HARMONIC SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2743, 11 April 1916, Page 7

HARMONIC SOCIETY

EXCELLENT PART SINGING

One onlv needs to attend the concerts of the Wellington Harmonic Society to feel a returning confidence tor the.future of part singing in Wellington. Last year this society <*>»»»«» 'operations without any fanfare ot trumpets under the direction of Mr. a. Temple White, and'at its first concert it was at once apparent that a cnoirmaster had arrived who was ablo to cet results. Last evening tho good report of last year was thoroughly endorsed, and that by an audience which almost filled the Concert Chamber. If the public were aware of the ',qu««ty of the performance 1 it is certain that there would not have been room to accommodate them, which is only doing the barest justice to the society. Mr. White has gathered round him a choir of about' forty voices, whioh in tho aggregate produce? a bright clear tone. The choir sing with absolute precision, and are capable ;,of the most delicate modulations. That the conductor hatr. magnetism- as well as knowledge was apparent from the manner, in which each member of the choir watched his beat,-which, without being m the.least decreo demonstrative, was always instructive. The. result of careful training and a close .attention to the work in hand was; a really delightful performance. And-the programme, too, was selected with sound judgment, including as it did gems of the old school with a dash of the new. It opened with that splondid old part song, "Strike, Strike, the Lyre" (Cooke), which was sung with rare spirit and precision. Pinsuti's "Moonlight and Music," a number in 6ofter mood, was sung with a tender expressiveness that at once earned the admiration and respect of the audience. Another beautiful part sorig was -."How Sweet the Moonlight Sleeps" • (Leslie), whilst Bamby's "Lullaby" was so sweetly intoned 'that it had to bo repeated. The singing of Pinsuti's "Spring Song was marked by a delicate ''verve and freshness that reflected the spirit of the 'song. In the second part the'choir sang the part song "0 Peaceful Night" (German), tho sprightly glee, 'You Stole my Love"' (Macfarren), Elgar s rtrangely beautiful part' song, "My Love Dwelt in a .Northern Land' I (which might have been'composed by Greig), and the • rousing old "Vagabonds" chorus by Faning. . ;

The society varied its programme pleasantly in' securing the services of Mrs. J. F. Woodward •(soprano). Miss Frieda Walter (violinist), and.Mr. W. i W. Crawford (entertainer). Mm Woodward, who has a cultured miniature soprano'voice of-bird-like quality, sang a prettv- waltz song from the opera "Tom Jones". (by. Edward German), and on being encored .sang with daintiness the florid waltz song "April Morn." On her second appearance she sang Liza Lehmann's beautiful song, "Unfolding," &nd Godard's "Song of Florlan." Again encored, tho singer responded ' with .that gem of song, • "Rosa Resurget." Miss Walter is an ever-improving violinist. Her tone is big and confident, and thedawn'of sympathy she induced promised'• well for the future. Leaving technical pyrotechnics alone, she gave a wellstudied performance of Wieniawski's "Legende," but missed some of its Russian spirit by neglecting to exercise the license 'given as to tempo. She also- played Dvorak's "Humoreskc" with nice feeliug, but again without any evidence of that abandonment "which indicated tho. temperamental player. Shu was deservedly encored on both occasions,. The efforts of Mr. W. \V. Crawford to entertain were quito successful, if somewhat foreign to such a programmer He recited tho tattered monologue, "A Fallen Star," gave the comic ■ recital, "My Idea of a Girl" (in which his character work was distinctly good), "The County J.P." (sacred to the memory of Joseph Blascheck), and an uproariously funny parody on "The Charge of the. Light Brigade." 'Mr. White, who also played Mrs. Woodward's accompaniments most artistically, is to be congratulated .on "the success of his choir, and Wellington is felicitated on the possession of such a thoroughly satisfying society.