Canterbury Pride

Radio Record, 14 April 1938, Page 13

Canterbury Pride

Veteran Conductor Recalls Highlights in History of Woolston Band

special To The ‘Record’ by

ERIC

BAKER

YORTY-FIVE years ago, out of the Woolston Rifles and the Oddfellows’ Lodge, was born the Woolston Band. Its balance and mastery of music is well known to New Zealand listeners. It las stepped from success to success all its life. Conductor R. J. Estall, interviewed at his home last week, told me a graphic story of the band’s progress. The first conductor, he said, was George Bonnington, who was followed by E. C. Derry, Alec Lithgow (the famous composer), Lieutenant Siddall, who started the band in contest work, and A. Mullinger. In 1915 the band won the championship of New Zealand, but during the war years following there were no contests. Here are the highlights in the story of one of the fines! New Zealand bands to broadcast :-- VETERAN ESTALL has been with the band 85 years. He started his musical career in a school band, later joining the celebrated Jupp.

the Wellington Garrison Band, and, finally, Woolston. He hag played under Capt. W. SS. King, James Crichton, and Lieut. Siddall, all famous men in the brass band world. MMU players come from all walks of life. To. day there are only four playing members who were with the band "when Mr. Iistall took it over. They

are W. Lanhan, R. Barber G, Wilson and P. Dunn. In the personnel there are clerks, painters, plasterers, motor-body builders, railway and Post and Telegraph men. Wools 'ON once had the honour of a fsive-hours’ lesson from Alec Owen, conductor of the Besses o’ the Barn. Wr, Mstall found that experience of inestimable help to him and his band confreres. AUIHOUGH not a military band, Woolston is under stern discipline. The performers are chosen just as much for their behaviour as for their musical ability, and they always receive high praise from contest officials. There are no rules, except the one of esprit de corps. Any man who "lets the band down" would receive the frigid shoulder from the others, HIS combination is purely voluntary and amateur. Al ". yveceipts from broadcasting and other performances go

iuto the band fund, which is responsible for all instruments and uniforms. HERE are two rehearsals a week-more at contest time. To date, Woolston has won over £4000 in competition

Work. TRUE brass band can never be used for jazz or Swing music, says Mr. Bstall. It is totally unsuited to the purpose. The great masters of today are composing for brass — BHlgar, Bantock, Gheel, Gustav Holst and Bath. They are not turning out arrangements, but producing orginal composi-

H YUN-PLAYING is most popular. In the fan mail after @ broadcast the band generally finds requests for at least two more hymns on the programmes. 0-DAY, many musical combinations are experimenting with new arrangements for the National Anthem. Tits original, simple form is the only one, and the Woolston Band adheres to that strictly. PLAYERS sometimes get nervy, even at reheursals. Once a man roared out at the conductor: "I can’t play, and I won’t!" It was arranged for him to have a day’s run in a car. He was perfectly all right next night. A cornet player broke down on the stage, and the band played an accompaniment with no melody. BHven then it finished up second. (Continued on page 41.)

B AND music, particularly the music of competent New Zealand combinations, is becoming increasingly popular with radio listeners. Inthe belief that thumbnail histories of these bands will be of wide interest, the "Record" here presents the first of a series of special articles.

Canterbury Pride

(Continued from page 13.) DISASTERS sometimes occur to any tand while marching. An enthusiastic drum-major of Woolston once knocked a player down with his stick, laying him out cold in the middle of a counter-march. NEW ZEALAND was the first country in the British Empire to introduce marching in the competitions for brass bands, Strange as that may sound, it’s a fact, says Mr. Estall. "THE conductor was the recipient of the King’s medal for his band work. He has judged at 18 different contests, including the Centenary at Sydney. Band work with him is only a hobby, for he is a plasterer by trade. HBRE are 200 bands in New Zealand and each has an average membership of 30.. Australian bands lead technically, but musically they are not as good as the two or three best bands in. the Dominion,