BRASS BANDS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20739, 24 February 1939, Page 10

BRASS BANDS

A GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP WOOLSTON SUCCESSFUL CBy Teleirrapb—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday The Woolston Brass Band won the A grade championship at the New Zealand hand contest this evening, when the second test selection was played. The Wanganui Garrison Band was second, 18 points behind the winner. The selection played was “Robin Hood” (Henry Geeht). Giving bis decision, the judge, Captain H. R. Shugg, said it would be noticed that the winning band had a big margin. Personally he did not believe in points in band contests, but preferred to criticise and then place competitors in order of merit on the , criticism. He thought it time the points system was eliminated. The placings were:—Woolston Brass: First test, 141; second test, 138; aggregate, 279. Wanganui Garrison: 129; 132; 201. St. Hilda Municipal: 12G; 129; 255. Port Nicholson Silver: 128: 122; 250. These were the only competitors. • Cornet Championship B flat Cornet Championship.—R. Simpson Christchurch Municipal), 94 points, 1; W. Stevenson (Woolston Brass), 92, 2; lan Bassett ..Green Island Municipal), 80, 3. The judge said the winner’s performance was outstanding, his playing being practically flawless. Quartet Championship.—Woolston Brass No. 2, 87 points, J ; Wellington Municipal Tramways, 85, 2; Port Nicholson Silver No. 1 and Woolston Brass No. 1, 84, 3. The judge, Captain Shugg, said he had noted an uncertainty as though the players were feeling for their notes. This was especially noticeable among the euphoniums, which indicated that they had been used to pitying too loudly. Brains were more important than brawn, and he advised competitors to use their heads a little more than their lungs. Tenor Horn. —R. Francis (St. Hilda Municipal), 94 points, i; D. Day (Auckland Waterside Workers’ Silver), 92, 2; W. Borrie (Auckland Artillery), 91, 3. Flugel Horn Solo The winner of the flugel horn solo in the championship band contest this morning, Mr M. Trounson, of the Wanganui Garrison Band, was congratulated by the judge, Captain Shugg, on his very fine performance. Mr Trounson was well ahead of the 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 the band masters a month or so before the competition picked out one of their cornet players for the flugel section and the result was that the instrument was played with a cornet tone instead of a round, mellow, flugel 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. Rudhall (St. Hilda 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, G.