THE BESSES O' TH' BARN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10961, 2 May 1907, Page 2

THE BESSES O' TH' BARN.

Gisborne, owing to its somewhat isolated position, is not always privileged to enjoy the greatest musical attract ionß which reach tliese shores, but in the visit of the Besses o' th' Barn Band at the close of a phenomenally successful two montlis' tour of the colony, including a wonderful season of popularity at the Exlubition, Gisborne music-lovers will liave the satisfaction of knowing that they are listening to the productions of a company < of instrumentalists who, beyond all question, hold the premier position among the brass, bands of Britain, if not of the whole world. A band that in 1892 had won every challenge cup in Great Britain, and in the following year secured at the great National Championship Contest at the Crystal Palace tive £2500 trophy which carries with it the Brass Band Championship of Great Britain, must be at the very summit of perfection in band music, and when we read that as recently as last year tlie members of the Besses o' the Barn -were honored with a command from the King to give a speoial performance at Windsor Castle, that later their director was decorated by" President Loubet after tbe band's triumphal tour through France in aid of French charities, and that early this year, when they passed through America, they aroused the enthusiasm of the country tliat is the home of Sousa's and other high-class 'bands', the fact strikes home that the visit of the Besses to Gisborne is no small event in the musical annals of the town. The playing of th e band at its opening performances in His Majesty's Theatre yesterday was quite a revelation to most people of the nigh pitch of perfection to which band music may be brought. Some, no doubt, had heard and marvelled at the music of the Ophir Band wliich accompanied tlie Duke of York on his visit to the colony, but, fine as were tive results attained by that high-class military organisation, they are outdistanced by those secured from purely brass instruments by this company of Lancashire musicians. Tlie band is under the conductorship of Mr Alexander Owen, himself at one time the champion cornetist of Britain, and who, during his twenty-three years' service as its instructor has brought it to the high stale of efficiency that has enabled it to win so inany laurels. If Mr Owen were asked the secret of the band's success he would; probably say it was the natural musical ability of its members, founded upon a thorough groundwork, of elementary training— and -this js the lesson that New Zealand bandsmen would do well to take from tive visit, "success must depend upon a thorough mastery of first principles; His modesty would forbid him to speak of the exceptional talent of the conductor and the infinitude of patience that must have been expended to secure such wonderful precision,, magnificent tone,, and remarkable ensemble as are displayed in the music that tive band presents. Yesterday's programmes were, arranged to bring out in a marked degree tlie varied capacities of the Besses fpr dealing with the lighter and heavier forms of band music. The main features of the afternoon performance, which, owing to short notice and the very inclement state of the weather, was poorly attended, were a mag^ nificent selection from "Lohengrin"-. (Wagner), a delightful fantasia of ttatufal medo. dies, a.nd the beautiful harmonic effects produced in the rendition of "Lead Kindly Light," which was given as an encore at the special request of the Te Rau students, who attended In a body. Tfre-'- cornet polka, "Arbuoteriian." revealed to tlie audience the wonderful execution i4 some most difficult tripkvtongue passages of Mr P.; paljam, the soloist, whose work w«s of such a high Order oF merit that the audience . gave him an instantaneous encore. The overture, •Nabuco" and selection "Beethoven;' provided the trombone and euplionjun. soloists with opportunities to display theif mastery over tlieir instruments. A large audience greeted the band in tlie evening. When a very; fine- programme; was presented..' Ther opening number was a "march; "Zealandia," specially composed by the conductor, Mr Owen to, mark th© visit to New Zealand. '■.Thiir illustrated iiie brilliancy, of attack and massive tone tliat the band can display,, and thoroughly delighted the audience. .The overture, "Poet and Peasant," with its cliarming variations of light and shade, served to show-how finely the brasses can he; made to supplant the strings' in an' or* oliestrah composition, whilst further, evidence of the (baud's great mastery of intricate movements was, given in the rendition of a selection horn' Rossini's works arranged by Mr Owen. A finished, performance was hjyen of "Marguerite," an arrangement of the melodies of the grand opera "Faust" into waltz time by tlielate Dan' Godfrey, of the Grenadier, '.Guards Band. The sparkling Su.livarf music, "Pirates of Penzance/' with its fine hold; choruses given' great emphasis, 'mused 'tfife audience to much enthusiasm, as did also* a picturesque; performance of "The Turkish Patrol," one of those descriptive march-past compositions, alWuys so popular, given as an encore. Other encore items were -'Lead Kindly Light" and' "Onward Christian Soldiers." in which the. playing of the band, being particularly good ou the sustained notes, was distinguished for its rich organ effect, 'the i cornet solo, "Ceopatra," by Mr T. Of 1 Moore was bril'iantly executed; ■as also. ,was,"The Lost Chord," given as a sup. plementory item, in both items magnificent accompaniment being furnished by the Band. Mr F. Berry, the euphonium soloist, received an ovation for hi* masterly rendition of "Thou art passing hence," and .responded with "The; Village Blacksmith.'* A fantasia of ; English airs was the final item, but the audience would not cry content, and another sacred selection was given, entertainment terminating with ; a stirring pro- , duct ion bf the National Anthem tliat well ; repaid all who remained in their places and, showed the mark of respect that is due from British audiences to their Sovereign. This afternoon the Band gave tlieir third performance, the programme comprising : —March, "Honest Toil," Rimmer; overture, "Italiana in Algeria," Rossini; comet solo, "Fairies of the Waters," fiartman, Mr P. Hallam^selection, "Sinq Mars," Gounod ; valse, "Wendische Weizen," Gungl; selection, "Reminiscensces. of Tlchaikowsky," arranged by S. Douglas ; intermezzo, "Imperial, ,B. Raebe; fantasia, "Echoes of Scotland," Stewart. This evening's programme will be: March, "Cossack," Rimmer; overture, "Zampa," Herold ; comet solo, "Abide with Me," Liddell, Mr T. G. Moore ; selection, "Heroic," Weber; waltz "Estudiantina," Wa'ldtenfel; selection, "The Earl and the Girl," Caryll; trombone solo, "Lend me your aid," Gounod, Mr W. Lawsbn ; fantasia, "Memories of Britain," Rimmer.