COMMONWEALTH BAND

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18917, 4 February 1927, Page 12

COMMONWEALTH BAND

SPLENDID OPENING NIGHT. .\ VARIED PROGRAMME. Evidenilv L'liristi'hun-li niUiii-lovers have ploasint memories of liic previoiitvisits of Australian baud.-, for the Caledonian H«U " us " 111 » l,wl liltl evening for the opening programme of tho Commonwealth Silver Hand, and ;he nudieiieo showed enthusiastic appreciation of every item. The bandsmen presented a smart and efficient appearance in their olive khaki ..niforms with while belt-, epaulette*, culls, and shoulder straps, and they worked with a combination that was remarkable. Every credit should l>e given the conductor (Mr Albert 11. JJailct for ihc manner in which he has .schooled his men and for the control his baton exerts.

The programme last evening was varied enough to suit all shade* of musical taste, and contained selections from the world's classical gems as well as some of the latest dance numbers. There were insistent encore* to almost all tho numbers played, and the band showed its generosity in responding to most. .Several request numbers were civi-n, including a selection from ''The Count of Luxembourg." "Distant (itceting." a march composed by Poring, was the opening piece, and then tho hand played the overture which Pr. Keighley composed as a test selection tor the Belle Vue Contest at Manchester in l'J2(i—"A Midsummer Night's Dream." This is a brilliant descriptive piece of music, which well displays tho technical ability of each member of tho hand. The audience insistently demanded an encore and ".Nearer Jly fiod to Thee" was played. Tho organ effect obtained hero was quite remarkable, and if one closed one's eyes, as tho conductor suggested, it was not difficult to imagine that it was a great organ and not a band that was sending out the. soft and then crashing bars.

Arthur Stender, thrice champion eornetist of Australia, showed himself to he in as good form as when ho played in Christchurch last, and lm was just its popular. Ho played "Hailstorm" (Rimmer) as a solo, and then gave "Roses of Picanly" as an encore number. The first piece is extremely difficult to play, and the soloist found his notes with perfect clarity and stirenevss. Ho played tho encoro with feclinr? and restraint.

11)0 principal item was tho "Tschaikowski" selection arranged by lliramer, containing selections of the composer's best loved works. From the full notes of "181'J" to the lighter touch of the more delicate compositions, the hand handled the selection perfectly, and thp audienco would dearly liavo liked mi oncoro. Harold fteid, tho energetic xylophone soloist played "Hungarian Hag," a. piece adapted from Liszt's •Second .Rhapsody, and the fervour and the vigour of his playing had as much to commend it as his art. The audience were loth to allow this popular young man to go, and ho responded with "Aloha (V* and "Home, Sweet Home," played with four hammers simultaneously. As a novelty number, Mr Robinson played a piece after the manner of the saxophone on his tenor horn. "Valencia" and "Maggie" wcru extremely popular numbers, and «,hovred that the bandsmen are as good at buffoonery as they aro at ploying serious compositions. A selection from "Samson and Delilah'' (Saint-Saens), comprising "Prosper Our Herds." "Oh, Love," "Tho Breath of God," "Softly Awakes 31.* Heart," and "Israel Break Your Bonds" was wonderfully played. Clarrio Collins, tho trombone soloist, plaved "On With the Motley," from *'T Pagliacci." and responded to a recall v.'.U ""Switchback." Tho programme concluded with a descriptive piece. "Threo Blind Mice," and a spirited selection from the "Count of Luxembourg."

At the conclusion of-the programme, Mr Bailo announced that the band had secured a contract in America am! Canada, and would leave Australia in a few weeks. They would alwavs be enthusiastic "boasters'' for the 'binds of Hie south, Australia and New Zealand.

Concerts will be given to-night :titd to-morrow night.