THE MASONIC CONCERT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1262, 12 June 1886, Page 2

THE MASONIC CONCERT.

Last night the somerset Lodge of Freemasons gave a grand dress concert in the Masonic Hall. The tidy little room was well filled ; but, with a knowledge of the Immense influence exercised by the Masonic body, it muat not bo for a moment Imagined that the number of people in the hall represented tho number of tickets sold. We are aware that tickets for this concert are held by Masons all over the coumy, and as tho holders were not present in the hall, we take it that their best wishes were with the object of the concert, thongh they were not able to be present In person. The concert was in aid of the Lodge fund, and a good sum will be realised. To make the programme as attractive as possible, several strangers had been invited to assist, and amongst these must be mentioned tho names of Messrs Wood ( I’imaru) and Herman (Christchurch) The fame of the former is still in its zeoith in Aeb barton, and that of tho latter has bien certainly set aflame by his performances last night. instrumentalists comprised the genlemen above me-i tionod, and Messrs Brooks, Kneen, and Jameson, and Misses Orr and Kidd. Messrs Brooks and Kneen played Dye’s Grand Festival March, which though admirably manipulated, suffered through the rickety state of tho piano, which had been badly affected by tho weather, and caused a lot of trouble throughout the evening. A Masonic choir contributed two Masonic choruses, in fairly good tune, but rather hasty time, especially tho first. Singolee’s “ pastorale ” for violin and piano, was performed in a finished style by Mr Herman and his sister, Mrs H. Zander, and the selections from “La Sonnambula,” by the same harmonist, were played with eqnat taste and accuracy. The well-known and ; popular overture to the “ Caliph ct Bagdad,” was played by Messrs Wood and Herman (violinists), Jameson (flautist), and Miss Kidd (pia list), but a difference la tho pitch of flute and piano, which was not adjustable near the close of the piece, ' detracted much from the otherwise excellence of the performance, and tho same : may bo said of the second contribution of the same parties, Mias Emma |Orr’s selection of Scotch was very well played, and her playing was quite an enjoyable Item of tho evening. Mrs Crisp sang touchingly Giro Pinsnti’a tr Touch of a Vanished Hand,” and her “ Close to the Threshold,” a trifle by Parker, was gracefully given. Mra Denshire sang with a return of the power wa have heard her put forth years ago in Nelson, when as the leading amateur aoprano in that essentially musical city she used to entrance delighted audiences with the richness of her voice, and her artistic rendering of some of the most difficult music in •core- Mrs Denshire was loudly applauded, and only the rule of ,ihe ball for the night, strictly enforced by the chairman, prevented a vigorous encore from being car rled to Its utmost. Mi s Barrett waa sweetly winning In the quaint little song “ Lassie,” and Miss Gates had ample scope for the power of her excellent voice In Bacalossi’s “ 1 will love thee ever. ” Mr Gated, who peformed grandly the solo “ Great fabric” in tho Masonic odo, “ Hiram the Architect,” sang also Molloy’s “ Postillion," and Mr llairieon, the evergreen, sustained his old reputation by In's neat rendering of “ The Yeoman’s Wedding.” Mies Kidd carolled in her usual bewitching style j Watsan’a “ Summer Song,” and Mr

Atkinson’s baritone voice found scope tor its telling cadences in Giro Pinsuti's “ Bugler" and Watson’s “ Anchored.’ Mr Brooks awakened a feeling like the touch of a vanished hand,” so feelingly called up by Mrs Crisp in her song, when ho sang “ Across the blue hills, Mario,” by Blumonthal, There wore few in that ( hall who did not call to recollection the grand tones of the late Mr (5. D. Branson’s voice in that same song as Mr Brooks with his brilliant tenor gave being once again to its seductive numbers. Unfortunately the low-sot piano robbed tbo performance of many of its beauties. Still, wo feel that in Mr Brooks, who is resident among I us, wo have a vocalist who cau render us ■ this remarkably touching song, as it ought to be rendered, and wo hope to hear him again in the same numbers under more favorable auspices. The duty of Chairman fell to P.M. Bro Felton, who apologised for the absouco of the District Grand Master. With a very human consideration for the ladies present, tho brethren bunded round tea and eoffco in the interval, and considering tho frostj night, and the excellence of Mr Cullen’t brew, we have an idea that tho ladioe fancied there might be worse things in existence than a Masouic Lodge.