BESSES 0’ TH’ BARN BAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2069, 2 May 1907, Page 2

BESSES 0’ TH’ BARN BAND.

GISBORNE SEASON

Tho famous Lancashire combination the. Bosses o’ tli’ Barn Bund commenced its Gisborne season at Hm 1 Majesty’s Theatre yesterday alter- , noon. Tho band is under the direction of Messrs J. and N. Tait, tho well-known concert entrepreneurs, and consists of thirty members. Mr Alox. Owen is conductor, and Mr. T. Bowling bandmaster. Tho fume of the band had preceded it to Gisborne. Capable judges had expressed an opinion that tho band concerts had eclipsed all previous musical attractions that had visited the colony. A reputation is of estimublc value to a band, as to any other touring combination, but tho greater the reputation tho more difficult it is to sustain it. Whether the band has answered to tho ideal sot up lor it is for the public of Gisborne who attended tho inaugural concert yesterday to decide. It is not often that a purely musical combination takes hold of a Gisborne public,' as the poor response the repeated efforts of the local band has received too amply shows. The secret of the Besses o’ tV Barn Band’s success is not iar to seek, for the band is as near perfect of its kind as any music-lover could desire. The efforts of the various performers are blended admiiably, ana tlio accuracy of their play and the richness of tono are a revelation. Their standard of music is of the highest, and with their repertoire of upwards of 1000 pieces they have no difficulty in presenting a programme no matter how long the season ’may be. Their Gisborne season concludes on Friday evening, when the Besses give their final performance in New Zealand, having given over two hundred concerts here. From Gisborne the band proceed to Auckland, on route for Sydney, where they will open an Australian tour. For tho performances yesterday the visitors were unfortunate in striking bad weather, the day being the worst experienced this year. The heavy rain kept many away from the afternoon concert, but in tho evening there was a good house, although the weather showed no signs of improving. At the afternoon performance tho Besses commenced with the march “Avondale” (Ord Hume), which was cordially received. The overture “Nabuco” (Verdi) followed, for which the band were encored, responding with “Lead Kindly Light” (Hr. Dykes). Mr. P. Hallam’s cornet polka “Arbuclenian” (Hartmann), with its effective accompaniment, received an imperative encore, and Stephen Adams’s sacred number “The Star of Bethlehem” was given. A selection from Beethoven, arranged by Mr. Owen, concluded the first half of tho programme. On taking the stage again tho band played tho waltz, “Blumen Reigen” (Fetras), a selection from “Lohengrin” (Wagner), the duet “Excelsior” (Balfe), by Messrs Lawson and Berry, and tho fantasia “Reminiscences of All Nations” (Godfrey). The ovening performance was opened with the march “Zealandia,” specially composed by the conductor in honor of the Besses’ visit to Maoriland. The overture to “Poet and Peasant”(Suppe)rccoived a fine interpretation, being full of color and romance, and as an encore item Tho Turkish Patrol” (Michaelis), a descriptive piece, was ably interpreted. A cornet solo “Cleopatra” (Demare)

by Mr. F. Berry was warmly applauded, Sullivan’s “Lost Chord” being given in response to a hearty encore. The selection “Rossini’s Works,” arranged by Mr. Owen, concluded the first part of the programme. Tho waltz “Marguerite” (Godfrey) commenced the second half of i the programme, an encore being dc- ; manded. “Lead Kindly Light” (Dr. Dykes) was the supplementary item. In the sacred pieces the result was that of a fine organ, the volume of i sound, filling the theatre with a wave of sound that was beyond anything > that local theatre-goers were accus- , tomed to. The selection from “Pirates of Penzance” (Sullivan) was aci corded an ovation, Sullivan’s tune for “Onward Christian Soldiers” being given as an encore. The euphonium solo “Thou’rt Passing Hence” (Sullivan), by Mr. F. Berry, received a good interpretation, and in response to a warm cncore“Tlie t illage Blacksmith” (Weiss) was played by tho band. Tho fantasia “English Airs” (Jackson) was the last item on the programme, the audience demanding another encore piece to which tho band responded with a second setting of “Load Kindly Light.” A fine programme is down for this afternoon’s performance, including:— March, “Honest Toil” (Rimmer); overture, “Italiana in Algeria” (Rossini) ; cornet solo, “Fairies of the Waters” (Hartman), Mr. P. Hallam; selection, “Cinq Mars” (Gounod); valse, “Wendische Weizen” (Gungl); selection, “Reminiscences of Tchaikowsky” (an-anged by S. Douglas); intermezzo, “Imperial” (B. Raclie); fantasia, “Echoes of Scotland” (Stewart). The evening programme will be:—March, “Cossack” (Rimmer); overture, “Zampa” (Herold); cornet solo, “Abide with Me” (Liddell), Mr T. G. Moore; selection, “Heroic” (Wober); waltz, “Estudiantina (Waldtenfel); selection, “The Earl and the Girl” (Caryll); trombone solo, “Lend Me Your Aid” (Gounod), Mr W. Lawson; fantasia, “Memories of Britain” (Rimmer).