FIRST TEST SELECTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9034, 27 February 1908, Page 5

FIRST TEST SELECTION.

To-night the first test selection, "Gems of Schumaunn," was played on the Recreation Sports Grounds, under the electric light. The weather was beautifully calm and the softest passages were visibly distinct from every point of vantage in the huge natural amphitheatre. The B grade, bands led off together. Masterton led off the A grade bands. The band opened splendidly. The comet solo slipped in the opening bars, and the horn was a little out of tune. The cornet cadenza was very good. The basses were not together in the nine-eight movement. The band played excellently in the andante grasiosa, the cornet givirg a good accompaniment. The soprano wasln good tune, but midsed. The soprano was behind and the accompaniment behind in the ail?gro vivace movement. The trombone solo was good, and the basses very good in the allegro, and 'the band was well together to an excellent finish. The Taranaki Garrison played rtat. The band opened well together. The tempo was slower than the other bands', and the non troppo movement was not quite so crisp as that of the preceding band. The band were nicely together at the cornet solo, which was fairly well dor.e. The cornet cadenza was sweetly intoned, and tie moderate movement was well together, Lut a bit ragged in places. The cadenza was fairly well done. A good performance. Hastings then played. This bard opened well —nice and tuneful. The cornet's were very sweet in the non troppo movemert. The staccato •parts were well brought in. The bard nicely was in tune for cornet sole. The cornet solo wes well taken, but the soloist slipped in his cadenza. The euphonium cadenza was very well done indeed. A fine performance.

The Woolston Band followed with a good opening—nice and full and well sustained. The rrn troppo movement was nicely done. The band were well together in tne euphonium solo. The intermezzo was nicely negotiated followed by a good volume of tone. The band started well together in the allegro vivace, the horn managing his, difficult part moderately well. The band finished fairly well. The Nelson Garrison Band's opening was very good. The tenors were not correct, not playing the staccatos clearly in the second movement. The band were not together in the third movement. The baritone obligato was not sufficiently loud. The cornet solo "Devotion Song" was played beautifully with a tuneful accompaniment. The tenor horn ohligato was a little on the weak side, but the cornet solo was very prpttily played. The final movement was an improvement. The Mornington 'Band next took . the rotunda, and opened good. ..The trombone was a little prominent in the first movement, and very nicely balanced entering the second movement. The band was playing well, nice and crisp, and very well together. The soprano was very effective, and the cornet solo was very well played, and the cornet cadenza likewise. The moderato was fairly well played. In the Declamatory Song the rendition was effective, but the euphonium solo lacked spirit. The cornet obligato was well played. The euphonium cadenza was well played and in good tone. On the whole a good performance. The last band to play was the Auckland First Battalion, who gave an excellent opening. The cornet \ solo, in the "Pevotion Song," was a nice interpretation. The tempo was, perhaps, a little quick, and the solo cornets were not properly together. The moderato was hardly lively enough at the opening, but improved. The euphonium cadenza was fair, and the intermezzo was nicely played, the soprano work in particular being noticeable. The band kept improving, and the allegro was very well played, with an excellent finish. Play finished at half-past eleven. The judge announced the result £3 follows— B. Grade—Palmerston North, 132 points; Marton, 129; Auckland Mounted, 127; Manaia,. 123. A Grade—Mornington, 146 points; Auckland First Battalion, 144; Nelson, 144; Woolston 135; Taranaki, 134; Hastings, 132; Masterton, 130.