MALE VOICE CHOIR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 231, 24 June 1920, Page 5

MALE VOICE CHOIR

COMMERCIAL TRAVEM,EBS ESSOIN}. Since the old Wellington, Liedert&fcl went out of existence Wellington has been without a male choir of any pretension to serious endeavour, Th« missing clement in the musical life of the Empire Oity has, however, boon filled by tho formation of the Wellington Commercial Travellers' Association's Male Voice Choir, which gave a thoroughly delightful performance In the Concert Chamber last evening, under tho guiding hand .of Mr. H. Temple White, and before a'large audience. The choir possesses Bcmo thirty *oiees, oaipablc. of producing"a. Iright, healthy tone body, and amenable to the discreet and. artistic control of the conductor. In male part singing there are flvo essentials-tone, tune, balance, modulation, and diction—and these were all achieved in no ordinary measure by the Travellers' Oioir. If there was one fcoction which did dominate here and there it was the second basses, a-lusty lot, with good tone and a line spirit in attack. Otherwise balance was admirably maintained. Perhaps tho most praiseworthy feature of the part song singing whs the success achieved in grading the tono body from moderato down to a delicate pianissimo, most noticeable in tho final verse of Sullivan's beautiful part' song, "The Long Day Closes," and in tho soft i.uances of "Spin, Spin." But there was firo and strength, too, finely expressed in "The Warrior's Song" (Hatton), in which tho choir showed vital hitting power. In "The Image of a Eoso" -Heiohardt), the soloist, Mr. Ernest Lewis, was scarcely equal to the demands made upon him. Other choral numbors were "Evening"- (Lc Cull), "If Doughty Deeds" (solos by Messrs. W. G. Dowlinj' and tank Charles), that comical oddity, "The Goslings," with its quaint suggestion of Mendelssohn's "Wedding March,", the Dead March in "Saul," the humorouß spirit of which was quite realised, aud filially "The Vocal Combat." : '; The choir was extremely fortunate in its assisting artists. Mrs. J. P. Woodward's pretty soprano was heard to advantage in "Invitation" (Owon), and "Sons of Spring," and two exquisite little cameos of song, "Before the Dawn" and "The' Garden Wakes," from Mon ; tague Phillips's cycle, "TheEairy Qaiden." Mrs. Woodward sang these songs particu-' lurly well, and the response was enthusiastic. Miss Ava Symo'ns, ti'.c gifted Auckland violinist, is now happily a Wellington resident, and the hope is expressed that she. will assume her rightful place as a soloist among us. On her, brillianttoned Annti, Miss Syinons made an immediate impression in a bizarre "Romance" by Svendson, charming all with tho caress and sympathy cf her tone. Tho encore was Schubert's "The lice," a dazzling little bit of pure technique for the left hand. In the second part she played a dark Moody "Poemo" iFibicli). and a flashing "Saltarolla" (Ed. German), and waß acain recalled, and she played a lovely melody of rare charm. ■ Mr. L. J. toftus sang with good diction "I'll Ring Theo Songs of Araby" (Clay), and "I Hear a Thrush," and Mr. P. Ulandford was amusing at tho piano in his sketches, "The Indies' Paper" (which has an early Victorian smack), and "When Diehard I Sat on the Throne," an Ada Keeve ditty of the days when knightß were hold. Mi'. Harold Whittle accompanied with his accustomed brilliancy.