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.
1893
1st Helston Contest
(Helston Rifle Band)
Nansloe, Helston
22nd July 1893
Adjudicator: Mr Winterbottom
Test piece: Haddon Hall (Arthur Sullivan) plus Own choice
Placed | Conductor | Points | |
1 | Penzance Independent | J Andrews | 77 |
2 | Redruth (The Wolf) | R H Heath | 72 |
3 | Hayle Rifle Volunteer (Babylonia) | Mr Candler | 70 |
4 | Hayle Artillery (Il Guirmento by Mercadante) | Mr Trebilcock | 67 |
Brea (The Champion) | John Harris | 43 | |
W | Illogan Fife and Drum | ||
“Mr. Andrews and his Penzance Independent band may well march through their native town ‘with an independent air’ for they have done something better than broken the bank at Monte Carlo. At Nansloe, near Helston, on Wednesday, they added another first prise to the several they have had at county band-contests, which honour we are glad to see bestowed upon them, they are steady young … Neither Truro nor Camborne volunteer bands put in appearance although they were once jealous of their reputation that they had challenge-match at to settle the question of superiority. Were they afraid of Penzance Or was not a £16 prize good enough to tempt them to the town of the Flora-dance? Hayle bands were not at all bashful. The rifles and artillery are like oil and water—they don’t mix. … Mr. Winterbottom specially commended the fifth band [Redruth] that played … we may mention that he detected that one of the Redruth bands is a German – from his manner of blowing his instrument!” (27 July 1893 – Cornishman)
1894
2nd Helston Contest
(Helston Rifle Band)
Penhellis Field, Helston
4th June 1894
Adjudicator: E Binding, bandmaster of the Royal Naval Band
Test piece: L’Elisir d’amore – Elixer of Love (Donizetti) / Own choice
Placed | Conductor | Points | |
1 | Hayle Artillery (Marino Faliero) | E Trebilcock | |
2 | St Just DCR (Rival) | T Williams | |
3 | Illogan (William Tell) | Harry Oxland | |
4 | Penzance Independent (Pride of Wales) | John Andrews | |
5 | Stenalees (Trafalgar) | F Richards | |
1894: “Hayle Artillery Band are being congratulated by their friends on having won first prize at Helston band contest and Mr Merrifield, a member of the band, on his winning the silver medal for best cornet solo.” (7 June 1894 – Cornishman)
“The band contest at Helston on Monday was favoured with moderately bright weather and there was a capital attendance. The contest was organised by Mr. Blight, conductor the Helston rifle band, and it was held at Penhellis, …”(7 June 1894 – Cornishman)
1895
3rd Helston Contest
(Helston Rifle Band)
3rd July 1895
Adjudicator: Frank Winterbottom, Royal Marine bandmaster
Test piece: Utopia
Placed | Conductor | Points | |
1 | Penzance Silver | 40 | |
2 | Helston Volunteers | 31 | |
Euphonium: Alfred Harris, Helston
(RCG 4th July 1895)
“The 3rd annual band contest held on Wednesday in a field at Penhellis, kindly lent by the mayor (Mr. F. V. Hill), was anything but a success. Notwithstanding that the prizes were good enough to have secured a strong competition, only two bands competed, as recorded.” (4 July 1895 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
Compiled by Tony Mansell (Bardh Kernow)