ROYAL MALE CHOIR

Evening Star, Issue 23689, 24 September 1940, Page 11

ROYAL MALE CHOIR

EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION SLIGHTLY DISAPPOINTING Taking into account the excellent reputation of the Uo.yal Male Choir in Dunedin, it is no disparagement to say that last night’s concert at the Town Hall had its elements of disappointment. A precise analysis of the conditions that brought this about is difficult. The choir was in good voice, and the blame could not be laid to the work of the deputy conductor, Mr Janies Paterson, who showed great insight and skill in guidance. To him belongs the credit of the preparation for the concert, in the absence on military duty of Mr Alfred Walmsloy. The-cmili-denco and skill for which the choir is justly known were unimpaired. Perhaps the programme itself could have been chosen for hotter results. Certainly lire was lacking. The audience was responsive. It was a happy thought that filled the upper gallery with a number of pupils from the Technical College. This was a sign of an encouraging trend, and it may bo hoped that other schools will follow suit.

The opening part song, Cook’s ‘ Strike tne Lyre,’ was excellently handled, particularly in the restrained passages. ‘ Drink of This Cup ’ (Lionel Field) presented difficulties in its rapid pace, and in the second stanza the bass lead did not come in too strongly. This is an exacting work, and the effect was good. ‘ Mannin Veen,’ a Manx melody arranged by Vaughan Williams, was sung with feeling and restraint. ‘ Sunset.’ Luther Greenwood’s arrangement of ‘Abide With Me,’ was effective as only a hymn study can be. It was very well handled and proved one _of the most _appreciated offerings of the evening. ‘ Warriors’ Song ’ (Hatton) was colourful and delivered with spirit. Here the choir was able to achieve that deep resonance which is the peculiar property of a male choir. A work which definitely had elements of disappointment, yet in which the singers triumphed over many difficulties. was Alec Rowley’s ‘ Sea Cycle.’ Perhaps this offering was too ambitions for the choir to have attempted in the limited time at its disposal since, the last concert. Both words and music arc difficult of mastery, and the combination would appear to need a longer period of practice. _ ‘ Jn Picardie ’ <Osgood) was in its simplicity a triumph for the choir. The final number. ‘Hope the Hornblower ’ (Granville Bantoek) made the concert conclude on a satisfactory note. Solo items were of the usual high standard. Mr 'John Pringle sang the baritone solo, ‘ King Charles ’ (Maud White) with fine spirit. Mr Aubrey Clarke sang ‘Annabel Lee,’ surmounting its difficulties with ease and a fine clarity, particularly in the upper register. The Dunedin Harmonv Four, a male quartet consisting of Messrs C. H. Wallis, W. G. Lane, J. Paterson, and G. R. Wentworth, gave ‘ A Stream of Silver Moonshine ’ (Giebel), in the usual fine form. The Cecilia Choir, conducted by Miss Meda Paine, presented two groups of numbers totalling nine in all. The most obvious criticism was that these would have earned an even better reception had they been presented in three groups of three. Miss Paine’s control was exquisite, and the response was not lacking in any way whatsoever. A noticeable feature was the largo number of singers who dispensed with sheet music, even in the more complicated items. The first group consisted of Purcell’s ‘ Sound the Trumpet.’ a scene from ‘Orpheus.’ by Gluck: Schubert’s lovely setting of the 23rd Psalm, ‘The Lord is My Shepherd ’; and ‘ The Gardener,’ by Brahms. The choir’s second bracket was equally varied, and embodied ‘ The Song of Shadows,’ by Armstrong Gibbs; ‘Seek Sweet Content,’ by Wilbyc ; Elgar’s ‘ The Snow ’: ‘ Here a Solemn Fast We Keep,’ by Roberton ; and ‘ Tho Wragglc, Taggle Gipsies 0! ’ The pianoforte accompaniments were plaved by Miss Thelma Gemmell. Audience response voted Mr Walter Sinton’s marimba solos to the head of individual items. He displayed marked skill'in his control of the instrument, particularly in his use of the padded hammers. ‘ Polka ’ and ‘ Lead Kindly Light’ were his numbers.' The other instrumental item was a trio consisting of Mrs Olive Campbell (piano). Mr (Rees M'Conachv (violin), and Air Alex Blvth (’cello). Thev played Mendelssohn's ‘Trio in C Minor ’ with vigour for a particularly fine effect. Tho choir accompanist was Air Colin Oliver, whose work was carried out at all times with sympathy and restraint.