BAND MUSIC

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 February 1939, Page 8

BAND MUSIC

FURTHER CONTEST RESULTS HIGH PRAISE BY JUDGE. MASTERTON PLAYER WINS TENOR TROMBONE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 22. Enthusiastic praise was lavished by the judge, Mr James Dixon, on competitors in the E flat or EE flat bass solo section in the New Zealand championship band contest this morning. The test piece was "In the Deep. Deep Depths” (Ord Hume). "We have heard a great section this morning." said Mr Dixon. "A lot of people despise old monster bass, but I got a real treat out of this morning's contest. It was a magnificent test, and there was ample opportunity for interpretation. The winner (E. Withell) gave a magnificent performance. The placings were: —E. Withell (Ashburton Silver), 91 points; H. C. Un Win (Wanganui Garrison), 90 points, E. J. Hattan (Port Nicholson Silver), A. Spencer (Wanganui Garrison), L. G. Walker (Wooiston Brass), D. Owen (Taranaki Regimental and New Plymouth Municipal), equal, 89 points. Commenting on the playing of "Brilliant” (Ord Hume) by competitors in the tenor trombone solo competition, the judge, Captain Shugg, said that he was not tremendously impressed by the standard shown. The winner (A. Pearson) was quite good but not outstanding. The placings wore: A. Pearson (Masterton Municipal), 89 points; J. P. Clague (Matamata Citizens), 86 points: H. Croucher (Hawera Municipal), 85 points. B GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP. With a margin of 21 points in the aggregate, the Ashburton Silver Band won the B grade championship, of which the second test was played tonight at the Dominion brass bands contest. “I must congratulate the winning band on its performance in both test selections,” said the judge Captain H. R. Shugg. “It’s playing was quite outstanding, and I do not hesitate to say that it should be B grade no longer.” He complimented all the B grade bands on their playing. Results of the B grade selections were:—Ashburton Silver, first test, 122 points; second test, 130; aggregate, 252. Dannevirke Municipal, 115, 116, 2'31. Feilding Municipal, 108, 121, 229. Christchurch Municipal, 109. 114, 223. Wellington Boys’ Institute, 101, 118. 219. Taranaki Regimental, 104, 111, 215. Lower Hutt Civic, 105, 105, 210. Placings in the baritone solo were:—C. Sharp (Christchurch Municipal), 88 points, 1; R. V. Miller (St Kilda Municipal), 87, 2; T. Fleetwood (Port Nicholson Silver), L. Curtis (Palmerston North Garrison), H. Cairns (Palmerston North Garrison), J. Simmonds (Wanganui Garrison), and W. Hickman Taranaki Regimental and New Plymouth Municipal), 86 points, equal 3. In the B flat cornet championship contest four competitors were recalled for the final. . They were: V. Aldridge (Wooiston Brass), I. Bassett (Green Island Municipal). W. Stevenson (Wooiston Brass) and R. Simpson (Christchurch Municipal).

Mr A. Pearson, who is still a member of the Masterton Municipal Band, is retained as a soloist by the Wanganui Garrison Band during the contest. Mr IL Guthrie, formerly of the Masterton Band and now of Palmerston North, is also taking part in the contest. FLUGEL HORN. WINNER'S FINE PERFORMANCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The winner of the flugel horn solo in lhe championship band contest this morning, M. Trounson, of Wanganui Garrison Band, was congratulated by the .judge, Captain Shugg, on his very fine performance. Mr Trounson was well ahead of lhe two next best competitors, said Captain Shugg, although they played the test piece “Polonaise” (Williams) quite creditably. Although it had been somewhat neglected in the past the flugel was, said Captain Shugg, a very important instrument in any band and more so now than in the past. Most composers wrote special parts for the flugel. In Australia it seemed that bandmasters a month or so before the competition picked out one of their cornet players for the fillgel section and the result was that lhe instrument was played with a cornet tone instead, of the round mellow flitgel tone and its beauty was lost. More consideration seemed to have been given to it in New Zealand. The placings were: R. Trounson (Wanganui Garrison) 88 points 1; R. Rucihall 'St Kilda Municipal) 85 points 2; W. Hambly (Port Nicholson) 84 points 3; E. Ormrod (Port Nicholson Silver) 82 points 4: S. Parker (Wellington Boys’ Institute) 79 points 5; A. C. Rossiter (Christchurch Municipal) 77 points (?.