THE HARMONIC SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 4293, 29 November 1876, Page 2

THE HARMONIC SOCIETY.

The sixth concert of the Dnriedin Harmonic Society was helrl in the Temperance Hall yesterday evening. The audience was nob a large one, owing probably to the nninber of entertainmenta elsewhere ; but those who were present spent a very enjoyable evening, and evidently appreciated the excellent hill of fare provided. The programme embraced a largo number of glees and pait songs; and, without in any way detracting from the ability ol! the soloists, it was plain, from the vigor and precision with which the harmonies were taken np, that this was the society's strong point. The opening glee, " See the Chariot," was sung in excellent time, and, excepting that the altos were rather weak—a fact noticeable throughout the evening could scarcely be found fault with. "The Dawn of Day" and Dr Cooke's wellknown " Hark ! the Lark " showed the vocalists to be under the complete control of the conductor, nud they have evidently been well rehearsed. A gentleman amateur contributed " The Be>:ton " a»il " The Last Man," but, although he sang the formor very well, he waa scarcely equal to the heavy passages in the second song, i' My Sweetheart when a Boy" was given by a wellknown local tenor in his best style, and, in response to an encore, he saug " The British Lion " rather tamely. The greatest success of the evening, however, was achieved by the lady who sang " Kxcelsior." The modulations of her voice were appropriate and simple and were in perfect harmony with the words of the song, and those present recognised this lady's ability by a most vehement encore. "I cannot bear to say Farewell" waa plaintive and sweet, and the lady vocalist had to appear again. A number of other songs and concerted pieces ware given in an unpretentious, but pleasing manner; and, altogether, the concert reflects much credit on the society. Mr Syke3 was at the piano, and Mr Morrish wielded the conductor's baton. Some extraordinary chords were produced occasionally during the progress of the concert by the welling up, apparently from some of the nether regions of the building, of some sacred melody; but the interruptions were not very boisterous, and were only noticeable in the piano passages.