ROYAL BESSES O’ TH' BARN BAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 815, 17 March 1910, Page 3

ROYAL BESSES O’ TH' BARN BAND.

This un’que organisation is due to appear at the Racecourse, Foxton, on Tuesday afternoon next, at 1 o’clock punctually and the appended views ol a noted Johannesburg musician will at this juncture be found interesting. “The use of superlatives in describing entertainments in this country has unfortunately become so common that people are apt to make a large discount for the generosity of the critic in assessing their true value. It becomes therefore when occasion indubitably arises for applying terms of the highest appreciation to convince the public to honour them at par value. Nevertheless the fact remains that the Besses o’ th’ Barn Band is entitled to be awarded the palm for excellence beyond rivalry as a brass baud combination, and that the reputation it has gained in England the, home of this form of music, interpretation, can be unreservedly endorsed by New Zealand audiences. Having stated so much it is not easy to say much more of the superbness of their playing. In their class the Besses o’ th’ Barn give us an expert demonstration of what purely brass instrumentation can attain "to. From the highest artistic point of view it may be urged that such instrumentation depends upon the presentation of bold broad outlines shades off to obviate bizarre effects than therefore, if a similarity of effect is noted to the listener in the flute-like tones of the high cornet or string-like accompaniments of other brass instruments, it is a high compliment, but, we may add, and sincere form of flattery. Or to put it differently from the temperamental standpoint the comparison may be made between Drury Lane Melodrama and a Pinero Social Comedy. The splendid brilliant effects of the one appeal to the eye as much as to the understanding of the other relies on its delicacy of construction and its avoidance of stage-craft, as apart from play-craft to strike the emotions.”

The general admission is fixed at 2s, with grandstand is extra. Gates open at 12 o’clock, noon. Tickets may be obtainable from Mrs Nye, stationer.