MASTERTON ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3062, 5 December 1908, Page 5

MASTERTON ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

THIRD CONCERT—FIFTH SEASON. A STERLING PERFORMANCE. A good upstairs but poor downstairs house listened to the third concert of its fifth season, given by the Masterton Society in the Town Hail last night. The programme was the moat difficult yet attempted by the Orchestra, but musical critics were well satisfied with the performance. The orchestra has improved greatly in its playing, and in its concerted work showed to better advantage than at any prsvious performance. In the'first item, "Victoria Cross March,*' the orchestra was very successful, being loudly applauded. The overture, "Raymond," was particularly well played, the wood-wind passages being abundant, and being very well treated by the instrumeritalistq, M.J Ernest H. Parkes, a well-known Wellington vocalist, " flgXt Bang "To-night," a ballad which the singer treated in a masterly fashion, his fine baritone voice being well suited to the number. He received a well-deserved encore, and gave in response "Youth," a ballad f suited still more to his robust voice. Y •For this he was also roundly ap-*' ylaaded. A trombone soJo, "The Bandolero," was the next item, Mr G. Hutchinson being the soloist. He performed excellently, surprising his hearers considerably by his ex--1 ceptionally tuneful and generally artistic rendering of the number. He was encored, and repeated the selectoin. An idyll, "Schneeglocken" {snow-bells), was the next orchestral item.and was appreciated probably the most ot all the full instrumental numbers. The "glockenspeil" solo (bell music) was particularly, well given by Mr E. Langton. In the second half/a grand fantasi* "Selections from Greig," was the •opening item, and probably the moat difficult selection ever attempted by . the orchestra. The instrumental work was, however, of a high order, and the audience showed keen appreciation of the item. In the wedding march a pretty bell effect was very attractive, the players ,', having an even call on their services.. Mr Parkea received a double recall for "Because," by d'Hardelot, singing "An Emblem" on his second and third appearances. Mr Parkes simply delighted the audience with his items. A bracketed number by the orchestra, "In Hammerebach" (Elgar), and "Serenade" (Hans * Sitt). The first was a tone picture of great beauty, requiring concerted playing throughout. It was well received, and the dainty serenade was also capitally given, and met with aporeciative applause. The duet (clarinet and flute) by Messrs Candy \ and Barrett, "Lo, Hear the Gentle \Lark," was the following item, and ""for such a difficult number the selecs * tes *tion was skilfully and artistically treated. The flautist was really clever in his smart fingering of the instrument, and the clarinet was heard sympathetically throughout. The concluding cadenza, which was very difficult for the flute, was evenly executed, and was quite up to the best professional standard. The "Nell Gwynne Dances" (German) was an item played at a previous concert, and was repeated by general request. It is an exacting selection, but was handled in good, bold style, and made a suitable concluding number. The members 6f the orchestra were as follow:-—Conductor, Mr J. Candy; violins, Mr Reihana Boyes (Leader), Mrs H. Inns, Misses K. Holloway, B. Brown, Keisenberg, W. Jones, Messrs Goddard, E. Burrows, Mcintosh, A. Renall, S. Gough; viola, Mr C. Winchester; 'cello, Mr H. Inns; contrabass, Mr A. Russell flute, Mr J. Barrett; clarinets, Messrs Cbunn and W. Barlow; bassoon, Mr M. R. Varnham; oboe, Mr F..Hunn; cornets, Messrs F. W. G. McLeod and E. Maher; horn, Mr A. Mason; trombone, Mr G. W. Hutchinson; tyuipani, Mr E. Langton. Mr Candy deserves congratulation ,on the excellent standard of play attained by the orchestra, and the players g:ve promise of becoming a really high-class amateur musical combination. Among the members are come first-class musicians of exceptional capabilities. Miss Jones played the piano accompaniments in a finished manner.