COMBINED CONCERT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 16 July 1927, Page 3

COMBINED CONCERT.

SCHOOL AND BAND

A SUCCESSFUL ENTERTAINMENT

The special efforts made, on behalf of their music funds, by the Hawera School Orchestra and Municipal Land, took place in the Opera House last night, and was an outstanding musical event. The house was full and the audience most enthusiastic and responsive. The programme was weli varied in style, and was thus capable of meeting all tastes. The performers, young and adult, were given a most cordial and well deserved reception. Special interest attached to the performance _by the School Orchestra, comprising 30 players, from seven to 13 years of age, find most of the orchestral instruments, with the addition of a certain proportion of brass, were played. Tile young instrumentalists showed a remarkable abandon in their playing, a nice appreciation of expression, and a markedly good attention to tempo. The result was that their varied numbers—they formed excellent contrasts in style of composition—were excellently played, and made a distinct appeal to every one present. The varied effects secured were good, and would have done credit to many an adult orchestra. A feature was their response to the wishes of the conductor, Mr. Fox, who by his good work drew the best from the young performers. A rollicking march ‘‘On the Hike” opened the programme, and it was bracketed with a- very pretty Plantation Patrol, a descriptive selection, which gave them scope to show their best. They well deserved the enthusiastic applause that greeted them, and had to respond to an encore. The second number included anotlici' gay march. “The Flying Ace,” which 1 was given with great spirit. and a beautiful Entracte “Dance of the Fairies.” in which pretty effects were secured. The ensemble throughout was very good, and the sections for strings and wood wind were most effective. The contrasts in tone were very marked. The encore was a pretty waltz “Evening Breezes.” During the interval the School Flute Band played a series of delightful numbers and were recalled. The d'.iets for violins —Miss Margaret and Louis Fox. and for clarinets —Masters D. Rawson and C. Carrel—were very good items. In response to an encore for the former, Louis Fox played a violin solo. The singing of Miss Vera Moginie. who appeared for the first time in TTawern, was much appreciated. She showed herself the possessor of a soprano voice of great range and power and fine full tone, and she has good voice control, excellent enunciation and power of expression. Her work was a distinct feature of the concert. “Down in the forest” was her first number, and it .so pleased the audience that a recall was demanded, and she added tile very beautiful French chanson “Ouvre tes yeux bleus” Her second was “The white birch.” It is very strikingly written, demanding great ability and powers of expression from the singer, and having well contrasted effects. Aiiss Moginie scored a success, and was deservedly recalled again.

The humorous Scotch song, “The Same as Father Did Before Him,” by Master Sydney Horsburgh, given in character, was well sung and was emphatically encored. lie added, “It's Nice, to' Let Up in the Morning. ’ Two monologues, “Shut Up,” a semi humorous .selection, and the very expressive “Twenty (ballons? of Sleep,” were given in good si vie by Air. U. J. AlciFadyon. who came on at short notice to help. He was given a great reception.

A most interesting series was the group of dances, given by; pupils of the Wilson-Ed,wards .School of Dancing. Mrs. Wilson had her young people excellently trained and they did their work in a, most, capable manner and creditably and delighted the spectators. The dressing and staging were both very pretty land effective, and the young performers were given hearty appreciation. The dances included ballet “Fauns and Fairies,” by eight little girls; “Gipsy Bolero.” by Doris AfoGibie; trio, “Dan.se Gaiete,” by Sylvia. Davy, Pat and Joan Murray; song and dance, “Dresden Shepherdess,’ Audrey AlcLaren; duet, “Irish Lilt,” June and Joyce Goodwin; ballet, “Early Victorian,” bv a company of eight little artistes-

The- baud members, supplied two effective numbers. 'lhe former was an item not often heard on a .stage, trombone quartette by Bandsmen Crowder, Pearce. Franks .anti (voucher. All played well and the combined eflect was good. The concluding number was the beautiful and striking “Farewell Symphony” of Haydn, well played with picturesque effects by the full band, under Conductor Fox. The effect as. played with darkened house and stage lit by candles, each performer in turn took up his caudle and departed until only the conductor was left, was very unusual. The conductor then extinguished his candle and all was in darkness. The full effects secured wore excellent, and the recurrence, again and again, of the “motif” in ■different ‘contrasted parts was a feature of the work and was much enjoyed. The accompanist Os during the evening were Airs. Mitchell, Misses Jot l and Rodgers. Before the end of the concert, Mr. J. AA r . J. Harding (chairman of the school committee) thanked all the assisting artists for their valued help, all others who bad rendered assistance, and the puljjic for their enthusiastic reception of the programme-