JUDGING OF BAND CONTESTS
Sir,-In view of the very interesting interviews in a recent Listener with three band conductors, I should -like to elaborate a little on my previous article concerning recordings and their value to an adjudicator at a brass band contest. It was not my intention to imply that contests should be judged entirely on recorded performances; but, in my’ opinion, the standard of playing at contests by New Zealand bands to-day is so high, especially in the A Grade, that the advantages to an adjudicator of hearing a band "played back" are obvious. I do not suggest for one moment that tonal quality or balance should necessarily be considered on the recorded per-formance-points for these important
factors should be awarded on the pube lic performance. However, such matters as interpretation, notation accuracy, phrasing, and intonation. would be checked back by hearing the recording, and, if necessary, amplifying the volume so that a great deal of detail possibly lost to the human ear, owing to the acoustic conditions prevalent at the time of performance, might be heard, This should only be done in the case of what may be termed a "photo" finish. It is not always easy for any individual to separate the first three bands when the standard is high, especially in view of the fact that to-day such large entries are received. The system employed could be .quite simple. After all the competing bands had concluded a test. selection, but only when two or three bands are almost inseparable, an adjudicator should have the priviledge of hearing the recordings of the leading bands immediately the final band had played. Now that the NZBS has a Mobile Recording Unit available something like this should not be difficult to arrange. A major point which would have to be considered under the present rules is that a judge would need to be kept in ignorance of the sequence of the draw for order of playing until a final decision had been made, The present system is (ntichioe very well, but I predict that sooner or later a revised system of judging will have to be introduced and it is good to plan
ahead.
T. J.
KIRK-BURNNAND
(Wellington).
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19470411.2.14.2
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 407, 11 April 1947, Page 5
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369JUDGING OF BAND CONTESTS New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 407, 11 April 1947, Page 5
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