RECENT BAND CONTEST.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 460, 19 March 1909, Page 7

RECENT BAND CONTEST.

THE JUDGE'S REPORT. (BY. TELEQRAPH—BPECUL COIiBESr-ONDENT.)

Naplor, March 18. Mr. Sidney Wolf, who acted as judge of tho recent band contest at Hastings, has supplied his report to tho association. In tho course of his remarks Mr. Wolf says:—

"Tho solo playing oai tho whole was not' as good as I expected to hoar. Some of tho players evidently did not understand lirst rudiments of music, and as for signs j and marks of expression, they wore in many 1 cases totally ignored. Players should leans their solos as tho composer or arranger wrote; thorn, taking notice- of all signs and' majks of expression, and then, iC thoy have any original taste, it wiltf naturally show itself in their playing. They should also study breathing. by tho naturaP method, that is, abdominal, and only when' they aro perfect in that should they attempt 'lateral.' Many players could bo heard all over tho building, as if they wero sucking in their breath through their instrument, and so making a hissing sound like* an escapo of steam from a boiler. Then, again many of tho solos were marred through-', a noise mado by the rattle of tho key as it was depressed into the piston, giving a most' inartistic accompaniment. This would havo been easily avoided if caro had boon used to pad the key properly. Very few players know how to tune their instruments correctly. They should use tho tuning slide to got theproper pitch, and the other pistons, shouldthen bo tuned to it, just tho same as a violinist tunes his A string to tho pitch required, and then tunes his other strings accordingly. 1 would suggest that at the military inspection there be a competent man told oil' to inspect and examine tho ins,tru« ments, not only to see that they aro perfectly clean and bright, but also to see that each; slide is iii good working condition. This i(" of tho utmost importance, and young players cannot be told often enough tho necessity of keeping their instruments in good order. Tho quartet was evidently not understood by tho players; ono thing being sadly wanting—an intelligent interpretation. The chord of the dominant 7th was in most oases very much out of tunc. The AVanganui No. 2 played with two ilugcl horns and baritono. A euphonium would have made a , belter balance." '

In tho course of further remarks. Mr. Wolf says:—"Tho E ilat horn and tho baritano (another saxehoru, but ono with a brighter tone) play tho utter-parts of tho score and most of tho accompaniments. It is hero that wo look for the balance of tho bnnd, and it is horo that tho Wangamii band was so good! Thero was no top and bottom as in most of tho bands, but in all their chords, both ppp. with tho different graduations of force up to fff., ono solid mass_ from tho bass foundation gradually tapering up to tho cornets." Tho judgo states that tho finest solos ho hoard at tho contest wcro played by Hughes, of Nelson, on tho BB flat bass, and by Hickman, of Wnnganui, on tho euphonium. Ho says in conclusion: —"l only hotw that tho younger bands in the 13 grade listened carefully to tho exccllotit performances given by the' Wangamii Garrison Baud in their rendering of 'II Crociato' and 'Heroic' It is at thoso contests that tho B grado bands can learn from tho A grade, and moro experienced bands a great deal that cannot bo taught in tho practice rooms, namely, character and style, which lead to good interpretation, but which can only bo attained after each individual has had a thorough grounding in the rudiments of music, and has a thorough knowledgo of his instrument."