Musical.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 23, 1 September 1894, Page 9

Musical.

In view of the forthcoming' contest Tve have decided to devote a column weekly to brass band news, and any items of interest will be gladly received from any part of the colony. Address to “ Quaver,” Southern Cross Office.

BANDSMEN’S COLUMN.

[By “ Quaver.”] Another week has come and gone, and still no signs of Wright and Bound’s selection, although advice has been received of its despatch from Liverpool. Writing under date of July 12th Messrs Wright and Round say —“ The selection we send you is neither operatic nor sacred , and not a note of it has ever before been arranged for brass bands. A selection from ora. torio would be waste paper in England, the taste has so much changed, and songs of the drawing-room type have superseded oratorio, and no contest committee in England would look at a sacred piece, even if it were ‘ Elijah.’ We of course have to follow the prevailing taste and provide for it. I understand that the name of the selection is “ Schubert,” and is an arrangment from works by that composer. It seems to me that so far as this selection of W. and R.’s is concerned the contest will develop into a sight-reading one, as the dates fixed (October 10th to 14th) are now little more than a month ahead. The Garrison and City Guards’ Bands played at the Theatre last Wednesday (22nd) evening prior to the performance of the “ The Ticket of Leave” man, and the contest march, “ Dunedin Navals,” formed part of the programme. The candid critic says that neither of the bands played the march perfectly, and it behoves them to practice a little more if they intend to score a good position. The Garrison Band have been making alterations in their practice room, and it looks like a “ fairy palace ” inside now. The walls between the practice-room and the main hall have been padded, so that the sound of the hand when practising will not interfere with the volunteer drill. The interior has been nicely painted and panelled, and the appearance is completely altered. I suppose they will make a bold bid for the championship again, and I don’t think they will be fnr nut when the numbers sro up.

The Guards’ Band played a good programme of music from the rotunda prior to the performance of “ The Ticket of Leave Man.” This band seems to have made great improvement within the last three months. The exhibition bazaar which the City Guards’ Band are promoting is to take place towards the end of the year. The sewing bee is now in full swing, and the ladies have prepared a very large number of ornamental and useful articles. It is to be hoped that the bazaar will prove a financial success, as this band, in my opinion, deserves support. It is on the cards that the Dunedin Navals Band will be at the top of the march contest. However, that remains to be seen. Christchurch Garrison seems to have very hard luck so far as keeping their band together goes. I consider there are too many amateur bandsmen in and about Christchurch. Every solo cornet player up there has a small band of his own.

Stanmore band will appear in all tbe glory of a new uniform. Canterbury Engineers cannot raise a band for this contest,, as a number of their best players cannot obtain the necessary leave of absence. I understand that a meeting of the Executive of the N.Z. Brass Band Association will be held in Invercargill at the contest time, and along with other matters the question of transferring the headquarters from Christchurch to Dunedin will be considered.

Seeing that very few North Island bands compete in our contests, I think a South Island Brass Band Association should be formed with headquarters at Dunedin,