THE BESSES 0’ TH' BARN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3763, 20 April 1907, Page 2

THE BESSES 0’ TH' BARN.

Fresh from their triumphs at the Christchurch Exhibition, and at other important centres of New Zealand, where their appearances have been marked by record attendances, the Besses o’ th’ Barn Band is to delight a local audience with one of its world-famous performances, at the racecourse on Wednesday afternoon next under the direction of Messrs J. and N. Tait. The Besses o’ th’ Barn Band by their brilliant attainments, have for over a century added materially to the musical history of Great Britain. For the past twenty-five years they have experienced an uninterrupted succession of triumphs tinder the control of Mr Alexander Owen, who accompanies them on the present Australasian tour. Mr Owen, by virtue of his genius as a band technician, has won great fame in the musical world, and wears many decorations personally bestowed upon him by the hands of royalty. The Besses artistic treatment of the world’s best music, the standard of which is rarely found in the repertoire of the average band, has brought about the wonderful reputation thej r enjoy the world over. “ The Ride of the Valkyries ” for example is one of their approved selections, and the intricate weaving of the“ Tannhauser ” overture presents no difficulties to these masters ot horn, cornet, trombone, and euphonium. Some remarkable scenes of enthusiasm were displayed at the Christchurch concerts, the Lyttelton Times says “ There was a unanimity in the playing and such a regularity of tone and perfection of balance that the first almost irresistible impression was that there was no brass band but a sweet toned organ, and even in the loud passages there was never a suggestion of ordinary brass band effect. Mr Harry Muller visited Foxton this week and he stated that the enthusiasm shown over the performances of the Besses in the larger cities has never been equalled by any visiting attraction. At Wellington probably 20,000 people welcomed them, and it was the same in Christchurch. In Dunedin practically the whole city turned out to welcome the Besses, and 200 massed bandsmen played in their honor. The concerts in Palmerston attracted overflowing audiences, and it is the rule for each number on the programme to be encored three times over. The band will arrive in Foxton per special train on Wednesday about mid-day, and after lunch will be driven to the racecourse to give their eagerly anticipated open air performance. If the weather conditions are at all good a record audience is assured and intending patrons would be wise to secure tickets in advance at Mr Levett’s establishment to-day.