bands was of a. character and quality little short of a revelation of their capacity for the production of the finest music. The first three bands — Wanganui, Eaikorai and Wellington— played with astonishing ability, and the performance of. the whole of the bands was of a quite unexpected merit. Particularly was this the case in the heavy vugue which occurs in the test piece. The selection was Lieut. Chas. Godfrey's greM; test piece, "Gems of Mendelssohn," written by him for the tnousand-guinee, band contest in England, and certainly the most difficult piece on the whole ever submitted to the colonial bands. The solo -work did not bulk so largely in this piece as in "La Staniera," but slips and false playing tended to mar the performance more than the other, and as a test oi the abilities of the bands it was a much better and musical test. The composition begins "with a massive setting of the war march rrom Athalie, sweeps beautifully into the divine melody from the "Elijah," "If With All Your Hearts," then rippled into the great "Spring Song," and "Rondo Capriecioso." Bottom's ..sprightly march and the superb nocturne from the "Midsummer Night's Dream" follows, and from the latter the composition goes to a great fugue, the transition from which to the charming duet from "Zuleika and Hassan" is most effective. The finale of the selection is an allegretto eon fuoco, which ends the performance with striking effect. It is hardly possible for us with the limited space ;|t our disposal to-day to Jrefer to the different performances with any detail. The win of the Wanganui Garrison Band was well-deserved, for their performance wa3 nearly perfect. The audience received the announcement with a volley of cheers that shook the house, and the win was popular. The Kaikorai "band deserved second place on its performance last night, but it lost that lead of 21 points Wellington Garrison had established on Wednesday night. The points for both tests wore as follows (the maximum in each piect being 200 points): First Second Band. test. test. Pts. Pts. Ag: Wanganni Garrison 173 197 370 Wellington Garrison IS9 IGS 354 Kaikorai 168 172 340 W«ihi Federal 164 IGI 325 Ist Battalion (Auckland).. 159 I<"9 318 Auckland Garrison 157 MO 303 Hauxaki 156 145 301 Ruahine Battalion 153 14G 299 Taranaki Garrison 156 133 289 Gisborne City 146 27S Devonport 123 125 248 This gives Wanganui Garrison the big prize of £150, and 25 silver medals for the band and a gold medal for the conWellington Garrison, £60; Kaikorai, £25; Waihi Federal, £15; First Battalion, £10; and Auckland Garrison, a fine B flat cornet, presented by Hawkes and Son. The interesting-part of the prize-winning is that three out of the live Auckland provincial bands competing secured positions of honour —got all the prizes, indeed, except the first three. This indicates that while v/e cannot claim to have the best bands in the colony, our bands are making a vast improvement in their quality, and should soon, if they kept on, be equal to the beat. Nevertheless, the Auckland City bands were much below the level of the Wanganui band, wiiieli has set a standard in the Medelssohn music which only Kaikorai (and Wellington in :i, less degree still) can approach, and the Auckland bands will make a very big mistake if they think they can rest on their oars. Waihi Federal Band has the makings of a champion band, and it gave last night a performance in ma-ny respects equal to the Kaikorai and Wellington bands. It did very well in the fugue in spite of the time being too fast, and the remarkable, circumstance of the contest is the care and ability with which the difficulties of the fugal movement were overcome by most of the bands. The prize-money for the big test was won straight out by Wanganui last night, but the championship is still in doubt, until the great quickstep march is played off this afternoon. The Wanganui men, however, claim that their lead of 1C points makes sure their winning the Besson Shield, which decides the championship of the colony. THE SECOND TEST. The results of the second test selections were as follow:— Wanganui Garrison (J. Crichton), 197 points 1 Kaikorai (T. Laidlaw), 172 points.. 2 Wellington Garrison (Lieut. Herd), 165 points 3 Wailii Federal (C. Trussell), 161 points . .. 4 First Battalion (Auckland), 159 ;£, Auckland Garrison, Ruahine Battalion, and Gisborne City, 146; Hauraki, 144; Taranaki Garrison, 133; Devonport, 125. The judge's criticisms on the bands were:—Wanganui Garrison, 197 marks (maximum 200): I have never heard such a wonderful performance. In my opinion it provided a great object lesson to all the bands in the rendering of this "Teat and grand selection. I am glad that 1 have been privileged to hear such a magnificent effort. It is nearly up to the standard of the crack British bands. Kaikorai, 172 marks: A good performance. A good deal of polish in places. Teirtpi and interpretation very good indeed. A nice euphonium player. On the whole a little superior to No. 2 (Wellington) band. Wellington Garrison, 165 marks; At once a good band and a dashing one. The solo from the "Elijah," ir Li With All Tour Hearts,"' was not interpreted ■with any warmth. It is, of course, a smooth number, but -where was the expressive tonal gradation required for so divine a solo? In my opinion it was missing. The detail was good. Ths "Spring Song" also was anything but smooth enough. It sounded too snappy, and the cornet jerked the short-marie quavers too much. Bottom's "March" was too staccato, not rollicking enough in treatment, although well played. The rondo might have been a little faster for effect. The fugue and notturn were very good, but the duet, "Zulieka and Hassan," was too heavily treated. The finish was dashing, but there -were several lapses... Waihi Federal, 161 marks: A good performance, but some movements altogether wi-OEg in idea. "Bottom's March" was completely misinterpreted, and the pace was very much too fs&.' In the

euphonium solo, "If With All Your Hearts, 3 the aeqompaniinent was very bad in places, especially at letter E, for a few bars. The soloist did not have enough liberty. The fugue Ava3 much too fast, though I will admit that it was faithfully played- But v.-hy was it made double forte? It was ruined in its tonal effect by the power. Home criticism has repeatedly- warned bands in this respect. The cornet took charge too much in the duet movement, and the trombone was swamped in many places. There was too much scrambling in the Isst movement. First Battalion (Auckland), 159 marks: A good performance, but rather a sameness about the general rendering. Auckland Garrison, 146 ' marks: Very fair band. The bandsmen showed great vim, and evidently thoroughly enjoyed their task. There was, of course, a lack of finish, and more dignity siiid grace wonted to ba imparted to some movements. The rondo is not meant to be a heavily played movement. The fugue was well managed, and the finale dashing, except that it wanted more distinctness. Ruahine Battalion, 146 marks: A bet? ter performance than the previous band (Taranaki), but many short comings, and hot interpreted in a way to please mcSome good work no doubt. Band opened very well indeed. There was too much scrambling over and hurrying the quick movements. Gisborne City, 146 marks: A moderate performance,, about equal to No. 1 (Auckland Garrison), and No. 4 (Ruahine Battalion) bands. Hauraki, 144 marks: A moderate performance. The bandsmen, while not possessing the executive ability of the previous performers (Waihi Federal), restrained themselves in the fugue. The duet, too, was treated in a lighter manner. Tnranald Garrison, 133 marks: A moderate performance. There is no need to enter into criticism here, as the rendering was not superior enough. Devonport, 125 marks: It is unnecessary for mc to criticise this performance. I would advise perseverance and study, when no doubt improvement may be effected. QUICKSTEP CONTEST. The final test for the championship is being held in the Domain as we go to press this afternoon, the allocation of the Besson Championship Shield depending on the points won in this contest. The test piece is J. Ord Hume's specially composed "The Victor's Return." There are four cash prizes of £75, £35, £15, and £10, a gold medal also being presented to the drum-major of the winning band. The result will probably be announced in our late edition. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WA2STGANUI, this day. News of the Wanganui band's victory in the test selections at Auckland and consequent winning of the championship was received here with great glee. Hundreds waited at the telegraph office till midnight to hear the result.