Concert.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5643, 12 June 1886, Page 4

Concert.

BAUD BOTUWDA FUND. Last niglit the United Bands Committee | gave a grand concert in the Oddfellows* Hall, in aid of the Band Rotunda Fond, I under the patronage of the Mayors of Christchurch and Sydenham and tha City Councillors, ke. The Bands, as they marched through the town, played some of their selections, and thus attracted a huge concourse to the hall, but unfortunately only a small proportion of those thus brought together paid for admission to the concert. The attendance was hardly so good as the object or the excellence of the programme might have warranted the expectation of. The Garrison Band, under the kAtan of Conductor Dora, played the overtures in capital time, and with nice attention to ! accent and rhythm. Mr Percy G. Withers gave a flute solo, " La Serenata," with Bweet intonation and wonderfully Btilful manipulation of most intricate variations, proving that he had the resources of the instrument literally at his fingers' ends. He was loudly encored, and gave with equal taste and cleverness "Annie Laurie." Mr Forbes gave, as a clarionet solo, "When Other Lips," the variations on which were remarkably well executed. Though encored, he did not accept the compliment. Mr W. F. M'Lean repeated his euphoninm solo, " Souvenir de Poitou," and played with his usual smoothness. The vocalists were Mrs Hodge, Miss Fairhurat, Miss Martin, and Messrs J. H. Parker, C. J. Farrant, W. H. • Price, and W. Fraser. Mra Hodge sang "A Thousand Pounds," "The Gates of the West" and "The Dear Little Shamrock." In the last she was specially successful. Miss Fairhnrbt, who was slightly hoarso, Bang, sympathetically, ! " O'er the Hilla of Normandie " and "When the Heart is Young." Mies Martin, whoso voice is gaining in strength and flexibility, gave "Bring Back my Flowers,'* " Kathleen Mavourneen," and j" Le Parlate d' Amore." Mr Parker gave, in good voice, " Jack's Come Home." The • slow time he adopted gave an opportunity, ; which was amply availed of, for Mr Towsey ! to display his facile style of accompanying. ' Mr Farrant gave with much spirit "Let me Like a Soldier Fall," "Mary of Argyle," and " Pilgrim of Love." Mr I Price gave a number of the comic songs he so excela in, and, it need hardly be said, "brought down the house" again and again. Mr Eraser, who was in Highland ' costume, gave, with patriotic ardour, " Lochnagarr " and "Give me Back one i Hour." Two recitations completed the programme. The first of these was "In the Signal Box," given with much dramatic ■ power by Mr George Kelly. The second wa? "Beautiful Snow," carefully and f eelir j;7y delivered by Mrs Do la Mare. 1 Mr A. Towsey played the pianoforte acoocipaaimeuta throughout the evening.