MUSICAL FESTIVAL, RANGIORA.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 571, 18 April 1876, Page 3

MUSICAL FESTIVAL, RANGIORA.

On Easter Monday a grand morning concert was given by Mr G. Merton, in the ball of the Literary Institute. It is to be regretted that the attendance was not large, and nothing like what it ought to have been. The following were the items of the programme :—Glee, solo, and chorus, “ Chough and crow, uprise ye then my merry men,” the Misses Rowley, Mr Knox, and cempany ; song, “ Alice where art thou,” Mr A. C, Bell; duet, the Misses Rowley ; glee, “ Blow gentle gales,” the Misses Ro wley,McGardell,Bell, and Knox, with company ; duet, “ The Siren and the Friar,” Miss Rosina Carandini and Mr Merton; humming quartette ; “ Image of the rose,” solo, Mr Bell ; ballad, “ Kate O’Shane,” Miss Carandini ; flute solo, Mr Wood ; glee, “Nightingale,” Miss Carandini, and Messrs McCardell, Garrick, and Knox ; chorus and solo, “ Allegiance we swear, Henri Adieu,” Miss Carandini; and a final overture. In the evening a grand rehearsal of Handel’s “ Messiah” was given in the same hall which was quite filled by the audience on this occasion. The performers consisted of a band and chorus of fifty performers, of whom the principal were —Leader, Mr C. Bonnington ; organist, Mr R. Parker ; conductor, Mr C. Merton. Principals—Sopranos: Miss Rosini Carandini and Miss Rowley ; altos, Miss B. Rowley and Mr Bell ; tenors, Mr Rowley and Mr Carrick ; basses, Mr Knox and Mr Hobbs. Band—lst violins, Mr C. Bonnington and Mr Bunz ; 2nd violins, Mr G. Bonnington, Mr Button, Mr Phillips, and Mr Coombes ; violas, Mr Jones and Mr Lee ; cello, Mr Rowley ; basso, Mr Thompson ; flute, Mr Wood ; clarionets, Mr Jacobson and Mr Petrie ; b&SSO&Bf-Mjr- Iswood ; trumpet, Mr Seager; horn, Mr Packer; drums, Mr Seager. solos, airs, and reoitotWa were taken by Misses Carandini, Rowley, Messrs Knox, Rowley, sen,, Bell, Carrick, and Hobbs. The only portion of the oratorio cut out were the choruses, “ The Lord gave the Word,” and “ Their sound is gone out.” The solos of Miss Carandini were all well rendered and pleasing, and the air “ Why do the Nations,” by Mr Knox, was certainly his best effort. The choruses as a rule went steadily. The rehearsal concluded at 10.30 p.m.