MUSIC AND BANDS

Southland Times, Issue 17558, 23 January 1914, Page 7

MUSIC AND BANDS

NOTES BY " EUPHO," In Paul Dufault's two concerts, given on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, the public were offered a musical treat which too rarely comes our way. From an artistic point of view, the concerts were delightfully successful, and Mr Dufault's numbers alone were well worth double the prices charged for admission. The wonder was that the Theatre was not packet! to the ceiling. Those who were fortunate enough to be present were most enthusiastic in their appreciation of the worth of tiie four artists. The Hibernian Band gave an open-air concert In Rugby X J ark last Sunday evening, when a very large number of people were present. The form displayed by the Band at the recent contest is being maintained, and witli ordinary luck they should give a good account of themselves at Auckland next month. I understand the Band intend continuing these open-air concerts for the following two Sunday evenings, should the weather be favourable. It has been arranged that the Royal Artillery Band, before it concludes its season at the Auckland Exhibition will, early in February, visit the following New Zealand towns and give concerts in each; —Wellington. Dunedin. Wanganui, Napier. Invercargill. Timaru, Oamaru, Palmerston, and Rotorua.

The new plan of writing music expressly for brass bands, and doing with less " arrangements " is causing some discussion at Home. In answer to several queries an English writer says : In nearly all the selections arranged from operas tiie music lias to be so cut up and abbreviated in order to make it til the range of brass bands, that although it is good it is not a perfect picture. Musicians who know the original compositions criticise it and often say the bands are not playing the music according to the original score. The new music is written expressly for brass bands, therefore the picture must be a perfect one. so brass bands playing such music will not lay themselves open to severe criticism. It is a forward move on the road to progress, yet there are arrangements published that will live for ever, such, instance, as tiie Sullivan selections. They are just as fresh to-day as they were a quarter of a century ago, because their beauties are more widely known. Then there are such selections as “ Poliuto,” “ Flying Dutchman." " Ees Hugenots, ’ "Vt illiaui Tell,” " Kienzi,” " Zampa,” and many others that will always be played and i listened to with much pleasure. The St. Hilda Colliery Band, which gained second jilaco at the Crystal Palace contest, London, recently, had the distinction of playing before the King ami Queen at Lambton Castle. Durham Tiie band, under its professional conductor. Mr \V. Halliwell. played the following programme ; March, “ Death or Glory " ; selection, " Tiie Bohemian Girl"; morccau, "Evening Bcdls ” ; cornet solo. " Rule Britannia” (soloist, Arthur haycock) ; fantasia. “ A Military Church Parade” ; "The Passing' of Salome ” and selections, " Lohengrin ” and ' The Girl on the Film." The band placed in the hall. The British Bandsman. in its account of tiie proceedings, remarked : " Some of those connected with tiie band were rather nervous about tiie idea of playing inside with their Majesties in the same room, and it was thought that probably Hie Kit'S find Queen would just hear one or two pieces, say ' Thank you,’ and send tiie band homo. instead of that happening the band "had to play extra pieces, and their M-Mt-sties not onlv listened attentively, bu“t applauded. Mr Halliwell, the professional conductor of St. Hilda Band, was presented to their Majesties by Lord Durham. Tiie King inquired if there were really no ceed instruments in tiie band, and expressed bis astonishment that twenty-six brass band instrumentalists could accommodate the tone of their instruments so perfectly to the room and play so beautifully. The King a’so inquired into the organisation of working men's bands, and expressed the surprise it gave him that a working man's band could play in such a refined wav Tiie Queen was also most eulogistic. She said tiie blend of the band was "magnificent, and most tastefully calculated to fit the accoustic properties of the room. Tiie original arrangements were that the band should play for three-quarters of an hour, but thou Majesties were so pleased that, with encores, the time consumed in playing was one tint! a half hours. '