ROYAL ARTILLERY BAND.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1917, 27 November 1913, Page 4

ROYAL ARTILLERY BAND.

CONCERTS IN TOWN HALL. FIRST PERFORMANCE TO-NIGUT Th" unusual musical treat promised by - the long-anticipated visit, oi lh? Koyat.; Artillery Baud, of Woolwich, to Welling*. • ton, will be realised thus evening ami to-morrow afternoon, when tm> band will give concerts in tlio Town Ball. All the southern cor.eerts were most sivccwsful. The amliencea were largo and enthusiastic to a remarkable dcgivo, ■ and tho plaviug of the land brought • forth the highest praise. The apprcciu- , tion which was so lavishly given was due in great part to the fact Hint though the band has a repertoire which includes classic music of the highest class, and could with it have delighted stmtwrts and bored everyone else, tho programmes consisted of pieces of a goad but populartype, such as is assured of n- ..welcome overy where. The spirit, in winch Ilia band is oonducted.loo, has much to do with its popularity, and its playing is stated to lie all bright and I>™J\ t)nO of the most impressively-played pieces in the southern .concerts, at all events lo those who pretended to no great musical cultivation, was n well-known waltz, the swiii" and vigour of the interpretation was a revelation to ordinary players, and an inspiration to dancers. Christchiircb, according to a Press Association message, capitulated to thfl baud even more completely than the fur- ■ thcr southern towns, on Tuesday evening. There was such a clamouring for ndmis■don to. UiXi big King Edward Barracks that lire door-kcepii!-!,' arrangements wero over-strained. Yesterday afternoon there was another great amlience, and the performance was a triumph to. tho visiting players. Musical experts ami critics were most enthusiastic about; this band, describing it as far the best that had been hoard in Christchurch. The following is an extract from a criticism by a icadimi musical man, Jiimwdf an accomplished bawlnKisteri—The,playing of tho bund was magnificent, and the several thousand people who attended the Barracks heard a polished English musical combination. It is little wonder Hiat there was such a display of enthusiasm, that encores wero frwnient, and that hoartv cheers were given spontaneously at tlio. close of the performance. It would he idle to attempt to criticise tho superb organisation, The volume of rich musical tone produced was glorious; tho attention to detail was most marked, and the dovetailing of the various pari*, was of finished order, and the whole structure was beautifully polished, 'the (nut emomble wastages were mawive, jioblo. and dignified. The lone rose and fell like that of a great organ, and ihero was wondrous precision of movement,- tlfrlicitcv, and grace. Tho soloists all «- called. The band will be accorded a civic welcome by the Mayor of Wellington at 11 a.m. to-day.