HARMONIC SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 49, 22 November 1920, Page 7

HARMONIC SOCIETY

THIRD CONCERT OF THE SEASON. Of concerts Wellington has had a, plethora during the last month, and the end is not yotC Not the least interesting of theae was the concert given by the Wellington Harmonic Society at.the Town. Hall on Saturday evening, in tlio presence of Hi 3 Excellency the GovemorGenoral and lady Jelficoe, and a fairly large audience. Mr.. Temple White's good little choir—iil is* too smnll to do itself justice in the big hall—always gives an interesting programme, and a performance that at least shows strong endeavour to do its best. The balance of t(he choir was .not quite so good on Saturday' as we have heard' it. v The tenora were somewhat weak numerically, and poor in quality, and the bass section was not as full as formerly, but the ladies' voices were satisfying in both sections. Good features .in favour of the choir are that no voice is permitted to obtrude upon the general oar, and generally the interpretations of the various choruses are marked by • intelligence. Full measure in part-singing .was given— a nice admixture of the old and new. The programme opened with Coleridge Taylor's "Viking' 6 Song." Whilst greatly admiring Taylor's works, and moro particularly his orchestral resources, he does not always paint the picture vocally. Iji this item, at all events, the New Zealand poet has the best of it. Rigor's part song, "As Torrents .in Summer," is a delicate water-colour in vocal picturisation, the composer having caught to a nicety' the spirit of Longfellow's lyrics. Nothing during the ovening.Vas hotter sang than "Ay Waukin' 0" (H. S. Roberton. The modulation .and, phrasing were almost perfect. The only blemish was n lack of unanimity on the part of members of the choir in *the pronunciation of some of the Scotch words. Some sang- "runs" for "rins, 1 " and some attompted to say"nieht," whilst .others satisfied' themselves with "night." Rogers's "The River/ FlowetK Strong, My Love," is a colourful part song, which was sung with fine spirit. Bishop's ancient, conceit, "The Chough and Crow Have Gone to Roostl," fancifully illustrates the "spook" humour of tho Goorgian era. It is written for soprano, contralto, and bass voices, with chorus, and its vigorous, oft-repeated, "Itriwo ye, then, my merry, merry men," roused - fche audience into giving tho number a rousing Teception. Mrs. R. I?-. Orr sang the Hipro.no verso with bright spirit, nnd Mrs. T. N. Johnson was the contralto. Mr. C. W. Svendson'.s muffled production and incoherent intonation militated against his verso carrying its due responsibility. In the second part Davies's "When Summer's Merry Days Come," was a, delightful roundelay, instinct with the joy of life, find Kuhlau's beautiful part song, "Every Rustling Tree," commanded admiration for its harmonic groco _ and quietude. Gusl'av von Hoist has seized on Tennyson's "Sweet and Low" verses (immortalised by Barnby) as a part song for ladies' voices only, but has rather missed the spirit of the same by making the part song extremely difficult, with, oven florid touches here and there. The number is. really writiten for a double choir, the second choir to suggest an echo of the first. This effect was achieved on Saturday ovening, by employing a ouartet. Other part songs wero "It's Oh. to be a Wild Wind" fElpnr), "It Wis the Timn of Roses" (Roberton), and "The Song of Thor" (Maunder). Mr. White's conducting was illuminativo throughout. . ' v Tho singing of Mrs. J. F. Woodwant was one of the delights of the ovening. She lifted her pretty, flute-like voice sweetly and sedately in Qounod's "Serenade" (using the original French), but lioth pianoforte and 'the flute were .rather loud in accompaniment. Warmly encored. Mrs.' "Woodward responded l with "Rosa Resurget," an impressive song b.v Lrai Lehmann, which was also rendered leas perfect than dt might have been by ovor-asaorMvoness lin laocompaniment, made more noticaable, perhaps, because of the poor tone of the pianoforile. The soprano also. sang . very charmingly tho florid "Invitation" (Owen), and as an encore "The Garden Wakes" (Montague Phillips). Miss Nellie Simpson showed commendable facility as a flautist' in German's "Valsc Grncieuse," Schubert's "Wicgcnlied," Kchubort's "Am Meor," and a prinky "Pizzicato Polka" by Dolibes. A male quartet whispered "swee'.i and low," "When EvonirrsS's Twilight" anil "Sleep, My Lady Sleeps." Some day a male quartet will happen that will not lw> afraid to really sing. 'Mr. Harold Whittio was the accompanist.