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
Penzance Contest
Penhalverne
(Penzance Independent Band)
29th September 1893
Adjudicator: Frank Winterbottom
Test piece: Own choice
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Marazion (Les Amoureux) | ||
| 2 | Hayle Rifle Volunteers (Haddonhall) | ||
| 3 | Stenalees (Midnight echoes) | ||
| 4 | Drift (The Stranger) | ||
Test piece: Trafalgar
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Stenalees | 71 | |
| 2 | Hayle Rifle Volunteers | 68 | |
| 3 | Marazion | 63 | |
| 4 | Drift | 45 | |
“A band contest, organised by the Penzance Independent brass band took place yesterday afternoon in the grounds of Penhalverne, … The competing bands were the Hayle and Marazion Volunteer bands, the Stenalees band and the Drift (Sancreed) band. The conditions of the contest excluded all bands which have won first prize during the past three years. Mr. P. Winterbottom, the judge, awarded the first prize the Marazion band, Hayle taking second, Stenalees third, and Drift fourth.” (30 September 1893 – Western Morning News)
“Band Contest At Penhalverne. The painstaking and successful little Penzance Independent band, of which Mr. John Andrew is the energetic conductor, like other institutions need funds to purchase new music, better instruments, and meet other expenses; and to this end they organised a band contest at Penhalverne the residence Mr. T. Robin Bolitho on Friday, Sep. 29th. Prizes amounting to £25 were offered, and four bands competed – Hayle rifles, Stenalees, Marazion, and Drift. The Penzance band played in the Green-market, then met the visitors. Soon after 1 p.m. the bands marched from the station through the town to Penhalverne, playing right merrily. The contest piece was the nautical fantasia “Trafalgar,” and Mr. Frank Winterbottom, band-master of the Royal marines, Plymouth, was the judge. Stenalees band played “Midnight echoes” as a test piece; Drift played “The Stranger”; Hayle “Haddonhall” ; and Marazion “Les Amoureux,” the test pieces Hayle did not play “Haddon hall” as well as at Helston. Perhaps they had devoted more time to the contest piece. The order of merit then was considered by competent judges to be – l, Stenalees ; 2 Hayle ; 3, Marazion; 4, Drift. The contest-piece was not especially difficult, but called for judgment and taste in execution. The well-known air “The death of Nelson” comes in the piece. Like Cassablanca the Hayle band stood their posts and played in a downpour which drenched them to the skin. As the judge could not hear the last half they were encored; and, the weather brightening, they played again and were heartily applauded. The award was 1, Marazion, 71 marks ; 2, Hayle, 68 : 3, Stenalees. 63 ; 4, Drift, 45. A Silvani and Smith’s silver trophy, value one guinea, for the best cornet player, Mr, Charles Jory, Hayle. The prizes were distributed by Mr. Edwin Richards, of Morrab-road, and afterwards the first and second prize bands played in the town until 7 pm. The probable reason why Truro, Illogan, and Camborne bands did not compete is that bands, which had won a first prize during the last three years, were barred; but where were Redruth and Helston rifles, Hayle artillery, and the numerous village bands in West Cornwall? The attendance of strangers was good but townspeople – perhaps owing to rifle and artillery shooting, and the funeral Mr. Trounson were not so numerous. The band cleared expenses by subscriptions collected beforehand; so gate receipts were clear profit. Marazion pulled up splendidly in the second piece, the euphonium being excellent. Hayle band went to pieces, and lost the first prize owing to a defect in the euphonium solo. Stenalees also fell behind; and Drift continued to keep fourth place. Before announcing the prize-winners Mr, Winterbottom said he thought he ought to explain why he desired the Hayle band play a portion of the contest a second time. The rain beating upon his tent made such a noise that he could not hear the last half the piece. He added, with irresistible logic, “If I can’t hear, I can’t judge.” He was very pleased to see one improvement in the order of playing the pieces. The bands all played their test pieces first and then the four played the contest piece in succession. This was preferable to the practice of one band playing both pieces without taking needful rest between. He hoped someday to see more alterations and improvements. He considered the instruments used should be of the same number and quality – not in the make of instruments, but reeds ought not to be mixed with brass instruments. (Applause.) Brass bands ought to play against brass bands. (Hear, hear) Not that it made much difference to him; for in his tent he could not hear the reeds, or very little of them. When distributing the prizes Mr. Edwin Richards said was very pleased to be there with Mr. Andrew, who devoted so much of his time and ability to organizing the Penzance Independent band, which gives so much pleasure to the town. He was glad not only to listen to the band but to see young men interested in music instead of spending their time improperly, as some young men do. He believed music and bicycles would be the making of the next generation. (Laughter.) He could conscientiously say, after hearing the four bands, that he thought Marazion deserved the prize; He had no doubt that had the Independent band played, the attendance would have been larger, but he believed they had spent a pleasant and profitable time. Hayle band felt sore because they considered they should have been asked to cease playing as soon as the rain fell if they were spending their strength for nought.” (5 October 1893 – Cornishman)
1927
First Annual Bandsmen’s Festival
Treveor, Alverton, Penzance
4th June 1927
Organised by Penzance Independent Band
Adjudicator: J Eaton from Brotherton, Yorks
Open Section
Test Pieces: Operatic Beauties / The Exile March
Camborne Town under A W Parker: 1st / 2nd
Bugle Silver under W Adamson: 2nd / 1st
Stenaees Silver under M Minear: 3rd in the march
Hayle Silver under JTanner:
Third Section
Test pieces: Casino Tanze / Hymn tune Euphony
St Ives Town under E J Williams: 2nd / 2nd
St Newlyn East under A W Parker: 1st / 1st
Hayle Silver under J Tanner: 3rd / 3rd
St Just (Boys) under J Marks:
1928
Second Annual Bandsmen’s Festival
Sports Field, Penzance
26th May 1928
Adjudicator: Dennis Wright
Open Section
Test pice: Semirande / Sandon Hymn Tune
Camborne Town under A W Parker: 1st / 1st
Hayle Silver under J Tanner: 3rd / U
Newquay Town under W Juleff: U / 3rd
St Austell under E F Woodhead: U / U
St Dennis under C H Baker: 2nd / 2nd
Third Section
Test Piece: Sea Songs / London Pride march
Carharack Temperance under T Hubbard: 3rd / U
St Erth under C H Baker: 4th / 4th
St Ives Town under E J Williams: 2nd / 2nd
St Just Silver under J Marks: U / U
St Newlyn East under A W Parker: 1st / 1st
St Pinnock Temperance under M Kessell: U / 3rd
1929
Penzance Contest
Adjudicator:
St Dennis placed 1st.
1930
Penzance Contest
(Penzance Independent Silver Band)
1930
Adjudicator:
No report found
1931
Penzance Contest
(Penzance Independent Silver Band)
May 1931
Adjudicator:
St Dennis placed 2nd for both the test piece and the march.
Correspondence. Recent Band Contest at Penzance. Sir, It with much regret that owing the very inclement weather experienced on the occasion of our annual band contest held last Saturday week (Whit Saturday), what otherwise would have been a great success has ended in a financial failure. With a loss on the contest of 1930, and a greater loss this year, there is a deficit of over £50 on the band fund. Needless to say it will impossible to continue these contests if this loss is not met, and our committee feel that amongst music lovers in the town and district there must be many who would willingly subscribe, if only a small amount, to help and to keep going what many consider is an asset the town and district generally. We are very pleased to state that the committee of the Penzance Cricket Club have already promised us £3 towards the amount required and we thank their officers and committee very sincerely for their liberality. Through your kindness Mr. Editor we shall be pleased to acknowledge all amounts received whether large or small through the columns of your largely read paper.—Thanking you in anticipation, yours faithfully, W. J. JORDAN, Chairman of Committee. A. JEWELL, Hon. Treasurer, Penzance Independent Silver Band. 4, High-street, Penzance, 3rd June 1931. (11 June 1931 – Cornishman)
1933
Penzance Contest
(Penzance Independent Silver Band)
Adjudicator:
St Dennis placed 1st for both the test piece and the march.
1973
Penzance
1973
Adjudicator:
C section test piece: Neapolitan Suite for Brass
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Lanner & District | J Anderson | |
| 2 | Pendeen | Capt A G Richards | |
No report found of this contest
Compiled by Tony Mansell (Bardh Kernow)