BESSES O' TH' BARN BAND

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVII, Issue LVII, 9 April 1910, Page 5

BESSES O' TH' BARN BAND

Hawera weather, which gave this popular band on their previous visit a very rude reception, completely recovered its reputation on Friday afternoon, when the Besses played a matinee programme at the show grounds. The people of the town and district took tull advantage of the opportunity and made the grounds appear as though a snow were to be held. The programme was varied in character, and all played with that finish and attention to the slightest detail for which the band has worthily made its reputation. It was a very delighted audience that sat and listened and at the close regretfully came away, pleased but not sated with the delightful effects produced, the marvellous smoothness ot playing and mellowness of tone in the soft accompaniments, the crash of the full power of the band, and the fine solo playing of the various instruments. In the evening at the Opera House the audience filled the hall, and was as appreciative | and cordial as any performers could i wish. To discriminate between the

various number is very hard indeed. Those who like to hear the full power of the band got ample scope to admire in the 'Pomp and Circumstance" march. Perhaps the finest number from an artistic point of view was the great Liszt "Rhapsodic" substituted by request. Such a work' quite dwarfs any other placed on the programme by its brilliancy, and its magnificent effects. It demands playing of the highest order in all" sections of the band, and the members and their capable conductor simply revelled in its difficulties. The crashing chords, the glorious crescendos and diminuendos, the interpretation of the wonderful harmonies of this great composer's work, all showed powers of execution and effect that have served to place the band in the proud position • they occupy in the musical world of today. The euphonium solo played by Mr E. P. Kerry was a great performance, and revealed beauties in that instrument one could hardly believe it to possess. The tone was delightful, smooth and pure, the execution was very fine, andthe whole number plainly showed the artist. Needless to say, it was enthusiastically encored. In the accompaniment the band showed a feature of their playing that irresistibly appeals. The soft subdued tone was marvellous. One wonders how it is possible to get such tone effects, so like a soft organ combination of stops. The cornet soloist played Liddle's "Abide with Me" in great style. He was not quite so successful in the song, "O, dry ttiose tears." The" two hymns, especiilly the "Lead, Kindly. Light," were played with excellent effect and evoked great enthusiasm in the audience. Any report would be incomplete without mention of the conductor, Mr A. Owen, in, whose hands the band is like one otrand instrument, and responds instantly to his slightest wish of expression. 'Their great success is largely due to his excellent training and control. Their work will iong live in the memory of those who were fortunate to be of the audience.