DOMINION CONTEST

Chronicle (Levin), 19 February 1949, Page 5

DOMINION CONTEST

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Playing Of Top Three Bands ~ Thrills Judge

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AtfCKLAND, Feb. 18. Aftei? holding a lead in the first test selection on Thursday night, the St. Kilda Municipal .Band outshone the other seVen competing hands in the second test selection to win the lOb guineas cup for the champion band, ai the. New Zealand Brass Band contest. Another capacity house gaw this mtet esting competition decided tonight* ana the recfeption aecorded the winners indicated the fine impression made on the Auckland puhlic hy the outstanding Dunedin combinatioh. St. Kilda won the championship with 37 points out of a possible 42. The Wellington Waterside Silver Band was a fairly close second and the Wanganui Garrison Band third. Fourth place was gained by the Auckland Wdtersiders dilver Band. The judges were iiberal with thei: praise for the three leading bands, de scribing their performances as "thrif ling" and paying a tribute to tlic standard of playing in New Zealana that they revealed.

Twelve bands competed for the b grade test selection. The three plaeed contestants gave outstanding renderings, only two points separating the first and third bands. The standar-i declined with the remaining combm ations, the best of these being the Wellington Waterside Junior Band. K. G. Smitli, of the St. Kilda Miinici pal Band, who won the cornet cfram pionship on Thursday, obtained another crown in the duet whieh he won for hii band with R. Mowat. Competition in this event was particularlv strong ani with the placed pairs all gaining over 90 points, the standard was verv high. Tomorrow will see the conclusion of the contest. One of the biggest band displavs ever held in Australasia, wiu take place at Eden Park. where 31 bands and 1000 bandsmen will be seen in military displffys and quickstep cornpctitions. Tt is expected to be one ot the most eolourful and spectacular bumi events ever held at Auckland. It wib also provide a litting climax to the con test in whieh over 500 soloists aloiw have taken part and whieh has prov'uled prize money amounting to over £8(JU.

Judge 's Comments . Today's results, with judge' s comments, were: —

Championship test selection: hafdlv know how to express mysel: after' hearing your champion bands,'' said Mi1. A. H. Baile, after the performance. ''X would be doing them an injustice if I did not say they thrilleil nie." He believed the standard of playing in New Zealand was equal to anytliing in Australia. Afteg; hearing the solo compet itions he aliuost envied New Zealand for its wealth of potential champions. It possessed the finest cornetists he had heard for a long time. Mr. Baile remarked on the number cl soloists who had takiM part in the con test and said they would lceep the bands well fed with playel-s. The rendering of the Carmen selection on Thursday and that of "The Northern Rhapsodv" topight was a credit, and the three leading bands compared with anything he had hearo in Britain. Placings: St. Kilda Municipal Band, 37 points, 1; Wellington Waterside Silver Band, 3-t points, 2; Wanganui Garrison Band, 30 points, 3 C erade test selection: "Diverti inento ' ' by Eiic Ball, was a good choice for the grade as it could be played by all contestants, said Mr. Baile. He commented on the close competition among the three placed bands whose playing generally was quite good for the grade. Twelve bands, including several from the countrv, took part: Placings: Auckland City Silver Band, 34 points, 1; .Masterton Municipal Silver Band, 32 points, 2j Gisborne City Band, 31 points, S. Duets: Three very fine duet parties whieh would hold their own anywhere and in any company, was how Mr. Baile described.the place getters in this contest. He heard some fine playing and there was a wealth of talent coming on. Placings: St. Kilda Municipal Band No. I (K. G. Smith and R. Mowat) 9(5 points, 1; St. Kilda Munieipal Band No. 2 (.1. Bassett and N. Thorft) 94 points, 2; Woolston Bras^ Band (N. G. Gollin and D. Christensen) 93 points, 3.