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Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 18, 24 August 1848, Page 2

On Thursday evening, a second public rehearsal was given by the Vocal Class of the Mechanics' Institute. The numerous attendance —for the hall was filled, even to overflowing—proved in the most gratifying manner the general interest that is taken in Mr. Outhwaite's experiment; a success which has been obtained only by untiring exertion on his part, and the sacrifice of much time, — which becomes surprising when we consider the small materiel which he has had placed at his command. There are many good voices in the town besides those which have thus been brought together—far too good to be thrown away ; the owners of which we may now hope to see encouraged into joining the corps, into lending their aid towards causing this most delightful of all the arts to strike deep root amongst us. It is only of late years, that the national influence of art in elevating the public tone of feeling, in softening and refining the manners of a whole community, has begun to be appreciated as it deserves; but in Europe, it stands confessed at last, so much so, that the universal diffusion of it has now become one of the great objects of every government that can be said to take real interest in the happiness and welfare of the people committed to its charge. And we say that whoever puts himself prominently forward in working out this end, does more than offer a temporary gratification to an occasional audience ; he earns for himself the title of a public benefactor. With regard to the performance itself, we take this opportunity of throwing out a few hints, which will be taken in good part —as a proof, we hope, of the sincere interest which we take in the success of the experiment. May we be allowed to observe that nearly every one of the performers labours under the national defect of singing through the teeth. Foreigners have an idea that we dare not open our mouths in England, because of the fogs ; be that as it may, the same excuse can certainly not be made out here. There is no fault which more completely smothers the effect of the voices, which more effectually prevents them from travelling, or filling a spacious room ; and none which is more easily got over by a little persevering attention. The concert opened with " Glorious Apollo," arranged in five parts, only four of which, however, were sung. The second trebles were wanting, a loss which dreadfully impaired the effect of the piece. But for that, it would have gone well, for the other parts were fairly executed. Mr. Culpan's counter-tenor was particularly effective. " List to the music of Even," by master Hunter, was very creditable indeed to so young a beginner. His voice is of fine quality, and firm ; the ear is evidently good, but still requires a little refining. On the whole, he shews great promise of becoming an excellent singer. In Danby's famous glee, " Awake, ./Eolian Lyre," the trebles lost themsehes completely, which was the more disappointing, as we had already heard the same piece i xecuted in great perfection at a private rehearsa:. The younger section of the choir, unused to singing before so large an audience, or. indeed, before any audience at all, is evidently wanting in nerve. Let us likewise observe, that very few of the well written glees are capable of good effect when sung in chorus. The texture of the parts is too close and complicated to bear being weighted ; so soon as the voice:- are multiplied, the harmony becomes indistinct. In the composition of madrigals and real choruses, this danger is carefully guarded against, by paying greater attention to what painters would call breadth of handling. Bianclu Taylor's beautiful song," Wilt thou was neatly executed by Mr. Jarvis. But we did not think it well adapted to his voice, which is not a tenor, but a bary tone, of excellent quality when confined to its legitimate compass. There is still some uneveness in it, which might be removed by a little more practice at the scale. We hope that his well deserved encore will not indispose him to listen to friendly criticism. With Henry Puicell's" Come if you dare," we were really much pleased. The conductor was afraid that it had not been sufficiently practised; but the want of study, excepting for a few bars, in which the basses were unsteady, was by no means apparent. Purcell is the glory of the British school of music. " Still, still I'll think of thee," was given by Mr. C. Robinson in good tune, although it appeared to be something too high for him. His voice is of first-rate quality; with care and perseverance it will presently prove equal to a high class of music. Messrs. Smith and Jarvis's duet," Music's softest note is sighing," wanted nothing, but expiession. The voices excellent, the intonation perfect, with nothing to be desired in accuracy. Yet there was a certain deadness about it, which materially injured the effect. But for that one defect, it was excellently given. The " Huntsman's Chorus " was very effective, and was warmly encored. The second bass part, although well sung, was perhaps

hardly equalized in power with the rest. One other voice, at least, should have been laid on. Bishop's fine piece, " Allegiance we swear," proved rather too difficult for the trebles. The solos are beautitul, but require much finish in the execution. The chromatic passages in particular, were much too difficult for so young a beginner as Master Sanson. " Peace to the Slumberers," arranged from a Catalnnian air, was perhaps the gem of the evening ; it would have afforded pleasure to a much more fastidious audience, than that which was there assembled. " Had I a boat on some fairy stream," was done justice to by Master Sanson. His voice is pure, and his intonation correct when he sings alone, but he seems a little careless about time. " Foresters sound the cheerful horn," in our own opinion, was not a successful attempt; but we bow to the opinion of the audience, which encored it. " The flowers that blossom in the vale," was very well rendered by Mr. Smith. That gentleman's deep and rich bass voice requires but little cultivation ; it is fairly and naturally thrown out from the chest, although still a little through the teeth. If a little more life and animation could in any wise be into him, if he could be made to perceive itsort clearly the chiaro-scuro of music—the eflfect of contrasts, he would be already a singer of no mean degree. As it is, there is a certain monotony about his performance, which is even increased by the great smoothness he has acquired. Of Sir John Stephenson's " See our oars with feathered spray," the less said the better. He is a pretty sing-song composer, but nothing more ; and even those small merits were not done justice to by the performers. By the little interest which they seemed to take in it, they showed their taste, though they did not shew off themselves. The " Gnome King " must always prove a most telling glee. The bass solo was \ery fairly rendered, but we thought that the whole piece was taken too fast throughout. It is characterized not by lightness or liveliness, but by a grotesque and lumbering motion, such as old Haydn in his more sportive moods would occasionally indulge in. But Bishop's glees are, generally speaking, too difficult for so young a choir. The concluding piece, " England's song of Freedom," was right well sung. Mr. Smith warmed up into something like energy in the solos, and the chorus, especially the trebles, responded with enthusiasm. The audience too, caught the infection, and gave it the heartiest encore of the evening, breaking up afterwards in the highest good humour, and the very satisfactory feeling that their time had not been thrown away. Let us congratulate Mr. Outhwaite upon his unequivocal and well deserved success. With nothing at the beginning but raw materiel to work upon, insufficiently supplied at first even with that, he has oiganized a wellappointed school of vocal music, which now bids fair to endure as long as the colony itself. The class, in imitation of English University custom, should set aside one day in the year, to be called and kept as " Founder's Day." It is understood that the Lieut.-Governor, with his usual urbanity and attention, has expressed a desire to patronize the future efforts of the class, and to promote the object of its institution by every means in his power.