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.
Camborne – Truro Challenge Contest
Tregullow
28th September 1891
Adjudicator: Alfred R Seddon
Test piece: Il Giuramento (Mercante)
Placed | Conductor | Points | |
1 | Camborne Volunteers | William Uren | 71 |
2 | Truro Volunteers | Samuel Traise | 69 |
Test piece: Cinq Marc (Gounod)
Placed | Conductor | Points | |
1 | Truro Volunteers | Samuel Traise | 126 |
2 | Camborne Volunteers | William Uren | 121 |
Winners on points aggregate: Truro Volunteers 195 points / Camborne Volunteers: 192 points
(For a full report about the challenge and the outcome of this contest see West Briton 6th august 1891)
One of the main topics in Truro and in the Mining Division for the past few weeks has been the rival claims of the Truro and Camborne Volunteer Bands to premier honours. For years Truro Band has ceased to compete at the usual contests in the county because less pretentious bands refused to take part if they did. A month or so ago, however, Truro entered the field again at Tregullow, and then Camborne, for what cause is scarcely discernible, shrank from competing and Truro stood at the top of the list. Camborne immediately challenged the Truronians. Bandmaster Traise, having confidence in his men, accepted the challenge and arrangements were made by representatives of the rival musicians for a contest. Men of high standing, such as the bandmaster of the Life Guards, Dan Godfrey and his brother were asked to become judges but the services of neither could be secured. Then about half-a-dozen names were mentioned between the two bands, and at length one selected from the batch – Mr. Seddon, of Derby. With what credentials he came we know not, suffice it to say both bands agreed to him and he selected the pieces for the trial, which took place at Tregullow on Monday, the seat of Mr. C. A. V. Conybeare, M.P., at Scorrier. By noon there seemed to be a general exodus of the male population of Truro, Camborne, Redruth, and Illogan, and many came from miles around to hear the performances of the two bands. The Great Western Railway had to run a special from Truro to accommodate the large number of patrons who thronged the Truro platform; and then extra carriages had to be added to the ordinary trains, while hundreds went by road to the rendezvous. At the grounds the gathering was a large one, and there was no doubting the fact that a majority knew something about music and were of a critical disposition. Many feared that the contest might terminate unhappily but never have we seen a more orderly, well-behaved, and good-natured assembly of people than that which took place on Monday, and the manner in which all conducted themselves was a credit to the manhood present. There was plenty of excitement, in fact the nerves of many were strained to fever point, and when at last the arrangements had been made and the judge had asked the assembly not to demonstrate in any way until both bands had finished, there was a breathless silence as Mr. Traise’s men ascended the band stand. True indeed was the remark, that more than one matter-of-fact miner made, when he said the band was composed of a “pack of boys.” Never before bave we been so struck with the youthfulness of most of Mr. Traise’s forces; but should they win all the more credit to him and to them. Mr. Traise, with the care which always characterises him, took a considerable time in arranging matters, and then at a few minutes past three the performance of ” II Giuramento,” was commenced by the Truro band amid the silence of the crowds To us there seemed to be little defect in the playing except now and again in the breaking; of a note, or a little hurried passage or two in solo parts, and when the piece, which took … minutes to get through, was finished, there was, contrary to the expressed wish of the judge, a round of approving applause. The Camborne band then mounted the stand and … minutes after commencing had accomplished their task. To our mind by far the better … of the piece was that of Truro. Some portions were taken with such softness, sweetness, and evenness as to resemble the organ as nearly as possible, while with the Camborne men there was seldom absent a little brassiness, which detracted from the effect. But on the whole both bands played well, and the Camborne men, as was only right, were accorded their share of applause. Next came the test piece “Cinq Mars,” by Gounod , a selection likely to try the skill and ability of any amateur band, but we are bound to admit that both bands came out of the ordeal with considerable credit, though we are constrained to say that the Truro men shewed decided signs of what is called “funking,” while the Camborne men played in a manner which was an improvement on their ordinary performance in public. The Truro men played this piece first, the difficult cornet solos being taken admirably, the euphonium solos very well, though with a little nervousness, and, considering the player is but a youth, the trombone solo was very creditable, though not nearly so well played as at the rehearsals of the band. The performance of this piece took exactly eleven minutes. Then the Camborne men came forward again, but it was evident from the first that they were not “in it” in this piece. The smartness which the Truro band displayed in many of the movements was lacking, the cornets were slovenly in their work, the leading cornet broke down in his critical solo, and the trombone player, who had proved himself until the last bar or two of his solo the best man of his band, fell into the same defect as his rival in the previous performance and lost a point. One noticeable thing in the Cambornians’ playing was the bad style in which the solos were accompanied, the latter at times being scarcely distinguishable, while the crescendos were not a patch on those performed by the Truronians which were almost perfect. The time taken to play this piece was the same by each band – ll minutes. The contest was now over, not an hour having being occupied altogether. It was with anxious -expectation that the judge’s report was awaited. But he did not keep the crowds that thronged … and the grand stand long. As he ascended the stand there was a general rush for priority of place, and silence having been restored, Mr. Seddon began to address the people. He said he had come a very, long way to judge that day – something like 350 miles – and he assured those present that be had come with all his wits about him, a remark which seemed to cause some misgiving as to the fact. The playing of the bands was, be considered, on the whole, rather better than he expected, a remark which some applauded and others smiled at. “I have,” he continued, “taken great care with the details of my decision, which will appear in print. My remarks will be sent – after having been written fully, showing whys and wherefores – direct to some of your local …, so that they cannot be interfered with. The two pieces which I sent down are not easy pieces – comparatively speaking – but still there was a good deal more wanted in the playing. In both bands considerable breadth of tone was wanting. There was too much chop. All this was being said in a broad north dialect, and then be went on in the same vernacular to say, ” Take, for instance, the three-four movement — pop-pop-pop-pop – pop-pop-pop-pop. That’s too choppy. It wants singing like the human voice. Then the cadences. The man who has to sing or play the cadence, once be starts, must be very careful and want to know how he goes on, or be gets his nose in the …, as we call it, very quickly.” This remark called forth some laughter, though it seemed to many to savour somewhat of mediocrity. “There is,” he continued, “a good deal about the bands to be considerably improved. The time on the whole was very fair and I have not much fault to find and it counts in my decision to-day. As to the performance, No. 1 band gets 69 marks and No. 2 gets 71.” At this announcement a frantic cheer went up from the throats of the Cambornians, but their enthusiasm was sud denly damped by the significant “but” which fell from Mr. Seddon’s lips; and then there was a deathlike silence – ” that is on the first piece. No. 1 band gets 126 marks, and No. 2 121 on the second piece, consequently No. 1 band gets 195, and No. 2. 192 – On1y three marks difference between the two bands. There was a considerable cheer raised by the Truronians at this announcement, but it was not whole-hearted, and there seemed to be a feeling that after all the judging was little short of a …. The decision was “wishy-washy in the opinion of half of those present, and although Mr. Traise, the hero of the hour, was hoisted and carried round the grounds by some of his admirers, the decision fell “as flat as ditch water,” and the crowds to a great extent at once made The Camborne band, however, played a capital programme of music to a large number of people during the remainder of the afternoon. Truro had a warm reception on their arrival in the city in the evening. (1 October 1891 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1891: “The Truro-Camborne Band contest is a thing of the past, the former band winning by the skin of their teeth, vulgarly quoting. Though defeated, Camborne…” (1 October 1891 – The Cornish Telegraph)
Cornwall Gazette 1st October 1891
Compiled by Tony Mansell (Bardh Kernow)