MASTERTON ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9175, 26 August 1908, Page 5

MASTERTON ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

■ M - - ■■■—» -■- LAST NIGHT'S CONCERT.

A MERITORIOUS 'PERFORMANCE.

There was only an average attendance at the Masterton Town Hall, last evening, when the Masterton Orchestral Society gave its second concert of the season. The programme was a carefully-selected one, and its general excellence, and the merits of the performers deserved a bumper house. The rather unfavourable weather conditions no doubt kept many at home, but those who ventured out were treated to a musical feast. There was a full muster of the orchestra. The well-known overture "Pique Dame" was the first item on the programme, and although the orchestra gave it at a previous concert, last night's rendition greatly eclipsed it. The piece abounds in various movements, the slow ones being played with tenderness and expression, and the staccato passages with due crispness. The andante movement duet between the clarionet and flute was nicely executed, the instruments blending beautifully. Miss F. Elkins then sapg "Home Song" very successfully, for which she was loudly applauded. "The Mill in the Black Forest," next undertaken by the orchestra, was a fairly difficult task. It opens with an oboe solo (Mr Hunn), which was very tastefully played. From there to the conclusion wood wind instruments alternate in prominence, and give the weird effect of a mill at work, while, not interfering in the least with the beauty of the melody. The orchestra acquitted itself very creditably in tMs selection, which was duly applauded. Mr H. Inns supplied the next item-a 'cello solo —the well-known and favourite Chopin "Nocturne No. 2." The effort was ambitious, as the piece bristles with difficult passages, but the soloist treated it in such an excellent manner as to win a decided encore, a light six-eight movement being given in response. The string instruments nf the orchestra were next heard in the pizzicato serenade "Baby's Sweetheart." It is a dainty selection of the serenade order, and the performers shone best in the doublepianissimo passage, which was exceptionally well given, each instrument being heard distinctly, but delicately.

After the interval a selection from "lolanthe" was given by the orchestra, and was undoubtedly one of t ;e best items on the programme. The piece opens with the majestic "March of the Peers" a full movement calling on every instrument. This was given with every attention to light and shade, and was followed by a crn«t solo (Mr Mcl.eod), easy butprc'ty. A Trombone solo "When Britons Rule the Waves" (Mr G. Hutchiscn) followed, this being very played, as was the succeeding c.oe solo (Mr Hunn) coupled with a ': .ta and clarionet obligate (Messrs Harrett and A trio, spar.- ling and quaint, followed this agai i, a waltz movement, in which wind instruments predominate. "The Sentry Song," bassoon solo (Mr Varnham) followed, and its deep and mellow tones were brought out to the lull by the executant. A pretty cornet solo "0 Foolish Fay," (Mr McLeod) was one of the gems of the concert, a very sweet and sustained string accompaniment preceded the grand march finale, the full orchestral effect being splendidly produced. Miss Fanny Elkins was again heard in Tosti's "Good-bye," this exquisite air being more suited to her sweet contralto voice than the "Home Song." An encore was demanded, and given, a short verse of a dainty theme being the reply. The waltz "Kunstler Leben" (Strauss) was the next item—an orchestral one —and although due attention was given to light and shade, and the performance had other merits, the time was rather faulty in places. The quartette "Serenade" with reed instruments was given by Messrs Candy, Barlow and Chunn clarionets) and Varnham (bassoon). The piece waa classical, but was treated so capably also as to cause an insistent encore. It is an andante movement, and went very well. An adagio movement, a melody from a German opera by Weber, was given as an encore number. A competition prize march, "The King's Guard," concluded the programme, and was a fitting item to close with. The march has a sweet haunting theme pervading it, and a trio which is full of sympathy. The audience were pleased with this item, and expressed its approval by the loud applause which followed. The orchestra deserves hearty congratulation on its success, as taken right through the programme was very difficult, yet no great weak neases were exposed, but a great deal of skilful execution and musical appreciation of the composer's idea. The orchestra comprised the following playsrs:— Conductor, Mr J. Candy; violins, Mr Reihana Boyes (leader), Mrs H. Inns, MissK. Holloway, Miss B. Brown, Mias Keisenberg, Miss W. Jones, Mr Goddard, Mr E. Burrough, Mr Mcintosh. Mr A. Renall, Mr A. Hollings, Master S. Gough; viola, Mr C. Winchester; cello, Mr H. Inns;, contra bass, Mr A. Russell; flute, Mr J. Barrett; clarionettes, Mr Chunn, Mr W. Barlow; bassoon, Mr M. R. Varnham; oboe, Mr F. Hunn; cornets, Mr F. W. G. McLeod, Mr E. Maher; horn, Mr A. Mason; trombone, Mr G. W. Hutchison; tympani, Mr E. Langton.