FINE CONCERT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27259, 9 December 1949, Page 8

FINE CONCERT

ST. KILDA BAND VIRTUOSITY OF BRASS A year or two ago, at a band contest in Dunedin, Dr T. Vernon Griffiths in his capacity as judge made some wise observations on brass bands, which were aptly illustrated and confirmed last night. He stated his conviction that no type of amateur musical organisation was the superior of the brass band, either in devotion to music or in the quality of performance achieved. This fact, which is not widely realised, was evident last night, when the St. Kilda Band presented a concert to a moderate but appreciative audience in the Town Hall. Dr Griffiths went on to add that the chief weakness of the brass band lies in its repertoire, which is clogged up with a good deal of inferior music and unsuitable “ arrangements.” This aspect of brass band music was also evident in this concert.

Illustrating Dr Griffiths’s first point last night, the band played Percy Fletcher’s “Epic Symphony,” a work conceived and written directly in the brass band idiom, and played by the band at Ballarat as its own-choice selection. Few, if any, amateur orchestras or choirs in New Zealand could achieve the formidable precision, the nearly perfect accuracy, the excellent intonation, or the remarkable sensitivity to nuance which has carried the St. Kilda Band to a pre-eminent position in this part of the world. This performance was a thrilling one, and its 14 minutes passed much more rapidly than the three or four minutes required for the hackneyed trifle that the band played next. It was a triumph for the minute and musicianly care that the conductor, Mr K. G. L. Smith, must have lavished on the band in its rehearsals, and for the keenness and devotion of the bandsmen, who showed what rich and surprisingly varied tonal resources the brass band has. The truth of Dr Griffiths’s second point was shown in a euphonium solo played by Mr G. M. Muschamp, with band accompaniment. Mr Muschai. o is clearly a fine artist on his instrument. and his playing was. in fact, first class. But “ Largo al Factotum ” as an instrumental solo just does not make sense.

The band was particularly good in the “Dunedin” march and in a group of carols, in which its opulent tone was heard to advantage. A waltz. “Thoughts” (Alford), was notable for the smoothness of the. playing. An arrangement of the Hallelujah Chorus and a “Faust” paraphrase were also well done.

Mr Ken Smith, jun., played a showpiece for cornet, “ Tower of Jewels. ’ with the utmost brilliance and virtuosity. He also provided the obbligato to Mr Frank Cherry’s singing of “Elegy” (Massenet). Mr Cherry sang this, and “ I Love Thee ” (Grieg) with agreeable, tone and distinctness. Miss Dora Drake was, as usual, very good indeed. Her singing of “ Maids of Cadiz” (Delibes) was full of the artistry she always brings to her work. The third singer was Miss Shirley Le Gal, whose voice is of no great power, but who sings with attractive tone and accuracy. Perhaps “Vilia” (Lehar> was her best presentation. The piano accompaniments were played well by Mrs A. Muir.