THE HARMONIC SOCIETY’S CONCERT.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 172, 24 December 1874, Page 3

THE HARMONIC SOCIETY’S CONCERT.

“the imperial mass” and “ athalie.” It is much to be regretted that the various musical people of Christchurch could not have been got together on the recurrence of Christmastide to have given us the everwelcome and appropriate “Messiah.” Unfortunately, for some reason or other, the proposition of such an amalgamation seems to have been regarded as nobody’s business; hence the matter has quietly dropped through, and Christchurch, which has throughout the colony the name of being the most musical town in New Zealand, is in this respect far behind the others. As it could not be arranged for a general gathering on the occasion, it might reasonably have been supposed that the Harmonic Society would, as representing the musical portion of our community, have arranged their concert so as to have given “ The Messiah” on Wednesday,or on Christmas Eve, as is the usual custom. We feel sure that the public generally would have been far better pleased than with the works selected last night, and the members of the society would have been far more at home with the music.

The opening portion of the programme last evening consisted of Haydn’s Mass No 3in D, known as the Imperial Mass. The solos were taken by Mrs Digby, Miss Cole, and Messrs Appleby and Walker. Generally we may say of the performance of the Mass as a whole that it was very unsatisfactory, the time throughout was very bad, and the orchestra, in nearly every number, was by far too loud for the voices. Whenever a change of movement occurred, there was a hesitancy with the chorus, and a dragging which spoilt the effect. Mrs Digby sang her portion of the music very well, particularly in the quartette “ Agnus Dei,” and so did Miss Cole. Mr Walker was fairly successful in “ Qui Tollis,” but there was a hardness and want of sympathy about the rendering, which destroyed the effect. The choruses, except “ Dona nobis pacem,” were but indifferently given, the voices being very unevenly balanced, and the time badly kept. Of the rendering of “Athalie,” which was evidently far more familiar to the members than the mass, we can speak in terms of praise. The alto solos were taken by Miss Little, the first soprano by Miss A. S. Taylor, and the eecond soprano by Mrs Barry. All were very nicely sung, but especially Miss Little’s alto solos, which were excellently rendered. The duet, “ Ever blessed child.” by Miss A. S. Taylor and Mrs Barry, was well sung, as also was the alto solo, “Rejoice,” by Miss Little. The gem of the work, however, in our opinion, was the trio, “Hearts feel that love thee,” which was excellently sung. The choruses as a whole went well, especially, “ Heaven and earth display ” and “ The first alone shall bow.” There was a slight tendency in one or two of the choruses to set unsteady, but only for a few bars. The war march of the priests was played very nicely by the orchestra, but would have been improved by being taken a little more staccato. There was a tendency to dwell upon the notes which was hardly in keeping with the character of the composition. Mr Bowron read the illustrative verses excellently with careful elocution and due emphasis. There was a fair attendance.