Contesting

Not all bands enter competitions and there are some which shun the contest stage, preferring to concentrate their efforts in providing music for local events. For most players, though, contesting has always been an important part of brass banding, the reason that they spend so many hours trying to perfect their art. It provides them with the opportunity to test their musical skills against others and, of course, to bring home that silverware.

This section includes brass band contests which have taken place in Cornwall. I doubt that all are here, and there are certainly some results missing, but, over time, it is hoped that it will become a comprehensive record of all Cornish Contests.

 

 

1932

 

1^st Camborne Carnival Contest

14^th May 1932

Adjudicator: F Halford

 

Second section test piece: Boadicea march / Own choice

Placed		Conductor	Points
1	Penzance Silver	J Probert
2	Truro City	George Cave
3	Redruth Town	Edwin J Williams
	Gweek	S Reynolds
	St Erth	Norman Trudgeon

 

Third section test march: Death or Glory (Robert Browne Hall)

Placed		Conductor	Points
1	Redruth Town	Edwin J Williams
2	St Erth	Norman Trudgeon
3	Gweek	S Reynolds
	St Stythians	Tom Hubbard

 

Fourth section test piece: Erimus

Placed		Conductor	Points
1	St Stythians	Tom Hubbard
2	Paul	S Carne
3	Heamoor	S Gwennap
4	St Agnes

 

Fourth section test march:  Possibly Golden Spur

Placed		Points
1	St Stythians
	Paul
	Heamoor
	St Agnes

 

 

“Well done, Paul Band!” was the expression used by the villagers, on Saturday evening, when the news was received that Paul Band had won second prize at Camborne Band Contest. Hearty congratulations are due to Mr Carne the bandmaster for the untiring interest which he has taken in the training.” (19 May 1932 – Cornishman)

“The first annual band marching contest at the Camborne Recreation Ground on Saturday arranged by the officials of the Camborne Junior Band. At the close a massed band performance was conducted the judge, Mr Fred Halford, late of Foden’s Works and Besses…” (16 May 1932 – Western Morning News)

“Towns people hope that the Camborne Junior Band flag day and band marching contest, held on Saturday, will be made annual event, and the promoters say that that is their intention.” (19 May 1932 – Cornishman)

“One of these bands wearing no uniform. They marched and carried themselves well. He gave first place to Stithians Band (Mr T Hubbard).” (19 May 1932 – Cornishman)

 

1933

 

2^nd Camborne Carnival Contest

1933

Adjudicator:

 

No report found

 

1934

3^rd Camborne Carnival Contest

10^th July 1934

Adjudicator: A W Parker

 

Test piece: Echoes of Spring (J A Greenwood)

Placed		Conductor	Points
1	St Stythians	Tom Hubbard
2	St Ives	E Ogden
3	Marazion	Beth David
W	Gweek

 

March: Own choice

Placed		Points
1	St Ives (Palmer House)
2	Marazion (Viva Pette)
3	Stythians (Knight of the Road)

 

Marching march: Own choice

Placed		Points
1	St Ives (Faithful and True)
2	Stythians (Knight of the Road)
3	Marazion (Winniford)

 

 

“Carnival Band Contest. Camborne’s lovely carnival queen, Miss Doris Kneebone, distributed the prizes at the band contest held in the recreation ground on Tuesday, in connection with Camborne’s week of carnival. Queen Doris was supported by Mr. C. J. Cooke .(president of Redruth Town Band), Mr. R. D. Nettle (hon. sec. of Camborne Town Band and the Carnival Committee), and Mr. A. W. Parker (the adjudicator, and master of Camborne Band).

Medals. Best pair of drummers: St. Ives (R. Bennetts and C. Chinn). Best baritone player: St. Ives (J. Boase). Best trombone and bass trombone: Stythians (M. Trerise and W. Prowse). Following the contest, Mr. Parker conducted a massed performance of: “Knight of the road,” and “Deep harmony.” In announcing the awards, Mr. Parker said that, if there had been a medal for the best player of the day, it would have gone to the baritone player of St. Ives Band (J. Boase). He remarked that the marching all round was very good, but he had not had to judge it; the marching piece was included only to encourage the drummers, and there appeared to be only one band that had drummers (St. Ives). In the march test on the stage he had had a very difficult problem, because, with third section bands and lower one sometimes got them attempting marches which were too difficult, and, on other occasions, marches which were too easy; and they often did not play the easy one better than the difficult one. Mr. Parker warned the bands that rough playing would lead them nowhere, whereas faults of intonation and a little untunefulness could sometimes be mastered. …” (19 July 1934 – Cornishman)

 

 

Compiled by Tony Mansell (Bardh Kernow)