THE BRASS BANDS CONTEST

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 768, 17 March 1910, Page 6

THE BRASS BANDS CONTEST

TEST PIECES ELATED,

HONOURS FOR WANGANTJI.

(By TeleEraph.—Press Association.)

Wanganui, March 16. The first tests in the North Island Brass Bands Association's contest took place this evening. The weather was tine, and a very large number of people gathered in the Jockey Club's beautiful grounds. The B grado bands, of which there were ten, first played their test piece, "The Belle of . Brittany." The Nelson- Band topped the list with 128 .points, Wanganui City Band being next with 124 points, and Gisborne City third with 119. The • others were placed as follows—Cambridge 118, Wellington Tramways 117, Waitara 115, Blenheim 108, l?eilding 105, Manaia 102, and Opunake 90. The judge said that the Nelson Band put up an excellent performance. ' The first-CTade contest between the Wanganui Garrison and , Petone Bands proved a very easy "thing for the champions who, in the language of the judge, put' up a very fine performance, while Petone came in for rather unfavourable criticism. Wanganui scored 120 points,' and Petone 76. .

This morning the side drum solos wero played, with the following result:— Donovan, Gisborne, 83; Hindley, Nelson, 78 j Mexted, Blenheim, 75 j Olliver, Cambridge, 78 j Robinson, Manaia, 73. Tenor trombone.—Walling, Petone, 114; Trownson, Wanganui Garrison, 109; Gray, Wanganni Garrison, 108; Sullivan, Nelson, 107; Levar, Wellington Tramways, 105; Humphrey, Wanganni - City, 101; Weir, Manaia, 97; Haybittle, Feilding, 9G; Turn cliff 6, Blenheim,' 95; Douglas, Gisborne, 9i. 1 . Euphonium solo—A. Kaye, Nelson, 125; W. Hickman, Wanganiii Garrison, 116; D. Williams, Wanganui' Garrison, 114; J. H. Kerby, Waitara, 83. Flugel horn.—Cole, Wellington Tramways, 117; Gould, Wanganui Garrison 106; H. Shone,' Nelson Garrison, 102; Mahonev, Petone, 100; Vaughan, Nelson, 91; Williams, Gisborne, 91; Law, Wanganui Garrison, 88; M'Connell, Gisborne, 85. The quick-step event will be taken tomorrow. , SHOULD THERE BE TWO GRADES? (By Telegraph.—Special Oorresnondent) Wanganui, March 16. A matter that - the North Island Brass Bands' Association will probably take into ' consideration to-morrow evening is

the question whether it is desirable to have competitions for two grades, "A" and "B" at future contests. Certainly, the associations' experience at Wanganui just now does not justify such a course. For some reason or other there are but two bands competing. in the "A" grade, in which three prizes of a total value of ,£175 are offerod,, while there are ten bands in the "B" gTade, for which .£lO5 is • divided ■ into. five prizes. The reason for the "A" and "B" grades in the selections is not quite clear, seeing that" no distinction is made in the quickstep and other competitions, where all players aie placed on the 6ame footing. The defeat of,, the Wanganui champion cornet player, George Buckley, in the E-flat competition last night created quite a sensation. It was' generally thought that he would score a fairly easy win, but though he performed well, he has been heard to more advantage. Still, after all the soloists had finished, the opinion was freely expressed that Buckley would get the verdict, notwithstanding the fact that both Berryman and Davis, the former especially, had played remarkably well. Much surprise was expressed, therefore,, when the judge's decision was made known. It is probable that Buckley would have done better had he been able -to devote more time to solo work than he has reoently done, as he has been fully occupied playing with the Garrison Band and oonducting the City Band. Berryman must be credited with putting up a sterling performance, and his fine showing proved that he is an expert executant on the instrument. Another Nelsonian who distinguished himself by a particularly fine effort was Kaye, who won the euphonium solo «ijnpetition, in which he gave a truly grand rendition, and well merited his win. Lickman,' of Wanganui, played very finely, but the other man was too superior.

The weather is rather dull and threatening foT the fiist test selections, which are to be played on the Kaceconrso tonight. ■