AMUSEMENTS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10003, 26 March 1910, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

KOYAL BESSES 0' TH' BARN BAND.

Marked cordiality existed throughout South Africa during the recent tour of the Besses who appear at the Town Hall, Masterton, on Tuesday • evening next, and the showgrounds on Thursday afternoon, at 230 o'clock. Press critics vied with each other in issuing laudatory notices of their achievements. "The Friend," Bloemiontein, said:—"There were few vacant seats in any part of the and the audience , was as re- § presentative as it was large Here you could see jaded legislators fresh from their labours ovar Sunday Observance, and close at hand working men whose dialect betrayed the fact i that they came from the same country as the wonderful instrumentalists on the programme platform The programme last evening was a varied i one, and not alone suited t« bring out the full talents and abilities of the Band, but admirbly adapted to the taste of every section, of the audience. A very neat compliment and one that was highly appreciated was the playing of the old Free State Volksleid, followed by tbe National Anthem at the close of the performance. No one but an expert could hope to criticise such a performance with any hope j rof success. But even to those not burdened with n-usical abilities of tne first rduk, the performance last ! right appealed in a very especial degree. The outstanding feature to the writer's way of thinking was the prefect precision and attack, the I sympathy between players and conductor, and the wonderful modulation in sound ana effect, the crescendo at times dying away to the minimum of souhu, and yet with perfect clearness of tone. As brass bands go 'in this country we do not expect to hear the most delicate sounds, but last night showed that brass instruments in the hands of skilled peiformers can emit as delicate and tasty music as the finest piano. The world famous hymn "Abide With Me" has often j been rendered, but surely never S better even on a grand org3n than it was by the Besses last evening. We shall not attempt to praticuiarise and pick out the best items,but "The Village Blacksmith" on the euphonium with band accompaniment, by Mr E. P. Kerry, revealed new beauties hitherto unsuspected in Lon> fellow's famous and beautiful poem. Only eight items appeared on the programme, but in response to the vociferous encores Mr Owen very kindly j allowed his band almost to double the number to the evident enjoyment I of the audience." J Prices are on a distinctly populai I basis.

THOMPSON-PAYNE PICTURES.

A special prorgamme was presented at the Foresters' Hall, last night, when there was a very large attendance. To-night the usual programme will be continued with several additions to the series shown last Thursday. On Monday next there will be the usual change of pictures. On Thursday night a series new to Masterton was shown, and wera oi a very high order. "The Jockey" is a good racing film, and was received with uproarious applause. "The Army of Two" is a stirring military picture depicting a incident during the American Revolution Included in the programme there are some really first-classs cenic and comic films that are well worth seeing. <