WELLINGTON HARMONIC SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2520, 22 July 1915, Page 2

WELLINGTON HARMONIC SOCIETY

FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. The Wellington Harmonic Society, which made its first public appearance in the Concert Chamber last evening, deserves well of the public on its performance. The choir of the society consists of some fifty mixed voices—fresh young voices for the most part—and the tone quality in ensemble''singing was estremrfy pleasing. Thanks to the able direction of Mr. H. Temple White, the chorus showed dualities in modulation and accent quite surprising in a newly-born society, and with a. little strengthening in the male sections will do even better work in tho future. What .was particularly gratifying was the laudable attempt that was made to give something, like an intelligent interpretation of the part songs on the programme. Pinsuti's beautiful glee, "In this Hour of Softened Splendour," was sung with nice delicacy and feeling, and the joyous "Fly, Singing Bird" (Elga-I), for female voices, was charmingly sung. The itwo*violins employed in this number were scarcely as effective as they might have been, possibly _ through want of leh'earsal with the choir. Elgar was also represented by the part songs, "0, Happy Eyes," and the haunting "Weary Wind of itlio West." Other part songs were "Moonlight" (Faning), "The Shepherd's Lament" (Dudley Buck), and "The Song of tho Vikings" (Faning). Tlio scciety was assisted by Mr. Charles Clarkson (baritone), Miss Cara. Denhard (contralto), Miss Fretl Walter (violinist), and Mr. W. W. Crawford (entertainer). Mr. Clarkson, who was in good form, sang "When Night is Darkest," an old "motto" song, Than Life," and was encored enthusiastically. Miss Denhard's voice varies in strength, _ being much stronger and more vibrant in the upper register than it is below the clef. She sang "Soul of Mine" (Barnes), and "The Perfect Tune" tastefully. Miss Freda Walter is a violinist of promise. In Kohnetol's somewhat colourless "Fantasie" she developed a big well-rounded tone that not always true pitch. She bows correctly, but would promote a greater appeal were she to cultivate breadth of style—abandon, ner oncoro piece was the familiar "Angels Guard Thee." Witli Mr. Eric Meier she played a. "Polonaise" by Ivotek pleasingly. Mr. White is plainly a choral conductor of artistic intuition, who should find no difficulty in making the Harmonic Society a permanent institution ill our niuwt. Ife also proved himself to be an accompanist of some perception.