MUSICAL FESTIVAL

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 14049, 2 May 1946, Page 4

MUSICAL FESTIVAL

SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO TAURANGA

WHANGAREI SALVATION ARMY BAND It is not often’that Tauranga is favoured with visiting hands, and despite the unpropitious weather on tiie occasion of the visit to Tauranga of the Whangarei Salvation Army Band and vocal party during Easter week, quite good audiences greeted this talented combination. ,

The visitors, under the care of Major Morley, arrived at about G.?>o on the evening of Good Friday, completing some 2GS miles distance, in cars. Among the visitors was Bandmaster Herbert Rive, solo cornettist and a distinguished composer and arranger, who had just returned from service overseas. Deputy Bandnraster Vyle, under whose baton most of the selections were played, was responsible for the recent training of the band, and the production of such a well-balanced and tuneful combination speaks highly of his ability and tireless effort. The band was pleased to have with it the corps pianiste, Mrs C. A’Court, A.T.C.L., L.T.C.L., whose masterly rendering of pianoforte solos was most delightful and showed musicianship and technical skill of a high order. Major Morley proved himself an accomplished artist on the English concertina and as a cornettist.

The outstanding feature during the various programmes was without doubt the quartettes rendered by Bandmaster Rive and Bandsmen 11. Jenkins, Harvey an Holderway. These numbers were indeed a revelation in beautiful harmonies and dynamics—from a delicate whisper to a triumphal fortissimo —pleasingly tuneful and well balanced. On Sunday afternoon the visitors met at the Tauranga Public Hospital and entertained the staff and patients to a delightful band recital. On Saturday, April 20, the band gave a unique performance at the Civic Cabaret.

Mr F. W. Doidge, M.P., presided, and during the evening appealed for support towards, the new army citadel shortly to be erected in Tauranga. This building, said Mr Doidge, would be something of which Tauranga citizens could be proud, and was . going to be a very necessary adjunct to the accommodation of the growing activities of youth work among the young people here.

The following was the programme:—Band selections, “Montreal Citadel,” “Echoes of Calvary,” ‘“Happy Day,” “Songs, of Devotion,” “Deep Harmony” and “The Rally.”

Pianoforte solos (Mrs C. A’Court) “Etude No. 3” (Chopin), “Valse in A” (Rachmaninoff), “Bird As Prophet” (Schumann), “Jesq, Joy of My Soul” (Each), “Sheep May Safely Graze” (Bach). Concertina solos (Major Morley), “He Was Despised” (Handel), “Chimes And Organ”; cornet duet (Bandmaster H. Rive and A. O’Jala, Tauranga), “Jesus is Strong to Deliver” (H. Rive); trombone duet (Bandsmen Harvey and Holdaway) “We Shall Win”; male quartettes, Negro Spirituals, “I’ve Got a Robe,” “It’s Me O Lord,” “Deep River,” “The Church in the Wildwood.” and a hilarious skit by the quartette party entitled “Up Guards • and Atom!” in which Bandsman Harvey, as the professor, proved himself a most versatile artist.

Captain Christian, on behalf of the local corps, expressed his gratitude for the support given the band and to Major Morley and his party for the very fine spirit displayed by them in coming from so far afield and giving his- hearers such a musical treat. He also thanked Mr Doidge for his able chairmanship. The party left for home early on Easter Monday morning.