Musical.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 6, 12 May 1894, Page 5

Musical.

'®HB COMING BAND CONTEST

(By Andante.)

Now that the band contest to be 'field in Invercargill is drawing near ereaders of the Southern Cross will doubtless appreciate a few notes on various bands which are likely to feke part in the musical tournament. I will take them in the order in which 1 had opportunities of gaining information concerning them, during a imceat trip. I have no wish to say at present that would be absurd mhich. I think the best, but one thing M will say, and that is that both our ISsrvercargill bands will have to practice hard, for there is every indication -"that there will be an exceedingly keen ■struggle for championship honours at forthcoming contest. The first band met in my travels was the Dunedin Garrison. It has, I -am sorry to say, been very badly feaken up. This is a great pity. All ■■Nwho heard them at the last Dunedin .contest will, I am sure, agree with me See, this. Their own choice selection, - tapfeich was arranged by Signor Squarwas really a most artistic perfearmaiice. Many rumours are afloat ; v3jss to the cause of the “ rift within rg&ie lute,” but with these I shall not . «a&eal —it is better to let these things •a?ork themselves out. Mr Sydney Cleorge, the noted clarionet player, is ■slS&vr conductor, but good man though Sr® is, I am afraid that unless they ■jjdiinL forces again they will stand a poor chance of a place. The next band I came across was She Dunedin Ordnance. Mr Chas. • 4Cbonibes still conducts, and they are .•gsegging away as of old, with strong Itctpes of being able to give a good of themselves. The Engineers’ Band (Dunedin) are in fine fettle. They are very —reckoned the best band in Dunjust now. I can speak from personal knowledge of their quality, and fif they appear near the top I won’t be ssJS. surprised. The Kaikorai band is practising •••saracy consistently, and their previous :|p*irformances justify a good look out fljeing kept upon their work. Mr is still at their head, and a umore painstaking conductor could isasarcely be found. The next band I heard was the <®a.uxaru Garrison, bit I must reserve jasiy notes on it and ssveral others till siffixfc week.

Sfc. Paul’s Wesleyan church choir , give a sacred concert on Wednesday wsvrening, 16th inst. The programme -ik>. axt exceedingly good one, and the p&rfoivners, both vocal and instruSHieatal, of proved ability. The selec- ; tfflos&ns are varied in character, and will -jgsEtable the choir and their friends to lie lieard to the best advantage. The c-jSsarge for admission is very moderate . -acted a very large attendance may be -thriven, for granted. The City Band gave a very attrac- , programme from the rotunda on jEfeursday evening. The choir of the Primitive Metho<i3safc church intend to submit a choice composition about the end of &kis month. A. variation on “ The Laird o’ dbckpen ” was sung at a local enterfesrnment the other night. It apjcraared to take well, judging from the , .applause, but one lady, a lover of Scotch minstrelsy, was not at all enSffi&pfcured by it. “ It’s a gran’ song as ?M. is,” she remarked, “ and I have no gyaxience with these new-fangled stations called variations.” The gross takings at the Garrison itknd’s carnival —-one of the best XEEaitaged and most successful undertakings of the kind locally carried . ®aa6 —amounted to £385. JL great musical treat will probably ls& enjoyed by the people of Invercargill next month. It is likely that the lOfeso-Sapio concert company, who be-.-gwi. their Melbourne season next Tkesclay, will open their Hew Zealand ife-ur iu this town either at the beginxi.istg’ or middle of June. The quality . cjf feheir entertainments may be judged

from the fact that the performers include Madame Camilla Urso, the great violinist, and Signora Sapio, a prima donna of high repute.