GARRISON BAND CONCERT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 25, 30 January 1903, Page 2

GARRISON BAND CONCERT.

The concert given in the Theatre Royal on Thursday evening, by the New Plymouth Garrison Band, was not so well patronised as might have been expected in viev of the worthy object, n '.mely, to rai c e funds to pay the Band's expenses in connection with the Masterton contest next week. However, the audience was by no means small, and if appreciation conn's for anything under the circumstances, Bandmoster BUig anH his mm should be wall sati.-fied, The B.inJ, as a whole, contributed the opening item in each pu-t, the first being a contest selection, and the second the test piece, which, no dou'it, is the ruling topic amongst nnny ■nudsmen at the present tims>. Both selections, it nny be slid, were p'ayed in a manner which left little or nothing to be dtsired, and, with a few mora practices, there is ample ground for anticipating that the New Plymouth Band will give a good account of itself wh -n competing with the leiding hands of the co!ony. As to the solo?, seme of them were not quite up to contest form, though it was evident that tha fault was more want of pric'ice than of sbili'y. The bast items probibly were the trombo e (Mr Sly), buitoae (Mr Flatt), and E Fiat Bass (Mr McDomld). The Banjo and Mandolin 01 u\ usder the conductorsbip of Mr K. Cornwall, give very valuable assistance, the two s jlecti.-ng played being enthusiastically enoored, whilst the sams apprecia'ion was shown towards a duet by Miss aad Master Cornwall. Mis* Cjrnwal', too, pleased the audience with a delightful cooo song, and in respaaso to an encore repeated the list verse. Last but not lejst must be aa n ioned Mr Ryan's songs. He was down for one in each pirt of the programme, and received a well-deservfd encore each time he appeared. He has without doubt a fiae baritone voice and ha was happy in h's-selections, "The Skippers of St. Ives" perhaps being his best effort. The English Church choir who were to hsve given two part •ongs were absent owing to bereavement amongs 1 ; their numbers'. At the conclusion, Mr. E. M. Smith, M.S.R., who during ths progra-ntae announced tfee items thanked tiae perform rs and the public for their assistance and in a few weli-chosen wor's comp imented the Band upon its present efficiency. He further staged th»t he believed tha Band would give a good Account of itself at Mait*rton. The " National Anthem " by the Band concluded a most enjoyable concert.

The Band leave for on Siturdiy and return on the Mowing Saturday.