ENTERTAINMENTS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 March 1910, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

» THE BESSES-O'-TH'-BARN. AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE. A poor audience was tbe saddening experience that befel the Messes-o'-th'-Bani Brass Bamd in Levin last night, but the band proved superior to this disheartening experience, and gave its patrons an excellent performance of high-class music. The all-round merit of " The Besses ' was well exemplified by the predominance of different instruments, by turns, as theme after theme, and piece after piece, was gone through. " I'omp and Circumstance," the march by the modern musical genius, Elgar, which headed last night's programme, had a fine swinging rhythm, and terminated with a blare of slide trombones that was most effective. Excellently modulated harmonies characterised the next number, " Beautiful Galatea," and an intensity of sweetness characterised the cornet solo. "Abide With Me," played by Mr S. Pyatt from a setting by Liddle. There was no mistaking the next item : it was Waguerian—a blaring, crashing, wailing, I oing-su stained series of barbaric harmonies, marked by occasional passages of tender melody— in the form of an intermezzo from "The Flying Dutchman." The band's interpretation of this piece was superb. " White Lillies," a dainty, tripping tune by the wellknown composer and judge, Orel Hume, was encored, and the band was equally successful with a swinging waltz, "Senta," by Lilian Raymond. A solo from Wagner's " I'annhanspr," entitled "The Star of Eve," was remarkable for the excellence of the euphonium passages played by Mr E. P. Kerry, whose part was beautifully sunorted the whole band in a very soft accompaniment. A selection of airs from Wallace's opera, "Maritana," gave the audience a chance of hearing the opera's many tuneful airs as near perfection as well could be. "Reminiscences of All Nations" wajS the concluding item on the programme. It began with "The Red, White and Blue; and then came in quick time .the "'Watch on the Rhine," "St. Patrick's Day," "The Emperor of Austria's 'Hymn," " The Marseillaise," and "" Yankee Doodle. " M this stage the critic's recognition of national airs failed him, but two or three more were played, including an air that seemed mournful enough to have been written under the ruined walls of Warsaw. The band gives a performance at Ot'iki this evening, and -this paper whole- heartedly ■ recommends all lovers of good music to attend.