MILITARY v. BRASS BANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 48, 17 July 1914, Page 6

MILITARY v. BRASS BANDS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Jk-iiio' ;i recent arrival in Xiiw JMyniuii tli. ami having a bent for matters musical, I have been interested somewhat in the controversy now proceeding between the Citizens Committee and the members of the lirass Hand. ami while not wishing (o enter the li-.ls and throw down the Gauntlet either for or against any particular side, tneie is one plu'.-e arising out of the question which 1 Hiould like to touch upon, Ilclore do'Ug 1 so, however, let mc s:i\, in paiVnthcos, that, as a prospective of New I'lyiuoiith, anil coming fresh from a large centre, where the Oc>t of music :s dispenseil, naturally 1 was looking forward to hearing your musical combinations. 1 mu-t candidly admit, sir, t»a( I n-, to say the least, disappointed at | the performances oi the town band oa ' the <mly two occasion on which I haw heard it. What were the causes for such a poor result I am not prepared to venture an opinion, but it seemed to me that whatever they were, it was a great I pity'that a town of the size of iV-w Plymouth <ou!d not produce a better combination. Please do not think for one moment that. 1 wish to cast a .;!ur upon the ability of the conductor for what may or may not have been his fault. I am merely presenting what occurred to me as a stranger. Believe me when "1 say that it is not all sailing' with the wind conducting a brass band, or any other musical combination, for that matter. 1 claim to .speak with sonn. little authority as to the truth of this, as 1 have had the honor of having had charge of choruses, ornhestras and bauds for the last twelve years, and no latrer than a few weeks ago. when leaving 1o settle in your city, I relinquished the pn-ition of conductor of a brass band of about ■!.") performers. I trust Vol! will not think that I am "skiling'' at this statement: it is stated purely to show that 1 know what i am talking about I when I express a note of sympathy with | the conductor. The point arising out of the controversy which does interest mc, however, is the question whether, in the new order of things as decided upon by 'the Citizens' Committee, the band of the future shall be converted into a military band, or shall remain as a purely brass band. 1 must cunfe.-.s that 1 was slight,iy surprised when the idea of turning the present combination into a military band wa*. lir.>t wool- 1. flight 1 ad;, sir.

jit there :tiv in tin' town the nocossii'-y pin vers In sustain the various parts of a military '.and— K Hat, I! lint, and bass clarinets, piccolos, 11;i<,• s. tubas bassoons, etc.. I'ti.V If so, 1 have not yet been alii" to locate tlir'n. lint then, oi cii'll.: l , 1 Hm a comparative newcomer, and have ni.t, yi-t made t'w acquaint:!!!' 'of ai! the musical talwit here. ] am i'l ' to believe th;it there are one or two

I clarinets, an oboe, and a saxaphonc in the town, luil just as one .v.vallow does ii'it. make a summer, so these few iiislni--1::i (i! ■ cannot constitute a military build. Will;.,lit go nil) tlie why and wherefore here. it is necessary for proper ; (>•'; • balance that a considerably hirg.-r i; ui'icr of players tii.iii th.at available at present should be i'ortlu oniing. even ■ iailifj; it !'ui' granted thy' those persons who do play would be will',!!'.; to join a leilitar. blind, if formed. Then, if the ncce-san, in-tnimi-ntali-I- are not :it ! hand, may J. ask how it i, proposed to '' procure tllem '! Would they be imj ported? I fancy that is a proportion the C'iii-', sis' Co'inniitoe would hardly '(are to undertake. Well, what then'.' ! Would the conductor be ox [MH'llill ll) Ih; :11lie nduid do so, providing j hr wa* t-ai i;ii i !i j of playing them himself, •at Ml 111 !!c! I per Ijltlli'tcr per head. Il.lt j who would i*i ;)t the hill, the committee !or l ! )i* iii'li Sir, tin- proposition ' is not so easy of areomplshmoiit as M | appear- on pitpi-r. with nil due [to tho-c '.vim are advocating it. Any I teach"!- o; w od-wind instruments vviil i teli vi.it tea' the-e in-tniments are iiij finitely more diliirult to learn ami per- ; f'fViii on i han purely brass ones; lieir-'e J the scarcit of players. Now, over 'a;_;aimt tai>. i- •!" eomparative case j with which a n;r fellow limy he i taajdsl io play a i.-r.i- - iu,lniiiient. Providing he has an amoiuit of J musical iolaoialiility. he <au taught ' to play Milia-ienUy well io a minor : i niiient in the i♦:i:i• ■ \v a month or • •- i hat if pi' l . ale otherwise i 11;im 1 ji;ihia I:ie i and ilii- i- a very rrmote 1 p: -i!-i!i;\ where bra»s is eoneerned), the j raw material tan he lak< n in hand, and i can p!ea<ir..uly reiai-T the >iinpU i* ehi-s lof iiiu- i" in a few months. Kut. perv hap-, sir. I am under a misapprehea-ion. May-he ii *vas m-ver intended that the hand should he a. proper military com••!M t ion. :<;'i t :11- it should he a bra-s ha;; i wiiii ltie addition of a few red- • [m■ i I tie- r-lle 1hiI! U' llOl" tile otlief. I'lit iillll c,;n« I'ete form, this would mean 1 i '.ci. ind'-s ill-- hva-- portion ul the | land •••;., eery ii nil ;l (atid I hilt- it i id!-, i- in n<> wi ■ e de di'ed ), the woitd- ' v. iiii! d par'i.vni. in if,-elf heard. " , i ' i jh ' 1 -'h • o\«-rMown. s-.t i ; i'. •, v:> oh-.' -■:ai';» in tone, and make ,! iinph :>-anl :)!"•' : i' l -- i *• r;::s emh : M ;! (,a.-. la. i: w : !; . ■•.pr"— i!i" ie-:;'t <.'da'!i d. ! notice. j. in reading L:»e <«■] i'« >p<» ;! d. i: e Mpeuirir.e- the papers an-hi i •. the names uf the .!■ . ii' \ ii.- haHi and tlie Uoval Ar!:h ■ e I.'jhi' l . ! dh 'r- aoiifn! eoi'ddna! m:i ■ ! in 1 ■ i:-ii'. -jH'cl ie.- <i«'parin;-.';it end .■ <- I;■ <-11 <- \ idr■:» J ■■ i'-»" ae-y hand to aim at. | -vnd i! -"em- lo ii;.' tiiat whih' New I'Jy- | iieai! h ma . ht i a. tinie t'teir ! --{an.lard. Im-re i- a much j of it ii e.i i'l'i' the o' tlie 1 l'.;;n than the Koyal .\:'tiilery h:ui'!. 1 Not lh:!l the !!■ -- i:a\'e lower : t;;iii da".l than do-, uie LilU- .. iul he--1 i f the pcr-oaae] of the h:a-- ; . j in !ia;;ihh' "-1 onation, ! ha-- e\ e]~ 'lieen ii . d in New Zeahuid a--, a j -i'i' 1 v hi." ; havd, ;i jtd tiiat. i- • a d"a 1 when you rememher mi -ii | haad-- a~- lie 1 \\an:;anni \\e'- : ihe Kail:or: 1 i. and >u\-h like, lint J -he ai e 11,jti pi)- - I <>i' men who. until It. r wai wej':-or-limiry miners mio-{ ! . : wi;u. in t:n* event of their hand ; e. a/.Jii- lo J ravel, wonld return ti» l'n- ; r j «,M occupations; mat in the t.ther. t'.e j Alt i 1 leJ-V'. ai'e Hi. a who, because ol til j in•• t! i'lll ei;t s t ie.-y play, and their a'.iliU j in play iiiem. v.oidd. if outsiile thf jurh.- ! die(i"ii of the Army, largely join the ■ rani:- of the professionals. In coiedni .-ion ict me state, for fear uf beillir mis-under-li.od, that I ha\e no piuielmnt foi !a baud iiioi'. 1 than a nillitaiv o,te ! i in,lced I. a!on;4 witu othei's. would he ; delighted to HV New I'l.vnioutb with a j military liandi. but ii seems to me that, apart from contest work. ; which Si I per cent, of bandsmen look fo l '- ■ ward to. and from which they would be ' ■ debarred if play'iii.e under military eon- ;; ; ditions. it is inlinitely better to have a ' ' ivasonablv baml tluin a poor '• ' niilitarv one. I am. etc.. t j W. McCI/KI.LAX.