THE EXHIBITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8327, 8 January 1907, Page 5

THE EXHIBITION.

RECEPTION TO THE BESSES 0 TH' BARN BAND. INTERNATIONAL BAND CONTEST. ■ RECORD ENTRIES. CHRISTCHURCH, January 7. The Exhibition has been well attended all day, and this evening a tremendous crowd has been pouring from an early hour into the buildings and grounds in expectation of a display of fireworks by Pain and Sons, London. The Fernery is to manypeople a supreme delight, and a marvel of the Exhibition. Its many varieties of beautiful ferns, its little creeks and fountains, and dim light, which helps it to give the impression of an actual our native bush, draw an increasing number of admirers now. Its beauty has been increased by night by hanging strings of little coloured lamps among the • ferns, which were lighted for the first time to-night with surpassingly beautiful effect. The details of the reception of the Besse3 o' th' Barn Band on Thursday are now all complete, and the function promises to be a very striking feature of the Exhibition. vThe following are the official annotations to the Band's first programme to be given on the ' specially built rotunda on the sportsground on Thursday night:—March, "Zealandia" (Mr A. Owen), composed in honour of the Band's first visit to New Zealand, being its first performance in this country. The work is very interesting, as Mr Owen has in a very masterly way employed the fullest powers of each instrumentalist. It is one of the most . difficult marches to perform ever written. Overture, "Poet and Peasant." This brilliant composition is one of the Band's most popular numbers, a wonderful exhibition and variety of tone and colour being verymanifest. Cornet polka, i "Clemopatra" (Demare) (soloist) T. G. Moore). Mr Moore is one of England's finest cornet soloists, and will be heard to fullest advantage in this bright and popular number, introducing as it does some brilliant triple tongueing. Grand selection, "Rossini's Works" (arranged by A. Owen). This work introduces much ; of the great composer's most popular operas,' and is one of the great efforts that have made Mr Owen and the Band famous. In Paris particularly they were given a wonderful reception after its performance, and its rendition at Windsor before the .King and Queen and the Royal Court led to its oeing enthusiastically • received. Walts, "Jeunesse Doree" (Waudtefel). Many charming effects wilf be noticed in this beautiful number. Trombone solo, "Death of Nelson" (Braham). The soloist is Mr Tom Bowling, whose splendid interpretation of this old favourite always creates a furore. Operatic selection, "The Geisha." The selection is very effectively arranged and introduces all the wellknown melodies. , National fantasia, "Reminiscences of England" (Godfrey). This fantasia, arranged by the late Fred. Godfrey, is considered by many to be the best of the many written by him. Many of the most' famous and popular National airs will be heard during its \ preformance. Entries for the International Band Contest, to be held * from February 11th to the 16th, constitute a record for the colonies, and for the- British Empire. Thirty-seven bands have entered for the selection and quickstep competitions, including combinations from Auckland to the Bluff and Newcastle City and Code's Melbourne Bands from? Australia. For the solo quartette and trombone trio competitions nominations have been made by 33 bands, including Newcastle City. The judge of the test and "own choice" selection and the music of the quickstep event will be Lieut. W. G. Bentley, of Sydney, a British Army band master of high musical reputation. v