SOUSA'S BAND.

Evening Star, Issue 14636, 4 August 1911, Page 9

SOUSA'S BAND.

Sousa and his band have made good in Dunediu. It was inevitable that they should, for a reputation such as theirs, it may be supposed, lias been built on a firm foundation. The public of Dunedin, bearing in affectionate rcmembranco the- playing of the Besses, had it in their minds, possibly, to make comparisons, but that idea has been dispelled, for they realise now that each band, apart altogether from the character of tho instruments employed, has an individuality of its own, and that to institute comparisons, except in a very general way, would be futile. Sousa's Band are remarkablo for originality, and the novel and bizarre effects they produce, without in any way offending the canons of good taste,* £=re 'little short of marvellous. Even in this young country life at times seems flat and unprofitable, and anyone who can lift us right out of ourselves is hailed as a friend and brother. A person who can listen without emotion to the playing of Sousa's Band in one of their dramatic pieces, particularly when the full force of the band is engaged, must bo cast in quite a different mould from the average, man or woman. Concert No, 4 yesterday afternoon was made memorable for the magnificent playing by the band in the Strauss and Liszt selections and the cornet and violin solos bv Mr H. L. Clarke and Miss Zedeler,

'in the evening the fifth concert attracted a splendid house. It is a significant (actthat each evening the audience has been larger than that of the preceding night. Tins happens iu cautious Dunedin when anticipations have been fulfilled or exceeded, aud naturally the process is reversed when a- company fails to reach the standard claimed by its' heralds. The work of the baud iu this concert confirmed the ideas already formed —certainty of effect, restraint, balance, and beautiful tone, all a, tribute to the master hand wielding the baton. The programme contained plenty of variety, but there is one class of music in which'we should like to hear this band, and that is in light standard pieces so familiar to Dunedin andienees._ Without going into deiail. it may be said that the band achieved their greatest successes last night in Liszt's rhapsody, 'The Fourteenth,' though in 'The Gipsy' (Ganne) and the well-known ' Poet and Peasant' tSuppe) the audience showed a good deal of enthusiasm. A line programme has been arranged for this evening.