CHAMPION BAND

Evening Star, Issue 19800, 25 February 1928, Page 5

CHAMPION BAND

CHRISTCHURCH. February 24. The A Grad© bands completed their playing for the New Zealand championship at the King Edward Barracks this evening before another attendance of well over ‘3,000. The second test piece comprised parts 3 and 4 of the wonderful Rimsky-Koreakov symphonic suite. ‘ Scherazado.’ Part 3 opens with the love story of the “Prince and Princess,” the lyric being portrayed by the cornet muted, and the euphonium. Part 4 depicts the revellers in the “ festivities in Bagdad ” and the sea scene, in winch the story telle how the vessel is overwhelmed and sinks to the depths with her human freight. The wonders of the music made a great. appeal, and it is generally admitted that the work marks a fi ih standard and a new era in New Zealand’s band world. Selections of this type will do much to rise band music to a much higher plane. There was never much doubt as to who would win, the success of the Wanganui Band being very popular. The judgment ic practically a repetition of Mr Helliweli’s at Wellington last year so far as the first four bands are concerned. the only change being that this year the plucky and improved Greymouth Municipal Band has displaced Woolston in third position. Kaikorai and Greymouth put up consistent performances this evening. The prize for the best bass goes to Kaikorai. Following is the order in which the bands appeared, with comments on the playing:— GREYMOUTH MUNICIPAL (A. M'Masters, conductor). i'he story of “ the Prince and Princess,” which opens with a solo for the cornet muted, was nicely described, although the tone of the muted cornet was rather strong. This band did not use mutes on the first night, and lost some points in consequence. No doubt want of rehearsal with the mute was the cause of the strong tone. Once over this, the band soon began to appeal in its ton© colors, and its beauties came along apace. The mo-, 'rent is of barcarolle character, with here and there a touch of the restleses clement so much in evidence throughout the whole selection. In these parts the band’s sudden tonal development was very fine. The movement went well. It was, however, in the second part, “The Festivities in Bagdad and the Sea,” that the band really found its feet. The great chordal crashes, and the ensemble in rapidamento finding worthy exponents. The lightning tongueing passages were very finely done, and the hug© chords and tho screeching of the storm elements (portrayed by the cornets as trills) were massive and inspiring. Tho tranquil ending, trying and severe though it is on the players, was splendidly done. WOOLSTON (R. j. Estall). The “ Princ© and Princess ” romance was opened in most beautiful manner, tho ton© of the muted cornets being of charming quality. Tho band was in fine tune, and the music of the prince was as charmingly portrayed by the euphonium, tho barcarolle character being always there. Anon cam© along the glorious coloring Hashes of inspiring order, making tho interpretation most enchanting—a real story of a Prince Charming and his lady love in music. A noticeable feature was the rich coloring provided by the bass trom--1 e. The second part of the selection, the “ Festivities of Bagdad and the Sea,” gave tho band wonderful scope. Her© its splendid technical attainments enabled the band to present a movement full of fine passion and speed, for tho fast tempo demanded in tho score was faithfully observed. Tho effect was electrical. All sections rose to the occasion, the only jar being a slight hesitancy by tho solo cornet in one bar (of momentary character only). Tho difficult ending in pianissimo was as delicately done as by a section of stringed instruments.

KAIKOHAI (10- Franklin). Another charming story in music, the barcarolle atmosphere being in evidence h-om the lirst bar. The muted cornets were delightful, tho music ol the piincess finding very worthy reciters. Tho euphonium (tho prince) sang as a lover might he expected to do in an Eastern lyric. Tho second movement (the festivities and tho sea.) was just as wonderful a piece of work as brass could be expected to do. Tho detail was brought out finely, the trombones declaiming splendidly, and the building u p of all instruments to the groat climaxes being of inspiring character. The groat tone developed suggested nothing if it was not the ship going to its doom in the depths, tho while the coi nets in their thrills depicting the screech and triumph of the elements. Tranquility followed, the calm and dying moments being most faithfully portrayed. St. Kilda (J. Dixon) : This band did not open the love story with tho cornet muted, and there was a ceitain loss of effect as compared with the previous band; but the playing was nevertheless refined, and of the baicarolle character. The euphonium was a worthy prince, and the tenor played the flashes of the harp in a manner beyond reproach—a great piece of clever technique. The band was well in tune throughout, except that the final notes in sotto voce were not quite satisfying. In the festivities movement all went well until the solo cornet nearly crashed in endeavoring to take a high note in a cadenza passage. The fast tongueing was ably done, and a grand volume of tone was built up in the chordal masses, the trombone call and reply by muted cornets being very fine. The sea scene was also great, and the imagination could visualise the ocean engulfing its prey, the while the screeching thrills were heard, telling above the fury of tho elements. The ending was calm, but not quite in tune. Christchurch Municipal (A. Schnack): This band also opened as a cornet solo. The support by the band was very good, and the horn arpeggio in imitation of the harp, and the B flat and soprano cornets were excellent, though

Wanganui Wins A Grade Test* Kaikorai Second (Special to the * Sxae.‘]

there were flaws. The movement went quite interestingly. Jn the “ lestivitiea in Bagdad and the sea ” the wild revels of tho dancers were sparkling, and a fine big tone was forthcoming in tho sea scene, the bandsmen making a feature of tin's wonderful music. The ending was tranquil, and quite satisfying. Wellington Municipal Tramways (T. Goodall) ; Tho love lyric was very entrancingly portrayed by a chaste-toned muted cornet, followed by an expressive euphonium, depicting the prince. In the romance the arpeggios for the horn, B flab cornet, and soprano separately, wore very prettily done, and the character ot the performance was always of true barcarolle type. A wellplayed and entertaining movement with' here and there a flash of the more fiery mood, in grand bursts of tho band’s best tonal volume. All sections supported well. Tho intricacies of tho second movement,' the festivities and the sea, wore played with confidence, tho result being a revel of great musical sound, in which the riot of the dancers and merrymakers in Bagdad was easily visualised in the imagination. Tone was built up bigger as the sea picture came into view, and. down went the ship to her doom in the overwhelming power of old ocean and the searching elements. The calm that follows the storm was restful, and a fine picture in reposeful playing. Queen Alexandra’s Own (Captain G. Buckley); A delightful opening, expressive and suggestive of Eastern nights, moonlit waters, and romance. The muted cornet effects were captivating, and the horn, cornet, and soprano, in the imitation of harp arpeggios, were an example of neatness. The prince, as represented by tho euphonium, was a warm-hearted lover, and the band depicted a charming lyric of romance. Of course, this splendid band simply revelled in tho complexities of the festivities movement, describing the revels of the dancers in a riot of wild, but finely-controlled, tone. It remained for; tho sea scene and the raging of the elements to bring out the greatest effort, tli© overwhelming of tho little ship and her descent to tho depths to tho wild laughing screeches of the elements (described by the shrill cries of the cornets in trill form) were almost astounding in their magnificent portrayal. A! tranquil ending concluded a wonderful performance. Results:— j A GRADE TEST.

SOPRANO CORNET. E. Webb (Queen Alexandra’s Own)’, 94 points T T. M'Lean (St. Kilda), 92 points ... 2 E. W. King (Jupp’s Silver, Wellington), 91 points 3 Also'competed: J. Goughian (Kaikorai) 90, J. King (Wellington Tramways) 87, B. Simpson (Christchurch Municipal) 86, N. Tonkin (sth Mounted Rifles, Oamaru) 85, C. Unwin (Ist Battalion, Southland) SO. BOYS (under 17). Any Instrument.E. G. Williams (Woolston), 97 points I S. Crisp (4th Cadet Battalion) and L. Carruthers (Greymouth Municipal), equal, 96 points 2 E. Benhow (Temuka), 94 points ... 3 Also competed: A. Pearson (Ist Battalion, Wellington) 91, J, G. Loro (Miramar Silver) 90, J. M'Phersou (Ashburton Silver) 89, 11. Berry (Port Nicholson) 86. BB FLAT BASS. C. S. Hanson (Woolston), 96 points 1 P. Trethaway (Wellington Tramways), 95 points ... 2 T. Rogers (St. Kilda), 93 points ... 3 E. Henwood (4th Cadet Battalion), 92 points 4 Also competed: L. Fogo (Kaikorai) 91, 13. Spindle (Queen Alexandra’s Own) 91, A. Hughes (Woolston) 91, A. Sundberg (Wellington Tramways) 89, W. Fenton (Woolston) 89, E. Berg (Queen Alexandra’s Own) 88, H. Bosher (Palmcrtson North) 88, T. Williams (St. Kilda) 88, J. Crammond (Ashburton) 87, J. Milne (Wellington Tramways) 87, A. L. Roskvist (Christchurch Municipal) 87, A. Waters (Christchurch Municipal) 87, D. Grcaucy (Greymouth) 87, O. A. Spearman (Wellington Central Mission) 87 t L. Burley (Central Mission) SO, A. Heisonbuttcl (Greymouth) 85, CORNET. Boys under 17. R. Simpson (Christchurch Municipal) , 96 points 1' V. Aldridge (Ist Battalion, Southland), 92 points _ 3 L. Moody (Woolston), 91 points ... 3 Also competed; J. Boyce (Wellington Institute) 89, H. Watson (4tlx Cadet Battalion) 84, J. Buckley (Queen Alexandra’s Own) 84, A. O. Eyles (4th Cadet Battalion) 82, R. H. Hanson (Papanui) 80, S. Brown (Temuka) 78,

1st 2nd Test. Test. Aggn Queen Alexandra’s Own (Wanganui) 143 148 — 291' Kaikorai (Dunedin) 141 144 — 285 Grey mouth 140 141 — 281 Woolston 142 138 — 280 St. Kilda (Dunedin) 134 136 — 269 Wellington Tramways 139 125 — 264j Christchurch Municipal 135 118 — 253