THE EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15514, 22 January 1914, Page 9

THE EXHIBITION.

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT.

• LARGE ATTENDANCE.

FLYING ON SATURDAY.

Tnr, attendance at tho Exhibition yesterday »a.i considerably above the average. The fart that tho Royal Artillery Band pave its first orchestral concert last nicrht probably accounted for tni6. Interest in the band is reaching a culminating point in view of the band's approaching departure on a Southern tour, and the crowd round tho Monnio bandstand, from which the concert was given, was very largo. The attendance for the day was 7213, of *bom 2198 wen. season-ticket holders, while 4322 adults and 693 children paid at the turnstiles. In addition, over 500 people paid for admission to tho cricket ground for the amateur athletic sports. The aquarium was visited by 376 people yesterday. Oases of Collapse. The hot sun is accounting for a number of caws of collapse, and sunstrokes, be-'-.na .sect to the St. John Ambulance BriCade depot in tho grounds. Since the Exhibition opened, first-aid has been rendered to no fewer than 185 people, tho largo majority of whom wero suffering from minor complaints. Last night one of the bandr.men collapsed, and just after h ■ bad been attended to some young ladies called for treatment for sun burns reic.vod, not at the Exhibition, but whilo bathing on one of tho beaches. A considerable number of children have visited the Exhibition recently, amongst I them the whole strength of the Remuera I hildren's Home. Escorted by a member « .' the executive, they visited the palace of industries, tho aquarium, provincial, and machinery courts. At the entrance to Wonderland the party was met bv Mr. Mitchell, the secretary, and they had one long period of fun and frolic." Several stallholders provided refreshments for tho i hildreu. To-morrow will be a children's day, arid in the afternoon, from two to five | . 'dock, there will be a demonstration of spraying and the mixing of sprays by ' Messrs Williams and Craigie, of the i orchard division of the Department of ' Agriculture. < 1 The Aeroplane Plight. On Saturday there will be big attrac- , tions both in the afternoon and evening. '. In the afternoon Mr. J. ,J. Hammond "ill fly the Dominion's monoplane over th» Domain, and give an exhibition of all those graceful motions associated with an *cronlano on tho wing. Keen interest has Veen aroused by the successful trials of the machine and the reports of Mr. Hammond's skill, and a largo crowd will no . doubt pay for admission to the Domain. Military Tattoo. On Saturday evening the military tattoo will take place. The first event of interest on the programme will be the figure marching by 250 torch-bearers. A musical selection will follow, and then a cutlass display by seamen from the warship Pyramus. Next will bo given the descriptive fantasia, " The Battle of Waterloo," introducing English, Scotch, Welsh, and Irish marches, and some fine d-*criptivo music. The following bands will be combined for this number: — Royal Artillery, 3rd Mounted Rifles, Auckland Garrison, 3rd Auckland Regiment, Auckland' City, Central Mission, Temperance Guards, Onohunga Municipal, St. Andrew's Society Pipe Band. Auckland Pipe Band, Ponsonby Drum and Fife, and Onohunga Drum and Fife. A fireworks display will follow, and then there will be Highland dancing and the playing, of the " Reminiscences of All Nations" by the military bands, under Lieutenant Whallcy Stewart. A ' territorial display of some dimensions will be succeeded by the playing of *' Stars and fat n pes" and a grand military tattoo. Band's Orchestral Concert. The versatility of the members of the Royal Artillery Band was amply demonstrated last evening, whon an attendance of several thousand gathered round the bandstand to listen to the first of a scries of. orchestral concerts to bo given under ib« baton of the conductor, Mr. E. C. Stretton. Though to give an orchestral entertainment out of doors is to run some rink of taking the edge off a complete artistic success, the result achieved last night to than justified the experiment. The weather conditions were perfect, and those who were fortunate enough to secure a point of vantage to the rear of tho conductor were enabled to hear the interpretations to considerable advantage. Owing to the stillness of the atmosphere, the carrying power and resonanco of the strings was mostly all that, could be desired, though, naturally, the fulness of the timbre in certain passages was a little dimmed to those occupying back seats. The personnel of the orchestra included six first and second violins respectively, four violas, three 'cellos, and four double basses, with the necessary complement, of wood and brass wind, etc. After a striking rhythmic performance of the march, " Civil und Militair" (Schranuncl), the orchestra proceeded with - finished exposition of Thomas's fine overture "Raymond. Hero the rich, yet expressive orration was responsible for many fresh and piquant effects, in which both strings and wood wind wero particularly prominent. Tho flute and oboe executants were well suited in the " Andantino" portion, while the gay and brilliant Finale was an exhilarating piece of work. Extracts from Tsrhnikowsky's famous '' Cassc Noisette" Suito included the numbers " Marche." " I)an«ji Chinoise." "Danse do Merlitons," j and " Valse des Flours.'' In the first sec- | tion of the march—mainly constructed upon <n eight bar subjecttho clarinets and brass themes, mid the responsive section for ftrings lied trio closest attention. 'Die secondary theme, suggesting a dialogue be tween wood-v.ind and strings was enjoyable, while the hearing faculties wero frequently arretted by those vapidly swirling ►'ring'figures, which occurred at intervals. The other numbers of the Biiitc were charmingly characteristic in their way, the final " v'alse" showing Bound phrasing on the part of the violas and 'cellos in their Krond subject. The execution throughout was fne and fluent, and the intonation : -liable A well worked out selection on them", from Wagner's "Tannhauser" in<lud<d a graphic portrayal of the Venwberg tnusi. . " U, Star of Eve" (euphonium). " Tanilb.-Miser's Song to Venus", ('cello), "Shepherd's Call and Pilgrims' Chorus," Finale 1., Act 111., Wolfram's Song to Tannhauser, (comet solo) and the dramatic and big toned tinale to the overture, Scenes ft -m '• 1,3 TraviaU" (Verdi) and " Reminiscences of the Savoy" (Sullivan) gave opportunity for enjoyable solos by .clarinet, <»rnet, and euphonium executants, while the resources of the orchestra were fully displayed. Painty string work was shown in De'libi s pizzicato sketch "Sylvia," and the tinal swinging " l.a Tarantella de Belphegor" ißoch Albeit), and the R.A. march were the, concluding items on a welleliosen programme. It may be mentioned thai each programme number was warmly received, and encores were demanded after the more popular selections.