BANDS CONTEST

Evening Star, Issue 19798, 23 February 1928, Page 4

BANDS CONTEST

B GRAPE TEST TO WEUIS6TOH CENTRAL MISSKfN KAIKORAI SCORES IN BARITONE AND FLUGEL HORN [Special to the ‘ Stab.’] CHHJSTCH UHC.H, February 22. The band contest was continued yesterday under favorable conditions, public interest hemp; well maintained, considering tbo great attendance of the preceding evening, when the first A grade test was decided. The playing at I lie night session of the Central Mission and Jupp’s Silver Hands was again of outstanding order, clearly demonstrating that both are of A grade standard. The win of Jupp’s in 'to-night’s test piece, and of flic Wellington Central Mission in the aggregate was well received. The trombone trio, decided to-night, was a good competition in Mr Jackson’s opinion. Victory went to the Tirnaru Municipal Band trio for a wellbalanced, good-toned performance. The most important event in tbo solo competition section of the contest is the dominion B-flat cornet championship. This contest took place in the afternoon at the King Edward Barracks. There wore nineteen competitors, and the adjudicator was Mr E. Jackson. With the exception of Hayes, of Auckland, and Eobertson (last year’s winner) those who took part were practically performers of repute throughout the dominion, and included several ex-champions, notably Stevenson, Goodall, W. H. Osborne, and Bowman. Goodall has to his credit an Australian championship as well as the New Zealand title. The tost piece was ‘Shylock,’ a composition offering excellent opportunities for a skilled cornetist. Lip tests abound, there is extensive range, and quite .an array of triple-tongueing. The playing was well up to the highest standards of champion cornet competitions. Indeed, if the judge’s remarks may bo taken, the performances must rank very high, as Mr Jackson described the section as magnificent, and the playing as amongst the best ho had ever heard. The competition was not finally decided ; three were recalled, and appear and play off on Saturday night. These three were; T. Goodall (Wellington Tramways), G. Bergerson (Queen Alexandra’s Own), and H. F. Vincent (Greymonth Battalion). Some surprise was expressed at the non-recall of the ex-champion Stevenson. Among the unsuccessful competitors very fine performances were given by F. Bowes (Queen Alexandra’s Own) and W. H. Osborne (Tirnaru), while notable efforts were forthcoming from Ohlson (St. Kilda) and J. Wills (Invercargill) in particular.

Results are as under: — EUPHONIUM SOLO. T. H. Hughes (Woolston), 95 points 1 .T. M'Clintock (Woolston), 93 points 2 L. Clayton (Wellington Tramways), 92 points 3 Also competed: .1. Brittain (Ist Battalion, Wellington) 91, L. Halls (Ashburton Silver) 90, A. Ramsay (Queen Alexandra’s Own) 90, C. Austin (Queen Alexandra’s Own) 88, J. Simpson (Christchurch Municipal) 87, A. J. Mavfield (sth Mounted Rifles. Oamaru) 87, " T. E. Osborne (Timaru) 95, M. Clark (Kaikorai) 85, hi. Abeam 82, E, Smith (Ist Battalion, Wellington) 78, E. V. Ellery (Grevmouth Municipal) 78, C. Miller (St. Kildn) 76, T. 0. Hare (Dunedin Tramways) 76, and 13. Fenton (Port Nicholson Silver) 72. BARITONE SOLO. W. J. Nelson (Kaikorai). 94 points 1 H. Diver (Wellington Tramways) and C. Cathcral (Wellington Central Mission, equal), 90 points ... 2 S. Higam (Kaikorai) and F. Lloyd Wellington Tramways), equal, 89 points 4 Also competed: W. Parker (Port Nicholson Silver) 86, D. Anderson (St. Kilda) 86. C. Beekley (Ashburton Silver) 85, P. Mathews (Queen Alexanc 1 ’s Own) 84, H. Boroy (Queen Alexandra’s Own) 81, L. Thomas (Christchurch Municipal) 79, A. Stringer (Woolston) 79, S. Barton (Woolston) 78; 11. Porter (Ashburton Silver) 77, E. Barton (Greymouth Municipal) 77, R. Pheloung (Woolston) 72. PLUG EL HORN. G. Lowery (Kaikorai), 94 points ... 1 W. Thomas (sth Mounted Rifles, Oamaru), 93 points 2 E. N. Tronberth (Woolston), 89 points 3 Also competed: P. Scgar (Timaru) 88, A. Ramsay (Queen .'lexandra’s Own) 86, R. Ward (Port Nicholson Silver) 84, L. Baker (Wellington Central Mission) 83. C. Smith (St. Kilda) 82, E. Rissell (Timaru) 81, K. Henderson (Wellington Tramways) 80, F. Lcgg (Wellington Tramways) 78, E. W. Nicholls (Queen Alexandra’s Own) 78, R. Cowdery (Wellington Tramways) 77, E. Frew (Ashburton Silver) 74. TROMBONE TRIOS. Timaru Municipal, 88 points _ 1 Wellington Tramways, 87 points ... 2 St. Kilda No. I, 81 points 3 Also competed :—'Woolston 80, Dennevirke 78, St. Kilda No. 2, 77, Queen Alexandra’s Own 76. B GRADE TEST. The results of the two B Grade tests, with the final placing® of the contestants, were ns folows;— First. Second. Test. Test, Tl. Wellington Central Mission ... 135 114 Jupp’s Silver (-Wellington) ... 128 117 Ist Battalion (Wellington) . ... 120 112 Dunedin Tramways 125 95

B FLAT COENET CHAMPIONSHIP. The recalls in the B fiat cornet championship were as follows:—G. -orgerson (Queen Alexandra’s Own), 11. F. Vincent (Greymonth Municipal), 'l'. Goodall (Wellington Tramways). The final is on Saturday. B GRADE TEST HOW THE BANDS PLAYED .Following is the order in which the bands appeared, with brief comments on the playing:— Dunedin City Tramways (A. Gould, conductor) : The selection opened with a march movement, which was played with good full tone, all sections combining well. Soon the solo instruments were beard in individual parts, notably the cornet, trombone, and euphonium. The cornet's tone was appealing, as was that of the euphonium. There was a merry sparkle in the trombone in the “ drinking song,” a feature of the selection ; while later, in a. hymn interlude, the band showed good combination and full organ tone. Perhaps the volume was a. shade heavy. The spirited allegro vivace that followed enabled a smart team of cornetists In give a bright account of themselves. The ensemble playing in the concluding polacca was entertaining, and at times quite thrilling. ]u a few portions of the performance the intonation became unsettled, but generally it was sntisafetory. Ist Battalion, Wellington (Lieutenant B. J. Shardlow) : The march was attacked with plenty of life, and big sonorous tone. All went well to the “ drinking song ” movement, when the soloist trombone was rather smothered by the full band weight. Apart from this the rendering was in jovial mood, the transitionary bass leading into the hymn was pretty, while the hymn was played in quite traditional manner. The selection went well to the finale, the polacca ending being a sparkling band revel. Wellington Central Mission (0. Forrest): This band opened with a faster tempo, the playing being crisp in consequence. The cornet and euphonium excelled in the second movement, the pretty harmony parts being well delineated. Th “ drinking movement ” gave the band fine scope, and the playing was bright and joyful. Good organ quality was in evidence in tbo hymn. The florid passages of the allegro vivace were interpreted with spirit, and the band continued well to the end, a fine rousing effect being produced in the polacca.

Jupp’s Silver Band (W. J. Jupp) : This was tbo best opening, the tone being bright and exceedingly tuneful. The lovely andantino which follows was treated delicately, and the solo cornet put in artistic work, with the euphonium. The band support was admirable. The characteristically bright tone of the band ensured success for the “drinking song” movement from tbo outset, while almost perfect intonation resulted in the hymn being devotional. Fine band work continued, a really good effort closing with a. dashing rendering of the polacca.