THE AMATEUR CONCERT.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 9, 5 January 1870, Page 2

THE AMATEUR CONCERT.

i Ou Wednesday evening last a concert given by some of our amateur Vocalists and instrumental performers drew together a capital audience, the large hall of the Cromwell Hotel being well filled. The concert was got up by a committee of gentlemen resident in the district, with the intention of raising funds (by means of this and a succession of like musical entertainments) to build an Athenasuni in Cromwell. The object is a worthy one, and deserves the support of all classes of the community; jtnd we have no doubt that if the general support of the public is given, in a very short time Cromwell will be able to boast of a building suited to its requirements. Owing to the hurried manner in which the concert was got up, there was hardly sufficient time for practising some of the concerted pieces, yet without exception we may say they were exceedingly well rendered. The concert was opened with Rossini's overture to Tancredi, which was excellently played by Mr and Mrs Simpson and Mr Whetter (violin, piano, "and cornet), and was almost in itself sufficient to ensure the success of the concert. Mr Lnscombe followed with the pleasing song " Many happy returns of the day," and being deservedly encored, he again gave the concluding verse of the song. Mr Baird sang " Jeannie with the Light-brown Hair," with good effect, and was loudly applauded. A solo on the ophicleide by Mr Whetter, with pianoforte accompaniment by Mr Milburn, of Clyde—whose services as accoinpanyist the Committee fortunately obtained for the remainder of the evening—-was a fine instrumental performance, every note being clearly and distinctly given. The pretty little ballad " No One to Love," pathetically sung by Mrs Corse, was loudly re-demanded, and, in compliance with the request, the fair vocalist repeated the concluding verse. Mr Howson followed with a negro song, " Old Black Joe," accompanying himself on the banjo ; and in reply to a unanimous encore he substituted another song of the same description, being loudly applauded at its conclusion. The duet, " What are the Wild Waves Saying 1" very correctly sung by Messrs Arkell and Luscombe—the voices blending well with each other—was followed by Mr Bate's song, " The Exile." This was" one of the best efforts of the eveuing, the compass of the singer's yoice being something remarkable. The rich low notes in the song were given with a truthfulness and ease seldom excelled in amateur singing. Mr Pretsch then gave : a pretty little German song. This gentleman possesses one of the sweetest of tenor voices, of considerable compass, and his song, although given in German, was enjoyed by all. Selections from Trovatore (violin and piano), by Mrand Mrs Simpson, were excellently played. Mr Simpson is a capital violinist, and great credit must be awarded Mrs Simpson for the excellent rendering of the pianoforte music. The well-known song, " John Barleycorn," sung by Mr Arkell in capital style, was loudly applauded, and an encore was complied with. '• Let me Kiss him for his Mothor," sung by poor Garrett (whose melancholy end we notice in another column), followed by " The Slave Ship" by Mr Fenwick, concluded the first portion of the programme. After an interval of fifteen minutes, Rossini's brilliant composition, "La Cerentola," was played as : an overture to the second part hy Mr and Mrs Simpson and Mr Whetter. This overture wa3 one of the treats of the evening, and was highly appreciated by the audience. Mr Luscombe sang " Absent Friends" in his usual excellent style, and received an encore. Mr Baird gave the favourite song " A Motto for every Man," and complied with an encore by rejKating the two last verses. The glee, " Breathe soft, ye Winds," by Messrs Bate, Arkell, and Luscombe, went first-rate, the voices blending admirably, notwithstanding the short time the vocalists had for practice. Mr Whetter's cornet solo " Ah Non Giunge," from Sonnambula, was correctly aud tastefully rendered, the performer being evidently a thorough master of bis instrument. Mrs Corse followed with the ever favourite ballad, " Come Home, Father," which was so swoetly and touchingly sung as to draw down thunders of applause, " Would'ntyou , like to know" being given as an encore song. Mr Tippett then sang " The Musketeer" in capital style, and bgjng encored he gave the "The Sea Storm." Another negro song, with banjo accompaniment, was then given by Mr Howson, who had to comply witli a unanimously demanded encore, and was again encored at the conclusion of his second song. "Tommy Dodd," a humorous song, excellently sung by Mr Arkell, who possesses a good voice, then followed. Mr Pretsch then gave a pretty little Tyroleso air. It was very sweetly sung,, but the. pianoforte accompaniment was perhaps rather loud for some of the sweetest portions of the melody. An air, with variations, on the violin • and pianoforte, by Mr and Mrs Simpson, was a most enjoyable pioce of music, and was loudly applauded. Mr Bate's song, " When Time hath bereft," given in his best style, was a sufficient proof of his ability to render high-class vocal music with correctness and ability. Mr Garrett then sang "You'll remember me," followed by the National Anthem, which concluded the performance.