The Wireless Military Band, conducted by B. Walton O'Donnell
Alice Moxon (Soprano)
Cyril Towbin (Violin)

THE Overture opens with a few bars of Introduction ; then we hear, very softly, a well shaped, rather slow tune in the Violins (Rienzi's Prayer). This proceeds and is soon taken up, loudly, by the Full Orchestra. After a time, the music comes to a period, and makes a fresh start (quick and energetic); the Wind instruments have loud repeated chords, the 'Cellos and Double-basses do rapid downhill scales.
Soon after comes a very striking passage, in which the Brass alone thunder out the Call to Arms from the Opera.
Then comes Rienzi's Prayer Tune again (but quicker this time than before), and after that the Call to Arms again, and then a stirring march-like tune, at first in Strings and Woodwind softly, but soon afterwards by all the instruments of the Orchestra, as loudly as they can (to it.
Out of these tunes the Overture is constructed.

COLOMBA, Sir Alexander Mackenzie's first Opera, was produced by the Carl Rosa
Company in 1883, and has also been performed in Germany. The plot is taken from the story of Corsican love and vengeance by Merimee.
Tho Prelude is based on four themes from the Opera. First is heard the motif of Revenge. The next chief theme, given out softly, to a throbbing accompaniment, is that of the ' Vocero cr lament sung over tho body of a victim of vendetta. After this has been developed, the music works up to the sweeping Love theme. Towards the close, we hear the quiet theme of the Prayer that is sung over Colomba's dead body. Finally, tho previous themes are briefly recoiled.

FRANCK'S piece is the Prelude to the second part of Redemption, a 'Poem Symphony,' or sacred Cantata, written in 1872, expounding the idea of man's redemption from the fruits of his selfishness and anger through tho influence of Christian ideals and conduct. The Prelude is a blend of graceful melodic ideas, woven with all Franck's skill and dramatic declamation.