PARRY JONES (Tenor)
ANTHONY PINI (Violoncello)
THE WIRELESS MILITARY BAND
Conducted by B. WALTON O'DONNELL
A HUMORESQUE is not necessarily a humorous piece.
The name means rather something capricious and wayward. But in this music by the popular conductor of the Wireless Military Band there are flashes of real humour, as is only right and proper when a composer is a genial Irishman.
Mr. O'Donnell is, of course, not merely a military bandmaster with the conventional training and traditions of such a task; he is a thoroughly equipped all-round musician, whose work for orchestra is no less distinguished than for the band.
The names of these three pieces are almost all that listeners require by way of guidance. Over a vigorous bass the first begins with a rather pompous tune for cornets and wood-winds. Clarinets answer it, a little pertly, and then there is an expressive slower section with a comet solo. After that, the vigour of the opening returns, and the piece ends whimsically with a swift little rush.
Number two has a few bars of capricious prelude and then clarinets and flutes together play the merry, leaping tune; there is a short, more emphatic interlude which leads to a gracious waltz with a tune not unlike the first one. Again, there is an emphatic interruption and the- opening melody returns.
To the third and last movement there are again a few bars of prelude, and then in the most vivacious measure, clarinets and alto saxophones play the hurrying tune. It comes to an end quietly, and in slower measure the woodwinds, softly at first, have a contrasting theme. There is a horn solo in the manner of recitative, which leads to a return of the beginning, and a coda in three short sections, one quick and strenuous, one more majestic, and one in the swift measure of the opening, rounds off the movement and the suite.