SALE City Band was complimented on its varied choice of music at the Royal South Street Society Competition for Brass held in Ballarat at the weekend.

One adjudicator was delighted to hear a lively rendition of 12th Street Rag and remarked on the contrast between the pieces and the excellent interpretation of the works by Sale musical director Hugh Davies.

Sale faced some difficult competition in its section where it came in equal third with a combined score of 558.

The band was also congratulated on its tuning across the board on several musical phrases. The adjudicators offered excellent advice on improving the sound while acknowledging the depth of talent in the players.

In a competition at this level there are three adjudicators who sit behind screens so that they can concentrate on the playing and are not influenced by being able to identify the bands in uniform.

Each band is given a tape of the individual adjudicators' comments made while the band performs. This allows the band to hear and identify the passages that the adjudicator is referring to as it is being played.

Bands with whom Sale competed came from as far away as Mildura, Bendigo and metropolitan Melbourne.

Mr Davies said these competitions gave band members a strong reason for playing, and developed their skills, as well as allowing all the members to share in fellowship which was an important part of playing in a local brass band.

DESPITE having one band member on crutches, another recovering from Glandular Fever and one of the most experienced members unable to play, having only left hospital last week, Sale City Band gave a brilliant performance at Traralgon Eisteddfod to win the W. J. Chenhall Memorial Shield on Saturday.

Five bands competed, some travelling from as far as Wodonga and South Gippsland, with others from Mellbourne.

The adjudicator congratulated Sale on its choice of  music and was complimentary about the well rounded playing of the band.

Her only complaint was that Sale's treatment of Cruella De Ville was too nice and didn't bring out the nastiness of the main character.

lt is the second time Sale has won the shield.

Bandmaster Hugh Davies was delighted with the win.

"We have practised hard for this and all the members have been great about giving it their best shot"

HAPPY musos . . . Sale City Band members and sisters Terina and Marita Davies proudly display the winning trophy from a successful Traralgon Eisteddfod.

Sale City Band has been invited to attend the Whale Festival at Eden this weekend as part of its busy schedule before Christmas. The band is hoping to carry greetings from Wellington Shire mayor Cr. Peter Garlick to the community of Eden.

After the festival the band will be playing in the Gippsland Bands Fun Day at Heritage Park, Moe, on November 8, followed by the annual Melody Night on November 15, where it will be joined by Sale College bands.

MARCHING on ... Sale City Band marches along Macalister St. as part of the City of Sale Eisteddfod on Sunday, led by drum major Reg Monck.

THE Davies family won the family ensemble section of the City of Sale Eisteddfod on Sunday at Sale Memorial Hall.

Davies's scored 85 points, defeating the Thomas family by one point.

Third was the Barling family from Lakes Entrance.

The Sale Eisteddfod continues today at Sale Memorial Hall with the completion of the straight music.

On Sunday is the country and popular music section, and on June 6 the speech section begins.

Brass results: any instrument solo 12 years and under:
S. Kent 1,
E. Wendt2,
J. Gordon 3,
D. McKimm (honorable mention);

Any instrument solo 15 years and under:
S. Kent 1,
R. Lobb 2,
D. McKimm 3,
M. Davies (HM);

Any Instrument Solo 18 years and under:
A Bryant 1,
S. Kent 2,
R. Lobb 3,
G. Dunn (HM);
Open solo any instrument:
M. Vodanovich (HM);

Street march:
Baimsdale Citizens Band 1,
Sale City Band 2;

Brass band entertainment contest:
Baimsdale Citizens Band 1,
Sale City Band 2;

Instrumental ensemble-concert band:
Sale City Junior Band 1,
Sale City Concert Band 2;

Duet any instrument 16 years and under:
D. McKimm-J. Gordon 1 ,
G. Dunn-M. Wilkinson 2;

Open duet any instrument:
R. Thomas-B. Thomas 1,
T. Frost-T. Davies 2,
M. Monck-M. Davies 3;

Ensemble 18 years and under:
Sale City Band (HM);

Ensemble 19 years and over:
Sale City Band number two 1,
Sale City Band number one 2;

Family ensemble:
Davies 1,
Thomas 2,
Barling 3.