AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14141, 26 February 1910, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

THE BESSES 0' TH' BARN BAND. Marked cordiality existed throughout South Africa, during the recent tour, and press critics vied with each .other in issuing laudatory notices of the Besses achievements. "The Friend," Bloxmfonten said:—"There were few vacant seats in any part of the house, and the audience was as representative as it was large. Here you could see jaded legislators fresh from their labours over Sunday observance, and close at hand, working men whose dialect betrayed the fact that they came from the same country as the wonderful instrumentalists on the platform. The programme last evening was a varied one, and not alone suited to bring out the full talents and abilities of the band, but admirably adapted to the taste of every section of the audience. A very neat compliment and one that was highly appreciated was the playing of the old Free State Volksleid followed by the National Anthem at the close of the performance. No one but an expert could hope to criticise such a. performance with any hope of success. But even to those not burdened with musical abilities of the first rank, the performance last night appealed in a very especial degree. The outstanding feature to the writer's way of thinking was the perfect precision and attack, the sympathy between players and conductor and the' wonderful modulation in sound and effect, the crescendo at times dying away to a minimum of sound and yet with perfect clearness of tone. As brass bands go in this country we do not expect to hear the most delicate sounds, but last night showed that brass instruments in the hands of skilled performers can emit as delicate and ta'stv music as the finest piano. The worldfamous hymn, "Abidp with Me," has often been rendered, but surely never better even on a grand organ, than it was by the Besses last evening. We shall not o.ttempt to particularise and pick out the best items, but "The Village Blacksmith" on the euphonium with band accompaniment, by Mr E. P. Kerry, revealed Mew beauties hitherto unsuspected in Lonefellow's famous and beautiful poem. Only eia;ht items appeared on- the programme, but in response to the vociferous encores Mr Owen very kindly allowed his band almost to double the number, to the evident enjoyment of the audience." The Timaru season is limited to one open-air performance at the Caledonian Grounds at 3 rj.m., and one evening concert at 8 p.m. at the Theatre Royal on Monday next. Reserved seats and day sales afe obtainable at the Dresden.