KAIKORAI BAND CONCERT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 69

KAIKORAI BAND CONCERT.

The concert tendered on the 19th to the public by the Kaikorai Band, prior to its departure for Christchurch to take part in the competitions there, was very largely attended. The concert was given in the Garrison Hall, into which everyone who could get standing loom crowded. The Mayor (Mr W. Burnett) made a few remarks before the concert commenced, in the course of which he said Dunedin might bo justly proud of the Kaikorai Band and might congratulate itself upon possessing the champion band of New Zealand. The band was proceed in g to Christchurch next day to take part in the band contest, and everyone present would desire that it should return bearing even higher honours than it had yet gained. That Mr Burnett correctly gauged the feelings of the crowded audience was conclusively proved by the hearty applause that greeted his closing remark. The band, under its conductor, Mr G. B. La-idlaw, then opened the programme with the short, but brilliantly played, march, “ Lights Out,” and later rendered several of the contest selections. The first was “ Liszt,” a composition presenting considerable difficulty, and the performance was greeted with loud applause. “Die Mcistersinger ” was also given, and won even warmer recognition, and the remaining band item was a hymn, given by request. In view of the fact that the band is about to enter into competition, with many other bands, any criticism as to the manner in which it acquitted itself is probably not desirable, but the verdict of the audience was most encouraging, and there is every reason to think that the band will give a good account of itself. A trombone solo was very capably played bv Mr D. Boyd, to a band accompaniment arranged by Mr Laid law, and this proved one of the most attractive items of the evening. The band was of course the mainstay of the concert, but it was ably rapported by Miss Newcombo Hall, Mbs E. M'Laren, Mr Martin Duff, and Mr K. Bryant. Miss Hall treated the audience to two vocal solos, which she sang in Italian, and her singing of both impressed the audience most favourably. Miss Hall’s voice is not of a character too robust, a fact that was made apparent in her selection from one of Meyerbeer's operas. “ Dear bird of winter.” by Ganz, was an

improvement, and for it Miss Hall received a recall, the conspicuous feature of the encore item being some remarkable vocal fiierhts. Miss M‘Laren played as a piano solo Beethoven's sonata in A flat with considerable credit. Mr Duff sang the “ Death of Nelson” and ‘‘Good-bye,” and Mr Bryant’s contribution was the song “ Till death.” Miss M'Laren is deserving of praise for the admii'able way in which she played the accompaniments. The Mayor, in announcing that a collection would bo made, mentioned that the Finance Committee of the City Council had recommended that five guineas be donated to each of the two bands going from Dunedin, to Christchurch to assist in defraying the expenses of the trip, and the audience responded to the invitation to contribute by subscribing £lB 5s 9d.