"DAVID, THE SHEPHERD BOY"

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1931, 29 August 1888, Page 3

" DAVID, THE SHEPHERD BOY"

« The sacred Cantata, Dovid the Shepherd Boy, was produced at the Oddfellows' Hall last night, by the choir of the Presbyterian Church, assisted by friends. The affair was a pronounced sucoess, and evidenced caretul and painstaking preparation on the part of those assisting m the production. The composer, Dr Boot, is well-known for several successful cantatas which he has brought out, and David is one of the most attractive of these. This Cantata, which desoribeß the anointing and subsequent career of David till he v is crowned, is arranged into ten parts or scenes of which the following outline is Riven : — The first part or scene brings us to Bethlehem, just at the time when Samuel, obeying the will of God, appears there to find and anoint David. The solos and choruses describe this very well. The second scene is at Carmel, and introduces Abigail the wife of Nabal, who reoeives a deputation of shepherds. From this we are brought to the presence of Saul, who appears m great despondency m consequence of his being forsaken by God. To oheer him, Michal , hifl daughter, prays David, who had been appointed the King's harper, to play, and so relieve the intensity of his sorrow. The; scene following is where, after David had slain Goliath, the women ring his praises m the streets, and Saul, jealous of the honor he is receiving, desires that David be brought before him to be questioned. Some time is here supposed to elapse, and then we see David m exile, wandering from place to place, and being thirsty he craves for a drink of water from the weU at Bethlehem. His three men of war, knowing of this, fight their way through the Philistines, end obtaining the water bring it to him. The next part represents the anger of David consequent npon the rejection of his offer of friendship by Nabal. David threatens Nabal's life, and Abigail, aooompanied by her attendants, intercedes for peace, and is successful. Soon after, a messenger brings the news of Nabal's death, and David then sends for Abigail to make her hia wife. The final scenes are the evening preceding the coronation, and the coronation itself. The various partß were allotted as follows : — Abigail, Mrs Crisp ; Attendants, Miss Oliver and Mrs Gamble; Michal, Mrs Flower; David, Mr H. G. Flower; Jesse, Mr D. Millar; Samuel, Mr J. Lamb; Saul, Mr Simms; Abner and Messenger, Mr Simms. The parts of Samuel and Saul had originally been allotted to Mr D. E. Lindsay, but at the last moment word was received from that gentleman that he could not be present, and the respective roles had accordingly to be filled by Messrs Lamb and Simms. The programme was gone through from beginning to end m a highly oreditable manner, and without a noticeable hi ten, and the various ohorusea were all well rendered. Mrs Crisp, aa Abigail, had to sustain the principal part amotg the ladies. Although suffering from a severe cold, she went bravely through her role. Her rendition waß a very able one, and although it was to Borne extent interfered with by her manifest indisposition, ehe scored an undoubted suooess. The items " O Carmel Fair," " Thou singeßt of Judah," and "O, long hast thou Wandered," whioh fell to Abigail's lot, were well given and thoroughly appreciated, but her most sucoessful effort was "The Shepherds shear their florki*" Mrs Flower, as Michal, had two so' OB allotted to her, m both of whioh she wai very successful, " 0 fair Shepherd" being odb of the beßt rendered items of the evening. Abigail's at:endants, Miss Oliver, Mesdames Gamble and Flower, gave good interpretations of the musio allotted to them. The part of David was taken by Mr H. G. Flower, and though this gentleman was cot m such good voice as we have heard him his performance was an excellent one. All the solos that fell to his share were capitally rendered, but perhaps the best were "I am David the Shepherd Boy," " In awful Caverns," and the harp song "The Lord my Shepherd is," the latter being encored, and the audience not satisfied till their demand was acceded to. The music allotted to Jesse, Mr D. Millar, was not of a striking character, and this gentleman was not heard to suoh advantage as might otherwise have been the ease, but his rendition was a careful and painstaking one. The parts of Samuel and Saul, which were to have been taken by Mr Lindsay, through the unavoidable absence of that gentleman, devolved on Meesrs Lamb and Simma, who, m spite of the short notice precluding any preparation, went through their mueio with great oredit to themselves, Saul's solos " Sad is the Heart " and "Forsaken " being worthy of special mention. Mr Simmß soored a great success with his song " Nazareth," whioh was one of the best of the evening and which was encored. The two ohoruses taken by the ladies "A thousand men " and "The rosy heights of Carmel" were both excellently rendered, as was also the Bridal march and chorus, and the quartette "Ab mountains round his people rue" taken by David and attendants, Mrs Crisp, Miss Oliver, Mrs Gamble and MrH. Craißhead. A couple of quartette by the ' shepherds, Messrs Flower, Simmß, Millar and H. Craighead, were worthy of commendation, and the items whioh fell to the share of the men of war, Messrs D. Millar and H. and E. Craißhead, were also given m very good style The cborases were all given with txpression* and precision, and m their rendition left little, if anything, to be desired. Perhaps the most appreciated were " When heroes return and the finale " Blessed is he that cometh." A word of commendation is due to Misi Eidd (piano) and Miss On (organ) for the •hare they took, the overtures being excellently given. Mr J. Lamb, who wielded the oonduotor'a baton has been indefatigable m his preparations for the production of the cantata, and he can take oredit to himself for a great measure of the auocesa of last evening. The finanoial result moat be gratifying to the promoters. The hall was well filled m every part, and the prooeeds will be very satisfactory.