LYTTELTON CHORAL SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 103, 25 December 1852, Page 6

LYTTELTON CHORAL SOCIETY.

On Monday evening last, a musical entertainment was given by the Members of the Choral Class, in the school-room at Lyttelton; the first, we hope, of a long series of similar performances. The party on the present occasion was to a certain extent private, being given to Mr. and Mrs. Godley, previous to their departure for England. This feat should in a great measure mitigate the rigor of criticism, even were we disposed-to deal hardly with early struggles. But we are too well acquainted with the great difficulty of getting a chorus into working order to feel any such desire. Indeed, all must have been surprised at the advance made in the short space of time which has elapsed since the formation of the class: nor is it possible to speak too highly of the exertions which the conductor must made to produce sucli a result. The entertainment of Monday was, however, interesting far more for its promise than from its performance. Much yet remains to be done mainly.in the perfection of time. . Time in chorus singing is of immeasurably greater consequence than anything else; inaccuracy of tone is often lost in the mass of voice ; bad voices are of little consequence, for a multitude of tlie worst voices singing together may be made to produce a sublime effect, but'time is everything, and is proportion ably difficult of attainment. The worst performances of the evening in this.respect were the chants, especially the Jubilate, (Jacobs), and Cantate Domino, (Sir I. L. Pvogers). The Nunc Dimittis, to [a chant by G. W. Martin, was mudi better sung, but'the;sanie fault was, though in a less degree, apparent. By far the best performance of the evening, was "a part song by G. W. Martin, " Roses Bed," which was encored, and the difference was, no doubt, owing to the time being easier and more strongly^ marked. The same remark will apply to itiW, final Madrigal, " Now is the month of Maying," except that the base part which offers'some greater difficulties than the other, was remarkably well sung. As to the general composition of the chorus, at present, the bases are by far the strongest; there was a want of firmness and power about the treble parts.. This was especially felt in Mendelsohnn's beautiful chorale, from the u Elijah," "Oast thy burden upon the Lord," which was otherwise very well sung. The tenors and altos, moreover, are'not sufficient in numbers. This, however, is the great difficulty with all English choruses, the base voice being predominant in the race. As the class is enlarged, and fresh singers join, no doubt, this i inequality may be in'some degree remedied, bin a want of alto voices will always be felt, and will

be felt the more when the trebles are deficient in strength and firmness.

The selection of the pieces performed was made with great taste and judgment. We give them as they appeared in the programme for the evening.

Sacred.—Te Deum, (Chant) Goss ; " Unto thee, O Lord," (Anthem) Farrant; Psalm cxliv., (Ps. tune) Knapp ;" Jubilate, (Chant) Jacobs ; Psalm li., (Ps tune) Dr. Howard; Cantate Domino (Chant) Sir I. L. Rogers ; Nunc Dimittis, (Chant) G. W. Martin ; "Cast thy burden upon the Lord," Mendelsohnn. Skcular. — The Waitts, (Madrigal) J. Saville ; " Of all the brave birds," (Glee) N. Freeman ; " Roses lied," &c, (Part Song) G. W. Martin; "''Forgive .'blest shade," (Glee).Calcott; "Drink to me only," (Glee) Graham; "Now is the month of Maying," Morley. / ,^,

In the course of the evening Mr. Packer, of Christchurch, performed two solos on the. Cor-net-a-piston. We never heard a better tone produced or more perfect truth in the intonation, but we are sure he will forgive us for pointing out one trick which in a great measure spoils his playing, that we mean.of ending the final note with a. jirkso short, as though the player were glad to have finished his performance. A trick like this on the last note is the more felt because it leaves the final impression on the .mind of the audience, obliterating the sense of pleasure previously excited. If Mr. Packer could overcome this defect and play his passages out firmly and smoothly to the last, giving the final note its full effect he would be a player of no ordinary merit, and a great acquisition to any musical society.

Upon the whole we most cordially congratulate our townsfolk upon the establishment of this class. It is one of the best results of the Colonists' Society in Lyttelton, from which'it sprung. The first public performance, though perhaps, somewhat premature, was nevertheless most creditable and most promising. It used to be thought that an unpaid chorus could not be maintained in England—that there was not a sufficient real love of music amongst the people." Against that, prejudice the society at Exeter Hall started with Jittle more of promise in its early attempts than could be traced in the performance at Lyttelton on Monday, but with what final success all the world knows. May we not hope to hear an echo of its mighty strains amidst the hills of New Zealand! Mr. and Mrs. Godley, accompanied by several personal friends, embarked on board, the Hashemy on Wednesday morning soon after 7 o'clock; it was not, however, until the following morning that the Hashemy left the harbour, having been detained by a contrary wind and calms. - At the meeting of the Committee of the Lyt-telton-Colonists' Society on Wednesday, Mr. Fitzgerald was elected Chairman, and, agreeably with the rules, Dr. Donald succeeded him as Vice-Chairman. The Committee will meet next Wednesday to cUlcuss some matters of general interest. We publish to-day from the Neio Zealand Journal, the annual report of the Committee of^ Management to the Canterbury Association. Strange to say the most material and important points are precisely those which the Nsic Zealand Journal fails to give in exten&o, leaving them in a worse than Cimmerian darkness. Owing to the landing of Sheep off the town, .and several haying-died, within its limits and 'on the lieighbouring hills, we call the attention of the authorities to the fact, as during the present dog-days, it is neither advisable nor pleasant to have their carcases tainting the air. We trust, therefore, orders will at once be given to have them removed. An Inquisition was taken before the Coroner and Jury at Lyttelton on Monday last on the body of a poor lad named DanierChilds, who' met his death by a singular accident on the previous afternoon, Running along the hill side, just below the Sumner-road, he put his foot on a portion of loose rock of considerable size, which rolled over, throwing him before it on his back, and passed over his head, causing extensive fracture of the skull, and, we believe, of the cervical vertebrse. His companions, lads of about his own age, carried him up to the road, and Mr. Godley and Captain Simeon coming up at the time, carried him at once to the hospital, where he was found to be quite dead.r-^Verdiet, Accidental Death.