BAND CONTEST AT THE WELLINGTON EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7383, 18 July 1885, Page 5

BAND CONTEST AT THE WELLINGTON EXHIBITION.

A grand ooucert in aid of a fund towards defraying the expenses of sending the Artillery Baud to compete at the band contest of tho Wellington Exhibition, was held last night at the Choral Hall. Unlike benefit performances as a rule, in this instance there was no scratch concert. On tho contrary, there was everything to warrant the ticketholders iu bolieving that there would be a first-class concert, and the fact that Horr Carl Schmitt had not only undertaken the conductorahip, but had inaugurated aud arranged the concert, was a guarantee of its excellence, and the audience had certainly no cause for disappointment. There was a splendid house. Tho hall and gallery were well tilled, the latter being crowded, and some members of the Isaval Brigade, true to their instructions for getting aloft, dimmed over the roof of the side building, |and presented themselves through the windows, happy and contented, apparently enjoying the concert thoroughly. The concert was, without any exception withiu our recollection, jne of the most remarkable | treats ever presented to the musical public of Auckland. The arrangement was unique, its details admirable, and the combinations extraordinary. First we shall refer to the band performances. It has been supposed that there was some jealousy amongst the bauds, but last night's concert muss dissipate that idea, for no fewer than four established bands gave their services, and, further, performed not only separately but in combination. The opening selection, " dymphonia" (Victor Rout), was performed by the Garrison Band, under the baton of Mr. Morris, bandmaster. It was a fino selection, full of chauges and fall ot surprises. Its sudden nction is striking in the extreme, but the effect is very tine, and the instrumentation was such as to lead the audience to regret that Auckland did not send two bands to the Wellington Exhibition instead of one. The feature of the band performances, however, was Herr Schmitt's "Choral March," conducted by the compoaer, and played by a combination of instrumentalists from the Garrison, City, Artillery, and Sheehan's Bands. The effect was grand- beyond description, and the march was never before presented so admirably. The reason is plain. The march iu many parts requires such immense power of distinct instruments, that few bands, at all events none that we hare, can individually produce the desired etl'ect, and last night an effect was given to the music which was almost electrical. The city band played selections from Webbe's great masterpiece, De Frieschutz, under the direction of Bandmaster Impcy. It was as a performance one of the leading features of the evening. The string quartette, by Messrs. C. and J. Hemuß, Clough, and Edger, was also a characteristic leature ; and Mr. M. Sheehan's Band played the valse, "My Sweetheart" (C. Wallace), with great effect. To conclude the band performance, reference must be made to the finale fantasia of "Honoria," played by the Artillery Band, under the leadership of Bandmaster Hunter. But, although the instrumentation aud band performances were prominent features in the performance, they were not the only ones ; and, indeed, in many respects had to take secondary positions, for the vocal music was much appreciated, and deservedly so. Mr. Knox (bass) and Mr. Edwards (tenor) sang a duet, "My heart's delight." It is full of melody and artistic changes, and fairly took the taste of the audience, who not only applauded the singers, but demanded an encore, which, howover, was declined. Both gentlemen were at their best, and the combination of their voices was most effective. Mr. Upfell was announced for a song, but at the last moment Mr. Smyth had to fill a vacancy caused by Mr. Upfell's illness, and he sung the ever-popular bass song, "The Village Blacksmith." Quite a pleasant feature of the evening's programme waa Mrs. Waters' rendering of Gottsford Dick's eong, "Olivia." Mrs. Waters ha 3 a vory pleasing flexible soprano voice, which without possessing any remarkable power is nympathetic in the highest degree, and she was warmly applauded, and subsequently, to fill a gap caused by the absence of another lady, she sang "Kate Kearney" with piquancy and taste. Bluomenthal's song, "The Message" was sung by Mr. J. Edwards, and we never heard him to Letter advantage, and those who had heard Mr. Edwards when his voice (Wan affected recently, muet last night have been surprised at the richness of his notes, and the full expression he gave to this beautiful music. He »vaa recalled twice, aud bowed his acknowledgments, but the audience insisted on an eucorc. He eventually complied, and substituted "Come into the Gardon, Maud." Iα doing bo he make a mistake, for the great strain on his voice in tho first song told on it in this difficult composition, and in several instances ht> was somewhat hoarse, but tho audionoe wae sympathetic, and he was rgain applauded. Mies Moginie's song, "Pierrot" (Hutchieson), was snug very effectively, and Miss Stephemou's song was well received. A musical feature of the evening wan the violin solo, from "II Barbiere." played by Miss Coombes, for whom Herr Schmitt played the piano accompaniment. The young lady played the oiffiealt selection with taste, expression, and care. She showed herself to be an excellent musician, and, perhaps, in no respect more than in her fixed attention to the music before her, regardless of the audience. She was recalled, but, refusing aa encore by a graceful bow, she declined a repetition. Miss Ceombes, judging from the one selection played by her last night, seeme to be not only an enthusiastic musician, but a painstaking student, who feels a keen interest in her studies. The performance was brought to a close by the united bands playing the National Anthem. We cannot conclude thin notice without congratulating Herr Schmitt on the mueical excellence of the performance placed before the public at his instigation and under his direction, and Miss Harding, who was accompanist dnring tho night, showed the accomplishments of a skilled and excellent pianist. Tho performance was a genuine success in point of performance and attendance.