COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1721, 11 April 1913, Page 6

COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT.

$ BY THE WELLINGTON LIEDEK- ■ TAFEL. . , The Concert Chamber was not so well filled as it might have been last evening when the Wellington Liedertafel tendered a complimentary, concert to Mr. W. D. Gorhum, the society's energetic secretary and treasurer. Truth to tell, the programme was lacking in anything in the way of attractions which would be likely to appeal to the public. The Liedertafel has become "groovy," and the same partsongs which did duty fifteen years ago, and have been steady dishes on the society's menu over since, were , sung once more, not, be it understood, without pleasure to many who were present. If'one might venture a suggestion,.;it' would, be in the iiaturo of an endeavour to brighten the programme by introducing new and modern numbers. Such a courso would serve to introduce that element of novelty which the world insists on demanding, would enlighten the public as to the merit of many living composers, and would perhaps infuse more enthusiasm into the Liedertufel itself. Last evening a serviceable body of male voices sang the part songs "Strike, the' Lyre" (Cooke), "Calm is the Lake" (Abt), "The Soldier's Farewell" (Kinkul), "Stars of the Summer Night," and "The Tar's Song" (Hattnu), and, in conclusion, "In Vocal Combat" (Dudley Buck), in wiiich tenors and basses fight a vocal battle. Mr. K. Jl. IJallantyne exhibited a light und souie what colourless tenor in Edward MacDowell's , i song "Sweet Blue-Eyed Maid," and Miss Gertrudo Hunt / bracketed a new setting of "When I Am Dead" (Lis-sant-Collins), and "I've Been Roaming" (Horn), for which sho .was encored. Her second part number was Alicia Needham's pretty song "The Fairy's Lullaby." A familiar .favourite was Stanford's finu sea song "The Old Superb,"-'well sung by Mr. Hugh Wright and chorus. Mr. D. V. Lillicrap took the solo part in the part-song "Tears of Anguish" (Richardt), and Mr. F. Laycock sang "The Bandolero." ' A quintet, consisting of Messrs. Grace Kennedy and Hoby (violins), Mr. F. Grady, junr. (viola), Mr. A. S. Hilliker ('cello), and Mr. D. A. Kenny (pianoforte), played with indifferent success Coleridge-Taylor's "Valse Bohimieniio" and "Valse *Romanique," a "Gavotte" by Rameau, andCowen's "Menuet d'Amour." Messrs. D. ICenny and H. Hunt acted as accompanists