THE BESSES 0' TH' BARN BAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9163, Issue 9163, 12 March 1910, Page 6

THE BESSES 0' TH' BARN BAND.

South African criticisms teem with complimentary allusions to tho marvellous superiority of the Besses in brass music. Regarding the Cape Town consorts'it was said that the performance was distinguished by a crispness of attack. and a soft lingering over the delicate passages of the various pieces that was quite a revelation to many who predicted that blare would bo the chief characteristic of a brass band's playing. On the contrary the harmony and melody were so tenderly balanced as to place the brass instruments on a plane quite higher than that which is ordinarily associaied with them. Tho audience expressed its appreciation by unfeigned rounds of applause, whilst demands for encores were frequent. In tho concerted pieces the most popular were Waldteufers Waltz Rimer's Fantasia "Memories of Brita in." Douglass'k arrangement of "Reminiscences of Tschaikowsky." Meyerbeer's triumphant march "Schiller," Mendelssohn's "Ruy Blass." and Wagner's "Flying Dutchman." Mr E. Brightwcll delighted the vast audience with Naylor's "Woodland Echoes." played on the xylophone with remarkable skill. Tho xylophone is only our old friend the Kallir piano, as it used to be called in the davs of our youth, but it is wonderful what melody can be. extracted from it in the hands of a proficient performer. Also in the solos Mr W. Ryder played on the cornet Hartman's"Arbucklenian," a difficult piece, calling for the exercise of much skill. As an encore he gave "The Lost Chord," an exquisite performance. The vast capacity of the euphonium was demonstrated by Mr E. P. Kerrv' in Winterbottom's "Fantasia Fantastique." The audience was greatly impressed by the flexibility of the notes that this ponderous instrument can emit, and called for an encore. As extra pieces the. band gave "Hail smiling morn" and "The Village Blacksmith." The whole performance was characterised bv precision and wellbalanced melody, and fully merited the groat ovation accorded it. The Palmerston season, strictly limited, commences at the Opera House on Tuesday, March 22. Full particulars respecting prices, box plans, and booking by post, will be notified later. Mr A. W. Batiste, Messrs J. and N. Tait's principal touring manager, will arrive in Palmerston on Tuesday night, and will be pleased to meet those musically interested.