NOVEL ENTERTAINMENT

Southland Times, Issue 19823, 20 March 1926, Page 4

NOVEL ENTERTAINMENT

THE GULBRANSEN PIANO. A novsl entertainment in the form of a demonstration of the Gulbransen registering piano was given to a large audience ot interested music-lovers in the Victoria Hall last evening. In the hands of Mr F. E. Wilks, of Sydney, the demonstrator, the big piano did all that was claimed of it and charmed those present with its clear, natural tone and expression. A wide range of classical compositions was given, including selections by cavallo, Donizetti, Mascagni and Rachmaninoff. In a descriptive selection by Greenwald, “Chapel Chimes,” the piano’s cadence and deep bell-like notes showed that it could almost surpass the efforts of musicians. The final item, the wellknown “Invercargill March” (Lithgow), of a livelier theme than the previous compositions, was probably the most popular of the evening.

A number of well-known local musicians also took part, in the demonstration. They were as follows: Mr J. Hinton (solos) ; Miss T. Pryde (solo from “Cavalleria Rusticana," with violin obligato by Mr A. H. Ferguson); Mr J. Carmody (cornet solo). Two gramophone selections, recordings of John McCormack and Mischa Elman, were also given to the accompaniment of the Gulbransen piano.