SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1169, 3 July 1911, Page 9

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

An "At Home" at Government House. Very brief has been tho visit of the Sheffield Choir to Wellington and one full of hard work, with yet a littlo sight-see-ing and pleasure thrown in, by the way. On Saturday afternoon the members of the choir were the guests of their Excellencies Lord and Lady Islington at an "At Home" held at Government House at'tho conclusion 'of the matinee performance given in the Town Hall. Although the time at their disposal was, necessarily somewhat brief, they yet found time to delight those present with their singing of "Oh, Gladsome Light (Elgar) and were very ready to talk of their experiences in this and in other countries which they have visited. Instead of being jaded, and inclined to view their meteoric flight through tho country with wearied resignation (which really would not have been surprising), they aro thoroughly enjoying themselves and full of gratitude, for the kindnesses winch they say have simply heen showered upon them. , . , ~ . The ballroom, in which the guests were received, was arranged with cluster or noinsettias and palms, and with small tables dotted about. Tea. was served from a long buffet carried the full length of the room and decorated with bowls ot scarlet camellias. ■' Lady Islington wore a soft graceful gown of white silk, braided, and a largo black velvet hat with white plumes. Miss Staplcton Cotton was in a grey coat and skirt and a large grey hat turned up at the side. Mrs. Guise, a brown silk dress and brown velvet toque. Mrs. Forgusson, heliotrope velvet gown with cream lace yoke and largo heliotrope hat. Somo of those present in addition tc» the chon were- Mrs. Wi ford, Bishop Sprott, Mrs. Al'ar Williams, the Rev. A.M. Johnson ami Mrs. Johnson, General Godley, Miss Inrcourt, Mrs. Stanford, Mr and Mr . Shirtclifie, Mrs. F.M.'B. Fisher, Mrs. Dvinock Mr. Herdman. M.P., and Mrs. He I an, Mrs. Elgar, Mrs. Dan Duncan, Mr J. P. Luke, M.P., and .Miss Luke, Mr. Waters, and Miss Richmond.

The Choir's Experiences. Tn 'talkin*' to soirte of tho members of the Sheffiefd Choir on Saturday afternoon, one could not help but be struck with their enthusiasm-enthusiasm for heir work and enjoyment of .their exuerenccs in the different countries, Thi« has been quite the hardest time we have bad vet" said one-ot them. "You.see, theV tiir ;9 days spent in We bug on have almost, every minute of them, been ■spent .in - doing . something. -Tho ''me when we have something of a rest is when we are on a boat, and then wo are not all of us able to enjoy that. It wns said, with no degree of complaint or eelfijitv—just a simple statement ot tact. . "Wo think New Zealand is very beau-tiful-much of it-aud were really glad of the trip to Palmerston, as it gave us a chance of seeing what the country theivabouts was like. When we passed through to Wellington it was dark, and we had no idea of -what it was like. If onlv we could have spent two or three (lays at Rotorua, paying our own expenses; wo would have been - bo much has been heard of it. _; . Another member of tho choir spoke of their love for "Tho Dream of Gcrontius, although when they were first learning it they had not cared for it. Now they revel in it and no longer have to be told, as onco upon a time. "Ladies, please remember you are not angels, but demons.' And demons they are, then. Not all the members of the choir are from Yorkshire. Some aro from Oxford, some even from Wales (two or three, ; and a few from other countries). No personal inconvenience or. self-sacrifice seems to have been too much for these singers to have made. The -writer was' speaking to one who i;scd to drive somewhere about twenty mi.es across tho moors to attend the practices in all weathers. There would bo sections in tho various'"towns and- villagers, and they would practise perhaps twico a fortnight or twice a •week, and then once a month meet at tho centre and have a practice 'all together, these- central practices gradually becoming more frequent as the time for tho final performances, drew nearer. Generations have taken part in the festivals —' and yet they say that England is not a musical country. ' Composers like Ba.ntock, .Elgar and Perry have tremendously developed choral work in England, and the prizes offered at the colleges for all kinds of musical, compositions, including oratories, cantatas; and choral work generally have greatly fostered musical art. One dees not need to be told that choral singing

i in England has reached such a standard that it is unsurpassed in any other country (a standard for which the choralbod'ics of Yorkshire are largely responsible), for choral singing is essentially a British form of music. "Elijah." No one who was present at tho performance of "Elijah" in the Town Hall on Saturday evening is likely to forget it. The sight of tho interior of the hall with its great ma.-s of people ' was alono inspiriting.; but when the whole houso stood up and the choir sang Elgar's setting of "God Save the King," as it has never before been sung in New Zeahnd, sending cold shivers down people's backs, it seemed that nothing could surpass it.. So often has one heard it perfunctorily sung that th» possibilities of its magnificence have hardly been realised, but this time they overwhelmed one. Familiar as the music of "Elijah" may be to most people, fresh beauties and revelations were brought before them till almost they wondered had they been "sticks and stones" when they had heard it before. The chorus "Give Thanks Unto God," with the aecomnaniment of the great organ, was memorable and altogether beyond words.