THE SACRED CONCERT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3272, 28 December 1881, Page 2

THE SACRED CONCERT.

[To the Editor of the Daily Telegraph.] Sih,—Allow me to sympathise with your clever critic, who, I am sure, must have had his tenderest musical feelings torn and harassed, (or he would not have been so hard on us) by our vain and presumptuous attempt to render Mozart's sublime music. Oh that I were a Sir Michael Costa, then would I compass the earth with my baton, and satisfy his musical cravings with the strains of Albani, Patey, Reeves, Foli, and a few more, with the chorus and orchestra of the " Sacred Harmonic Society." Then could I do without the piano and harmonium, and not follow such silly misguided people as Drs. Stainer, Lemmens, Prout, and Best. They, not having the discriminating taste and experience of your critic are quite ignorant of the fact " that the combination of these two instruments (piano and harmonium), are not calculated to produce a good effect." A good many of the leading oratorios and cantatas have been arranged by them for these two instruments " for the use of choral societies who are unable to procure the assistance of an orchestra." lam sorry I had not a copy of their arrangement of Mozart's Twelfth, but from the flattering manner in which several of our musical cognoscenti have spoken of the orchestral imitations effected, lam inclined to think that I did not altogether fail in producing a fair substitute for an orchestra. Two widely different accompaniments were used, and the several instruments had assigned to them, as far as practicable, the instrumental parts and departments of the orchestra, their "timbre" and various registers best represented. Also the " nuances " were, on the whole, fairly observed, so that the statement " there was an absence of tone, color, and no attention paid to instrumentation," was untrue and uncalled for. As to the disposal of the soli singers they occupied the position usually assigned them by the leading conductors. Several of our singers were ill, and others had left Napier for the Christmas holidays, so that the chorus was lighter than it otherwise would have been. 1 trust, on repetition of the concert, which by request will shortly take place, we shall have our full complement of voices. In conclusion, I think that, although your critic is not a musician, he would have done better had he relied on his own judgment, and not have listened to the one-sided promptings of hif friend. Such criticisms are not calculated to encourage local efforts to produce high class mueic. Kind and judicious criticism stimulates, but anything unfair or savouring of pique disheartens and disgusts. Apologising for trespassing at such length on your valuable space.—l am, &c. Hugh Aplin. December 27, 1881.