TECHNICAL ORCHESTRA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27523, 18 October 1950, Page 8

TECHNICAL ORCHESTRA

Upward Trend Maintained

FINE STRING PLAYING The Dunedin Technical College Symphony Orchestra last night presented its second concert of the season to a large audience in the Concert Chamber. The programme was an attractive one, including two fine but seldomheard works for soloist and orchestra, and ranging over four centuries. It is to be hoped, however, that the orchestra will not fail to give us some more of Haydn’s symphonies in future concerts, as these glorious works are too important to be neglected, and the orchestra has shown itself capable of doing them justice. Any amateur orchestra that can measure up to the demands of a mature Haydn symphony is, ipso facto, a very good amateur orchestra, ana although Haydn did not figure in last night’s programme the general quality of the playing was clearly of this standard. Of course, there were minor blemishes —an occasional coarseness in the playing of the trumpets an odd note missed by a woodwind soloist, an occasional lack of body in the string tone—but these were surprisingly few. On the other hand, intonation was generally good and the tone of the strings was nearly always homogeneous and satisfying. There was a gain, too. in the delicacy of the woodwind playing. Not the least pleasing aspect was the incisiveness of the attack and the generally fine cohesion, and the major credit for this feature, so rare among amateur orchestras, must go to the conductor, Mr Frank Callaway. His reading of all the works played was admirable.

With Mr Francis Bate ( cello) as soloist, the orchestra played Boellmann’s Symphonic Variations. Mr Bate was thoroughly at home in this work which served to exhibit his fine upper register cantabile, and something of his considerable technical resources. The balance of forces was generally satisfactory though one or two of the tutti were a shade too heavy. The woodwind playing in this piece was notable for its sensitivity. The other principal work was Schumann’s Concertstuck, Op. 92, played by Mr Gil Dech and the orchestra, a fine and characteristic piece. The solo part was given virile treatment and the orchestra acquitted itself _ well, apart from a slight uncertainty in the utterance of the horns. Mr Dech was also heard alone in three of Griegs Lyric Pieces and in the evocative “Evening in the Mountains,” in particular, he achieved a beautifully poetic effect. _ . Of the other items, Elgar’s Bavarian Dance, “The Marksmen,” was given a grand performance, and in J. S. Bach’s choral 1 prelude “ Dearest Jesu, We Are Here” the strings wove a rich tonal fabric as background for some expressive solo work by flute and oboe. The Sinfonia in B flat by J C. Bach w.as well worth reviving for its agreeable slow movement and for the slightly faded charm of its “galant” style. It was well played though some of the dovetailing of phrases by the woodwind in the Andante could have been done more smoothly. The quality of the string tone was heard at its best in the leisured luxuriance of Delius s Hassan ” music, and in the Bizet Ada-orchestra-’s playing was warmly appreciated by the audience. E. u*