THE BESSES O' TH' BARN BAND.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8766, 18 March 1907, Page 2

THE BESSES O' TH' BARN BAND.

'The. two concerts 1 to be given in Martou next Wednesday afternoon at the Park and in the evening at tlio Town Hall are causing great excite niont in and around the district, and record attendances are expected to greet these renowned players. The Besses o' th' Bam, by their brilliant attainments, have for over a century added materially to the musical history of Great Britain. For the past 25 years they have experienced an uninterrupted succession of triumphs, tinder the control of Mr Alexander Owen, who accompanies them on tlio present Australasian tour. Mr Owen by virtue of his genius as a band technician has won great famo in the musical -wo rid and wears many decorations personally'bcstowcd 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" aver." re band, lias brought about the reputation they enjoy the world over. '' The Ride of the Valkyries,'' for example, is ono of their approved selections, and the intricate weaving of the " Tannhauser" overture presents no difficulties to these masters of hern, cornet, trombone, and euphonium. In connection with the command performance of the Besses at, Windsor Oastle last year, an amusing incident is related of young Prince Edward, in whose honour the function was given—while the bandsmen were partaking of tho Royal provender, Prince Edward was seized with a desire to beat the Besses' drum. The princely cacophony brought the players hurrying into the ante room where their instruments were left, and the future King of England made, a hasty retreat, abandoning his cap in his flight. The 5000 working men's bands in England, of which tho Besses is at the head, havo become a great moral forco under their great musical influence, supplying, as it does, the highest of 'ideals, and thereby awakening tho very best iu the men, and maintaining an excellent standard of living, as compared with the former unsatisfactory condition of of tho labouring classos of Britain. Tho box plan and all priced tickots are at Mogridge's'.