MASTERTON ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9099, 27 May 1908, Page 5

MASTERTON ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

A SUCCESSFUL CONCERT. Lovers of music were accorded a genuine treat last evening in listening to the first concert of the fifth season, held under the auspices of the Masterton Orchestral Society in the Town IJall. The concert was quite equal to previous ones given by the Society, and the conductor, Mr J. Candy, was well repaid for the time and attention given to training the orchestra. The improvement in light and shade and correct tempos was very noticeable. With the talent the orchestra has, they should be capable of producing something more of a classic character, and it is hoped that when the next concert is given they will include at least one of the easier symphonies in the programme, which would be much appreciated by the musical public. The entertainment opened with an orchestral march "Die Wichtelmanner," by the noted German composer Eilenberg. This was followed by Auber'd wellknown opera "Masaniello," and it was perhaps the most successful and most popular of the pieces given during the evening. Occasionally the wood-wind went astray, but otherwise the rendering was highly creditable. "I'll Sing F ihee Songs of Araby," (Clay), was sung b> Mr W. Jago, with orchestra' accompaniment. His fine tenor voice was heard to full advantage, and he received an undeniable encore. The oi'chestra were much more successful with the encore, keepinj more in tune. Miss ,*'K. Hollowaty was the' only -instrumental soloist on the programme, and she acquitted herself to the entire satisfaction of the audience, receiving a pronounced encore for her interpretation of De Beriot'a violin Concerto. This solo abounds with difficult passages, which she negotited with considerable skill, producing a full, rich tone throughout. II e only suspicion of faultiness was in the double-stopping, and tht» harmonies were occasionally slightly out of tune. As an encore piece Miss Holloway played Elgar's Salut-d-Armour, with equal success. The fiist half of the programme was concluded the rendering of one ofGungTs popular waltzes. The fcecond part opened with a suite of ihree dances by Edward German, the well-known English composer. These dances were of three distinct varieties. They required very delicate handling on the part of the players, and on the whole they gave a very good interpretation. No. 2, a "Pastoral" dance, with muted strings, was perhaps the best of the three. Mr W. Jago was equally successful in "The Slave Song" (Del Riego) as with his previous solo. The orcnestral accompaniment was inclined to ; be a little too pronounced. A pretty little romanza by Alletter, "bcilie Schnaucht" (secret longing) was next played by the orchestra. In this tie principal work is for the oboe sole, and although the intonation was faulty in the opening it was on the whole creditably taken. In the solo passages the accompaniments were perhaps again too much in evidence. The popular quartette "Madrigal" from Gilbert and Sullivan's opera "The Mikado" was sjng oy Mrs dag(, Miss Jago and Messrs Jago anu Hunn. It was well received by the audience, and in response to a dc? :ided eiic-re the las? strain Wftg repeated, A very attGcegsAil ctihrei-fc faaS LoUght to a close by the rendering of an American fantasia, "The Water Malon Patch" (T. Bidgood). The outstanding features of the piece weie solos by the trombone and cornet, which were skilfully played. Mrßeihana Boyes made a very capable leader 1 of the orchestra, and the pianoforte accompaniments were artistically rendered by Miss Winnie Jones.