GRAND MUSICAL TREAT

Chronicle (Levin), 7 March 1949, Page 4

GRAND MUSICAL TREAT

, Junior Walerside Band Acclaimed • One of the most outstanding municipal combinations to visit Levin, the Wellington Watersi'de Junior Band, presented a concert, the like of which has not been Leard in this town for a number of years in the College Harl on Saturday night, it is no exaggeration to say that tnis band has reached a standard comparable with the Newcastle Steelworks Band which toured New Zealand some twepty years ago, as the band is a co.mpiete concert party in itself. In exton'ding a welcome to the band, the Mayor, Mr. H- B, Bnrdekin, assured the audience that it was in for a musical freat, as the conductor, Mr. R. Fenton, was 'most capable in bringing his band to a high standard. Mr. Burdekin jsaid he nad been associated with Mr. Fenton in the days when the senior band bore the name of Port Nicholson Silver, when the speaker was president of the Wellington Brass Bands' Association during his sojourn in that city. The Mayor was introduced by Mr. H, A. Robertson, , president of the Levin Military Band, under whose auspices the band ' visited Levin, An unusual innovation as>far. as band performances in Levin are concerned was the conducting by the 12-year-Oid drum-major, Billy Main, for the band's opening number, the march, "Victoria," splendidly rendered. Next' was the hymn, "Tynemouth," the band's choice for the open test at the reeent Dominion contest in Auckland. The juniors, whose average age is 14£ years, gave a sterling performance in this test, being placed twelfth (equal) with the Boys' Instjtute senior combination, which won the A secjtion of the B grade championship. 1 It was no mean feat for such a young C grade band to reach this position, as it had score higher than some of the A and B grade bands to do so. Under Conductor Fenton, the band played this beatiful hymh perfectly. Memories of John Robertson, New Zealand's own born cornetist, who was seyeral times Dominion champion, Australasian champisn, I Crystal Palace performer, and of j world wide repute, were brougnt back by the appearance of Billy ' Fenton, the band's 12-year-old ! solo cornet player, who rendered the sol'o "Fatherland," a most difficult piece with ' its triple-1 tongueing and mass of cadenzas. "Fatherland" is the piece chosen by Mclntosh and other world renowned cornetists, and that Billy, who has hqld the Wellington proyincial junior cornet championship since he was eight years old, and | wno was also placed fourth in the ; open cornet solo at the Dominion contest, did the piece full justice capnot be denied. The waltz, "Fieur de Luce," bythe band also received a good Land from the audience, while the contest sehction, "Divertimento," was a demonstration of what the band is really capable of- doing,. The band accompanist Murray Scrambery delighted with two numbers not generally heard in Levin, a bell solo and xylophone solo, while a descriptive fantasia, "The Mill in the Dale," with all the enects of the mill working, birds - singing and different sections of the band singing" their parts literahy brought the house down. The drum corps demonstrated its capabi'ities in no small manner in the display played to "The Skaters' Waltz," Murray Scrambery, the oply two stick bass drummer in the country, earning further renown, while not belitt-

ling the excellent display given by the tengr drummers. Bandsman J. Mclvor, Wellington provincial junior trombone champion, demonstrated his capabilities during the performance by prbsenting two solos, handling this to the deiight and satisfaction of all. Demonstrating the versatility of the band was the rendering of vocal solos by Bandsmen J. WardHolmes and Cliff Parker, these two also being hear'd in popular tunes which resulted in several recalls, while Billy Main proved that he could wle^d the bow just as capab^y as the mace, his violin solos being very well received. To Mrs. G. Hesp fell the honour -of beipg the sole assisting artist, and she was heatd in two brackets of numbers during the evening. This' accomplished Levin singer won tremendous applause from the audience and the band boys themselves. The accompanists were Messrs. €. Dayies and J. Morrison.

Display On Domain Yesterday afternoon the band, in conjunction with the Horowhenua Highland Pipe and Levin Military Bands, presented a concert and display on the Levin Park Domain. The band played request numbers, and the Junior Waterside and ' Levin Military combined played the march "Invercargill" v and hymn "Son of My filoul" under the baton of Mr. M. H, Boyce, while the combined band3, under the baton of .Mr, Fenton, again played a march at the conclusion. The pipe band led the march of bands from the band room to the domain and contributed a quickstep display, drum-major's display. sexection and hymn, "Abide Witli Me." Highlight of the afternoon was the cerenionial marching display by the Wellington Waterside Juniors, their- intricate movements

being almost amazing as the different sections broke off and marched diagonally across the! ground, rejoined tp go off att ahother angle and counter marched — in fact everything it was pos-: sible to do to make this one of the most intricate displays yet wit-! nessed in Levin. It was all perfprmed to music, and great credit ' must go to 12-year-old Billy Main, who controlled his band by mace only, although behind the scenes the bass drummer, Murray ScramJery, also did his share, With -the rendering of the National Anthem by the combined bands, one of the most suqcessful ehapters in musical entertainment i yet staged in Levin was brought | to a close.