BAND COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 74

BAND COLUMN.

Notes bt Cobnbt.

Secretaries of bands are invited to «end in Interesting paragraphs, also brief reports 61 yaiades and other functions in which (heir bands take part. All communications Bhculd be addressed to " Cornet," Otago Witness office.

_Dear Cornet, — Now that Mr Herd has j admitted— going into the judge's room at j the Masterton contest, and writing offering ■Lieutenant Bently his hospitality prior to the Christchuroh Exhibition contest, we are "quite content to^leave the public to judge ac to whether ' or not we were justified in withdrawing from the New Plymouth contest.—l am, 'etc., John G. Qsborne, hon. secretary 'Kaikorai Band. The secretary of the Mornington Band writes"N-"Dear Cornet, — We played at Jubilee Park on Sunday, when, there was a very good; attendance of the public We gave the .'William Tell', selection. We have an engagement at the civil service sporte on •Saturday- next, and intend to play at St. C?air on" Sunday, when botiji selections will bo played. Our art union tickets are selling very well. The drawing: will take' place on ' February _7 in - the" High Street iScljool Hall, when an instrumental concert' will be given; including contest selections,' "' The Garrison Band were favoured with good weather for their "iurn nv at the Gardons on' Sunday, and there was a large attendance of the public The. following i items included in the" programme werd much appreciated: — Two movements from "Peer Gynt" .suite, -processional march "Silver Trumpets," "The heavens are telling," and "Gloria," from Mozart's Twelfth Mass. In- contradiction of, the rumour > that is being circulated about the Mornington Band withdrawing from the contest the secretary/^Mr A. J. Hall, writes : —"Owing to -Jilie various reijorts Tjeinir in. circulation that the Mbrnington Band, do not intend to compete at iihe New Plymouth contest they 'herewith tale this opportunity of notifying their friends and supporters thak they still intend to be present at the above contest, the .members being saisfied that Lieutenant Herd is quite capable 'of judging the contest. 'The Mornington Band can rest assured that the rumour did not, emanate from bandsmen, it being well known that good .work is being and has been done by the band, in ;view of "the contest." It is quite a pleasant change to ' hear ,of recognition .being bestowed, „ and Mornington's Band's (compliment will come as an "oasis" .in the desert of criticism to Lieutenant Herd. ', \ - ' The Secretary of the Contest pommittee, Mr J Clarke, writes to say that the oonv test i* promising - exceedingly well. The action, of the., Kaikorai 'Band was a considerable surprise to -the . North' Island public, and considered quite uncalled . for. "Actions such; as these will soon 'make contests /a .thing of -the past. Public nien- ' wiving their'^time gratuituouely won t stand--business qfitfiat sort. It is generally considered vthat Lieutenant Herd's reply to Mr, Osborne's -letter is a", complete repudiation of Kaikorai Band Y charge. It does appear as if Kaikorai had -discovered a 'mare 3 nest.' It is unreasonable to, eupppse that" now Lieutenant -Herd has risen -to the..position he will risk" any charges on his honour., I think Kaikorai have acted rather injudiciously, and it is not yet too late for them to make amends. We would bepleased to 6eei-them.-here, ss they have always been more or less a favourite band in, these narts." - \ ' Messrs R. Smith and- Co., London, publishers of the Champion Brass and Reed Band Journal, .through their agent, Mr T. Herd, have kindly presented their - Quick March "Undaunted," by J. H. Markham^ for performance by the massed bands at New Plymouth. ' „ -Hallenstein- Bros.' New Zealand Clothing Factory have donated a gold medal for the contest. , This - has been allotted to the conductor of the band securing highest musical 'points in the Marching competition. The: Collier "and Colonial Piano Company's golok medal has been allotted to the conductor of the winning band in the B grade section. The silver-mounted baton presented by Mr J. W. Copithorne (Wellington), New Zealand, agent for Higham and * Son's, * instrument . manufacturers. Manchester, is" allotted to the- wjnning band- in A grade. A silver-plated cornet and two gold donated -by the Dresden Piano Company on .behalf of Hawke's and ,Co.; London, have been allotted 'subject to tFe -Dresden's approval.. The first prize oi J635' in .'the B gra'd& has been increased by ~a grant of £10 from the N. 1.8.8. Associa , tion.' , ' . -^ - , " The x Contest Committee at New Plymouth j are "live" men. In issuing a neat j circular giving information concerning the playing of the selections and solos duringthe week from JMonday, 24th, to Friday, 28th, they have conferred a boon ,on the public and bandsmert alike. Any 'dotibtsregarding the time of playing of any item can be set at rest by referring to the programme circular. A number of copies will presumably' fbe sent to each competing band for the use ,of members. Entering into new, business has necessitated a residental change from Timaru 1 o Dunedin - for Mr Claude Davie, the wellknown double' bass player. Since the return from" England of the New Zealand Band he<has been conductor of the Timaru Marine Band. . Being for manv^ years a, member— in fact, one of "the founders — of the Kaikorai Band i<- is not unlikely that ,Mr Davie will again do\ their uniform and make the trip 1 to Ba'larat wifh the Kaikorai -men. • Mr J. O'Brien will possibly be the solo euphoniumist for the trip. Hi? knowledge of „ the part of the "Heroic" selection would be invaluable to the band - Wooleton Band ai« said /to be in food -form' under the able tuition of conductor Siddall " A win. by the lieutenant's band would be popular throughout the colony. Arrangements ~ha.ve been 1 made for a grand concert to- ba given in Wellington, whilstthe • Woolston' Band is en route to New Plymouth. >' -' ■ Having , heard the Besses, the followingcomparison with"" BlacSr Dike Mills --Band by' an old Yorkshire contestor who has been a Canadian bandmaster for 20 ye-vi-s will be of interest: — "There seem to be still some people who think Besses a bet ier band than Black Dike. I heard these band 3 ' twice here in Canada,^ and although I 1 thought both bands erand I liked BH^t Dike best Black Dike came first, and the impression they made on ' my mind will XgMK.M *»»*--«ed; their playing of 'Tann-

haueer,' 'Verdi,* "Mozart,' 'Wagner,' etc., was simply sublime. ' Besses were smarter, but had not the same repose. Their trombones were better than, those of the l ? Yorkshire rivals, but they had no cornet to oomo within, miles of the Black Dike bolo cornet (Mr Ceres Jackson). -The euphonium of Dike, too, was better. Some of the effects of Beseea struck me as a bit flashy, but on the other hand t)ike was often tame. Both bands are at the 'top of the tree,' and each, naturally, has its I following of^ admirers— -a few_ with two, ; but the majoiity of these see with only one | eye." . ' Over 500 bandsmen will be in New v Hymoutih in connection with the forthcoming band contest. It is computed that their hoard and lodging alone will' bring in from £1000 to £1200 to the hotel and boarding-house keepers - {says' " the isTews). In addition there will be the usual crowds of supporters of the various combinations.