NEW ZEALAND BANDS REVIVAL

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5321, 6 February 1947, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND BANDS REVIVAL

REORGAjNlISATION PROPOUNDED BY WELL-KNOWN MUSICIAN. •During the last 50 years, conditions have altered to an amazing, even' an alarming, extent, but not dn the band world. Individual bands carry on in the same old way as they did half a eentury ago. Contests are conducted with almost identical rules and regulations, writes H. Gladstone Hill, former conductor of the R.N.Z.A.F. Band. At various times during that period the existenee of bands was threatened and for some time hung dn the balance. First there was the gramophone record. Then finally the pessimist said radio would settle bands for ever. Bands survived all this opposition, although they did not talce any action to meet, or counter, the situation which hadi arisen. V/hat reasons can be assigned for this wonderful demonstration of faithfulness on the part of public opinion '/ I think there can be no question that -the human elemept is still a vital factor in relationships on such a subject as this. Policy ©f Drift Deplored. Oue would have thought that the leaders of the band world would have realised this fact, and capitalised it to t'he fullest extent. However, nothing Yvas done. Bands simply drifted, accepting whatever position arose wi,th little enthusiasm vr even understanding. Let us look where these conditions have led to.

The young bandsman of to-day has countejr-attractions to contenidi with which were unknown 30 or 40 years ago. What action has been- taken to meet this situation? Absolutely nothing. There are the same nights for rehearsals; the same weeks during which the ljand does not make a public appearance; the same scramble for,, players for the forthcoming contest; the same appeal for rehearsals; the same reaction when the contest is over and the same old faithful few to carry on until the next contest looms on the horizon, .with the same old heartaches for bandmaster and secretary. Thus we are rumndng round in circles, and lack of leadership to break out. It is a fact that nearly all, if not all, of our leading players started in some small-town band. Yet what has been done for these ibands? What super-enthusiasts are some of the bandmasters of country bands! Train a boy and as soon as he becomes of value he leaves for a city band, which provides him the opportunity for experience and fievelopment. 'So the bandmaster starts again akid again! To my personal knowledge some bandmasters have been doing this for over 2 ) yeai's. I cannot find an adjective expressive enough of niy feelings toward these fine fellows.

Nine Provincial Grouips. I recommend that five provincial band associations be formed in the North Island, and four in the South Island. Here they are: — 1, Auckland province from Pukekohe north, headjuaxters in Auckland; 2. South Auck-land-Thames Valley-Bay of PlentyXing Country, headquarters at Hamilton; 3. Taranaki- Wanganui-Manawatu, headquarters at Wanganui; 4. Hawkes Bay-Gisborne, headquarters alteimat'.ng between Napier and Hastings; 5. Wellington-Wairarapa-Manawatu, as for north as Levin, headquarters at Wellington; 6. Marlborougih-N'elson-West Coast, headquarters at Nelson; 7. Kaikoura -Canterbury-Ashbiu^on, leadquarters at Christchurch; 8. South Canterbury-North Otago, Headquarters alternating between Timaru and Oamaru; 9. Otago and Sotathland, headquarters at Dunedin. , All provincial associations would be registered bodies, with identical arti:les of association, or rules and regulations. Thei'e would be a North Island championship every year and oi\e fox: the South Island also, with a Domixion championship evei'y two years, alternatively in each island. Six nonths' woi"k could be planned ahead, A'ith one Snnday a nxonth devoted to nassed-band parades in various towns.