ORCHESTRAL RECITAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 71, Issue 6137, 17 September 1945, Page 2

ORCHESTRAL RECITAL

ENJOYABLE PROGRAMME SMALL BUT APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCE Judging by the attendance at the recital given by the Municipal Orchestra yesterday afternoon, Te Awamutu must possess per population capita the smallest number of musically interested people in New Zealand. There was, of course, the excuse that it was too fine an afternoon to spend an hour and a-half of it indoors. If it had rained that, too, would have been an. excuse, but the fact remains that the attendance was disappointingly small. Those who were present were given a musical treat for it is doubtful if the orchestra has ever been heard to better advantage. Mr Close had his forces well trained and they gave an entertainment that was really enjoyable. What the audience lacked in numbers, made up in appreciative enthusiasm that no doubt was helpful to the orchestra in giving of their best.

A programme varied to suit all tastes was submitted and it made the timq pass all too quickly. In adition to Selections by the orchestra, Mrs O’Leary gave two greatly appreciated xylophone solos, while Mr S. Barrett gave great pleasure with his saxophone solo. Rarely heard items on a concert programme are violin duets, and yesterday afternoon Mesrs Haynes and Grimshaw rendered two duets unaccompanied and they were particularly pleasing. The first was an old English composition dating back over three hundred years ago. The orchestra rendered the following programme “Stars and Stripes” March; “Don Sebastania” selection (Donizetti); “Ivory Palaces,” hymn; “Wagner’s Works,” selection; “Destiny Waltz”; “Stranger of Galilee”; “Wellingtonia,” selection; “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere”; “Haere Ra,” Maori song, and the National Anthem. The recital, which was in the nature of an experiment to see if the public was really interested, was worth while and Mr Close and his associates should take it. that the attendance, small as it was, was indicative of a desire that the orchestra should continue to give pleasure as it did yesterday. With the coming of fine, settled weather, it may be possible for them to play in Victoria Park and it is understood that such is the intention of the orchestra. 1