PASSING NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7766, 25 July 1903, Page 7

PASSING NOTES.

The New Zealand Band, duping its eon. tract to <pl*y for the Union Jack Club, receives £25 Jor each performance. As there are generally two per day— afternoon and evening—tho income is about f 3 09 P er week - This was to last for some six weeks. ~ Our boy? "With fcjjei Home Band are evidently enjoying good -health, and are seeing the sights, of the Old Land besides attending to their duties, judging from my correspondent's letters. As no mention is made of Stajns t it is reasonable to assume that he ha* completely recovered from his illness and> has resumed his place on the euphonium, Had he still been indisposed the fact would have been mentioned by my correspondent. The combined work of playing and travelling must be very arduous, and private letters from the bandsmen to tfheiv friends refer to this, but the combination has improved so much, and has reached such an excellent standard^ that the men revel in their playing, and the eight-seeing affords a pleasant change which relieves the strain of" work. It is , nob yet stated whether the band will take part in any of the big contests ; we shall probably know all about a matter of this kind in due course. The test selections for the Timaru Band Contest, to.be held during October, have been forwarded to the bands which entered for the competition, One selection is arranged by Sir J. Ord-Hume from Betethoven's works, and is- named "Viva. Beethoven." It will prove to be a trying test, and will require much working up. It is doubtful if any blit the first-class bands will be able to do justice to this difficult selection. Most of the movements eire from well-known compositions of the- great master. The second selection is entitled " Lortzing," and is arranged by Mr H. Round, of Liverpool. It -is really a pot pourri from tfce operas of Gustav Albert Lortzing- This composer was bora in Berlin on October 23, 1803, so that the Timaru contest time will be the- composer's centenary. Lortzing's principal work was " Undine," produced at Hamburg in, 1845. la 1842 he composed " Wilclschultz," "and in 1846 he completed his "Der Waffenschmidt." From these three operas are taken the principal^ movements of Mr Round's selection, which is-not difficult, and will probably become popular. The music will be strange to .New Zealand bandsmen, . and the only selection by which the composer may be known^td them is " Czaar and Zimmerman/' which several bands have played. Lortzing died in 1862, after a hard struggle against adversity. Too- late' the people of Berlin recognised his merit, and made the best amends they could by giving ing him a public funeral, and subscribing for the benefit of his large and impoverish- .■...#•■■

ed family. Mr Round has certainly prpr vided the bands witb a surprise paiekgt in going to German comic opera for tis subject, bufc he«has given them some work Avhich will, no doubt, be appreciated.

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