"THE KILTIES."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 292, 4 December 1908, Page 3

"THE KILTIES."

• The Kilties, the famous Canadian military band, visited New Plymouf. yesterday, aad, as in all other centres drew great crowds to hear them, lannaki turned out en masse, the northward ordinary and special trains bein* largely patronised. The band arrived **?£ t h , e^mora^ nß train froni Haw=ra andl the Eltham Brass Band plaved The Kilties to their hotel. In tl* uu , r . noon the visitors were accorded a pubhe reception m the Recreation Sports Ground. They were escorted from " e -£SI?T ,tta, t t0 the e round9 t* r«mrJp Wn!StraUord Municipal, ami raranak. Garrison Bands, raarctog ty lo *. >« th»t order at three-mm ,te mterval. The Kilties were headed in their inarch by Drum-Major McCormick whose huge stature (height 7ft. 3>/,in ) excited all attention, fhc march was under the control of Drum-Major E I lister, of the Taranaki Garrison Band! Arrived at the grounds, the local bands played "Ingomar" under the baton of Mr. T. B. McConnell, conduct>r of the Taranaki Garrison Band. Bv' mis time the terraces were lined witii i >eople, aad the sight was one to b» /emembered. was estimated that : there were fully six. thousand present, h and the bright costumes and parasols against the grassy slopes made a ma«-

n.hcent picture, which even the muchtravelled K.lties said they had never seen equalled. After his Worship the Mayor had officially welcomed them, the Kilties took the platform. Xhev , iVtf a programme of capital music, but the distance between them and the terraces prevented many of the softer passages reaching the ears of the crowd. With a rotunda, ao doubt, there would have been less difficulty. The music selected too, seemed more Buited to a theatr*' FT i° V*"* Uke the Recreation S2b , The tl ? e0 I ,le w «e afterwards admitted to the sports ground, and were enabled to enjoy the music, which m tone, execution, and finished effect coStio 1 n : bandasaparticularlyfine

At night, as was anticipated, the. Theatre Koyal was densely packed "I enjoyed every minute of it," said a lover of music at the dose of the entertainment, and it is safe to say that this *»» toe opinion of nearly every soul of that overflowing andience. After that performance it becomes" possible to understand the world-wide success of the Band. The Kilties' cognomen led many to believe that they would hear a pipe band, so closely are the bagpipes and the kilts associated in our minds. But the only bagpipe music on the programme was that given by Pipe-Major Albert Johnstone, whose solo won from his hearers an encore for a brilliant

performance, the finale exhibiting won•jwnul technique. This i s a military band, whose composition admits all manner of brass and reed instrument!), the latter including oboes, clarionets, flute, piccolo, and the bassoon. Neither is the band tied down to the ordinary bass, sad side-drum, but cymbals, the triangle, and various subsidiary devices are called into play in working up telling crescendoes and generally heightening the grand effect produced by the perfectly balanced collection of unusually talented musicians, led by a conductor whose every instrument is undw perfect control. Every number last night, whether instrumental, vocal, or terpsichorean, was re-demanded, and the conductor was generous in this respect. The most telling interpretations were the "Overture to Zampa," played by wquest, and the prelude to Act DX of "Lohengrin," the finale. It was re these that the capabilities of the band .were prominently shown. Mr. A. Cook, besides conducting the tend, proved himself a cornet soloist

of a high order, getting marvellous tone out of his instrument. His choice was 'Good Night, Beloved," and his «n-. (tore, "love Me, and fthe World is. Mine," As an encore to Liszt's Rhapsody, "Number Two," Mr. D. A. MacArthur played a piccolo solo, " The HVren," and this is one of the items ■that will be remembered for many days. A second rendering was insisted on. 'Another encore introduced a trombone quintette, "The Ked, White, and Blue," which was excellent. A full tend humoresque on the popular American song, "I'm Afraid to Go Home in the Dark," was an amusing yet amazing performance, some remarkable effects being produced. ■ The Kiltie' choir of male voices, unaccompanied, sang "Annie Lnurh?, - ' and responded ■withi " Comin' thro' the Eye." T.ie choir comprises splendid vocal talent, but the abruptness in style was not effective here as in the instrumental portion, where the clear-cut finishes and staccato passages were a treat. The Clan Johnstone troupe appeared in a (Scotch reel, Irish jig, sailor's hornpipe, and a sword dance (Master Willie Johnstone), and their dancing has probably never been surpassed on the local stage. The stage management left no room fm complaint, numbers succeeding each othet with pleasing alacrity. The audience left in a pleased frame of mini, except that they would have liked another hour of the rare treat that had been afforded them.