Evening star., 1899-03-08
THE BRITISH GUARDS BAND.
Its Concert Was a Observation-Disclosures
ed at Smoker.


The famous British Guards Band under
| the direction of Lieut.. Dan Godfrey, gave
the first concert of its American tour at
the Columbia Theater yesterday afternoon
at 4:15 o'clock, attracting to that play
house an audience large in numbers kindly
disposed toward the Britishers and yet
Withal critical, providing there should be
anything to criticise Before half of the
program had been given, however it was
plainly evident that there was no room
Tor criticism except of the most favorable
kind, and those in attendance devoted their
| energies toward making their applause into
a continuous ovation. This applause was
hrst started when Lieut. Godfrey raised his
baton in front of his beautifully uniformed
band and the instruments broke into the
magnificent strains of THE Star Spangled
Banner" The audience rose as one man
and at the conc. .usion of the number paid
| a high tribute to Lieut. Godfrey's appre-
cation of the niceties of the occasion in
starting the concert with our own national
air. Just before the number the Marine
Band. attired in full dress uniform, filed
IN and occupied the three front rows, Lead
| er Santelmann taking his place in a box
with Mr.. Charles A. E. Harriss under
whose direction the British band is making
Its tour. The members of the home organ
izatlon were applauded vigorously they
took their seats. The first number on the
program was the William Tell' overture
excellently played. the duet between the
oboe and flute, played by Mr.. Benton and
Mr.. Redfern, respectively, being given in
better style perhaps than has ever been
heard in this city. The last chord was the
signal for a pro-onged burst of applause,
Lieut. Godfrey giving the last movement
as an encore. Tht second number, Selec
ton from Mendelssohns Songs Without
Words while quiet in tone, served to
bring out the abilities of the band with re-
| gard to the blending of the instruments in
a1Yprahla Mr. Radfarn a
| flute solo as the third number, playing an
air and variations by Clinton, and respond
| ing to a most emphatic encore. Mr.. Red
ferns two numbers teemed with technical
difficulties yet he gave them in manner
to arouse enthusiasm to high degree, his
| tone at all times being perfection itself
The daintiest number on the program, and
I one that brought out the power of the band
| in giving orchestral music, was the selec-
| ton from Tschaikowski's ballet suite,
''Casse Noisette." In 1t the brasses of the
band seemed lost, although their presence
| was felt, while the reeds impersonated the
string instruments Of orchestra with
splendid effect
| Mr.. Kettlewells cornet solo, 1.-The Chill
and he was forced to respond with the
ever-delightful Killarney" Under Free
! dom's Flag" spirited march, followed,
and then Lieut.. Godfrey, without even bow
| ing his recognition for the applause that
followed, raised his baton and endeared
himself even more to his auditors by play
ing a Sousa march. Selections from ..The
Belle of New York" proved to be the most
popular number on the program, the ar
rangement of the selections being the most
acceptable and gratifying that has been
heard here. A humorous sketch ''The
Drummer's Dilemma" followed in which
all the other members of the band are sup
posed to have gone on a strike. leaving this
solitary wielder of the sticks to play all
the instruments, including tympani bass
and snare drums, cymbals, triangle tam
BOURNE. castinettes. bells. xylophone and
other kindred devices of his trade The
number was written and played by Mr.
Byrne to the satisfaction of his audience
although the same feat may be seen at al
most any theater orchestra in the country.
where the drummer is the most overworked
man imaginable. The concert was brought
to close with nautical fantasie. Eng
| land and America" descriptive of a visit
OF BTatish deet to the United Ststes. the