SUNDAY SCHOOL CONCERT.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 63, 18 May 1878, Page 2

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONCERT.

The ' entertainment 'given m aid of Ifche Palmerston Sunday ..School came off on last Wednesday night, and? proved to be, both \ pecuniarily and -otherwise, a, most unqualified 'success.'* .:. The ]W1 of fore presented -was -a moat .^enticing ontyyembraoingr' instrumental and /vocal solds, duets, part songs and glees, with a dash of the cooqc element thrown m by-way of savor. There were no loss than-twenty-six items set down on programme, but this dpes not? by any Smeahs jthe total, asT-in- addition to various ehpores, a well-knowm resident of the town kindly lent his^aid, and^mateifially "contributed to the- success of s'the5 'the concert. Where the iteui3. are. so numerous it is impossible m bur verylimited space to refer individually to each, and therefore we will bub do so to ; those which call for .^particular mention? Although niahy of the solos, were given m • capital stylo, still, as a_ whole, that portion' of the i |concert embraced m part songs, glises, and duets waa by far the most successful, more . the song, " What art thou beam 0f ... light," and the duets " What are the Wild Waves Saying," and "Thou art so near," all three of "which were capitally rendered, and were heartily and deservedly applauded. The entertainment opened wiiih a pianoforte solo, spiritedly played by Mrs Holt, after which Mr Turner sang " The Stirrup Cup," accom-' pin i ig^himself on " the Whether it was the instrument; "or the singer that : was at r fault -we cannot say, but at times the two did not blend harmoniously, and now. and then discord was discernible. We regretted '■■to see thiat his name appeared but ouuo ou the programme, as we expei'isnced the imoression that he was at a disadvantage m the " Stirrup Cup," and fchafc it. could not be taken as a fair estimate of what he could do. "The Flower Gntherei-3 "—in which Mr and Mra Menzies took part— could not be called a success, and wis not to be compared to their duet, so splendidly given later m the evening. The next item was " The Dear Little Shararock,"ia which AT l'sSuelsdugave such general

satisfaction, that she was compelled to give the pretty ballad " Killarney " m response to an encore, her second surpassing her first effort. In the song " Tenting," Mr Snelson, though evidently nervous, acquitted himself very creditably, and the manner m which the choir joined m the magnificent chorus, was ■ beyond all praise, and made the item the choicest on the programme. A no small feature m the entertainment was the introduction of a Scandinavian Glee, which on conclusion, was heartily applauded, and an encore demanded. The duet " Morning," was very pleasingly given by Mesdames " Keeling and Holt, after which Mrs Hoe sang the* somewhat difficult song, "To the Woods," but the latter would have been more successful had she Jinfused some animation into it, the music being otherwise singularly correct. Miss Mackenzie was accorded a hearty meed of applause for the admirable manner m which she acquitted herself of. the song "My Pretty Gazelle." The, amusing comic song "Camomile Tea," m which Mr. Piers . Warburfcon m character, created considerable amusement, his make-up being supremely ridiculous and; irresistible. In response to vociferous and' boisterous applause, he. sang, we believe; "The Russian Driver." We prefer Mr Warbiirton m comic singing. Before the close of the first portion^? the programme, Mr J. E. Gilbert appeared/- and although:; very visibly affected by nervousness, sang m splendid 'Style the" touching and plaintiveballad, "Many Happy Returns of the Day.". He is possessed of a capital tenor voice, m addition to which "the words were given with a .judgment, feeling, and effect which 'met with, as it deserved^ unbounded applause from those present. Oya being encored, he essayed "Come Home Father," but as we believe the. song was being given m one key, and the music, played m another, the^effect was nofpleasipg, and we i were glad when it ■; was finished. ; Besides which .we missed the echo chorus, \vhich is almost: the cream of ballad. 'Later on m the ebbing Mr G-ilbert, However, sang m exceilentsstyle the pleasing "ballad " Mdry: ;of ; ; Argyle," and certainly proved tlilit his assistance was a most valuable" aid to the success of the eoncert^ The second pact opened witH a pianoforte duetiby the Misses Skerman, which was most artistically executed, and. was a. rich treat m itself. The glee; "See bur Oars," was*ioarcely.up ti> the markj jand lacked animation." The pretty Scotch ballad, ''Bide a Wee,"' was sung- •with^much, .taste and feeling by Mrs Holt, and the duet,' " Slovyiy>rid ? Softly ■ Music should Flow," was given with great success by Mesdames Marsh and Hoe. Had Mr Menzies infused a little more power dnto "The Dream," it would have strong claims to be considered the gem of the evening ; and it is somewhat a pity that a -gentleman who possesses an excellent; and trained ypicei and evidentlythdrougjily understands music, should \be so defeotivOTh judgment and effect, i? Thef ong, " Maggie's Secret/ by Mrs- Staite^ secured an encore, as also did "Castles m the Air,'4r T>y Mrs Snelson, m response to which the comic duefc,_, " Very Suspicibus,'?4 was given m capital style., by Mr, and Mrs Snelsoni Perhaps, the best solo' Vf the "evening was that sung by* Miss Mackenzie, "Erin, my Country," for although the lady's voice- was not sufficiently powerful to fill the hall, or overcome the" defeots of the proscenium, the melodyiwas rendered with plaintive effect, and richly deserved the encore. it received,' and to which " Why so Sad, my Precious Darling?" was given., Mr; Perrin waa i set down for Her Bright Smile. Haunts' me Still," but'unfortunajtely during its rendition a. juvenile m the wiidience thought fit to join m,: "and riot'-'onlyvwas not a success, but succeeded inVconsid&rably discomposing the singer. . The pretty little song/ by Miss M. Skerman, v A Rose m Heaven " .concluded, tlie programme, and the entertainment closed with the singing of the National rAntnem, led off by Mrs Seeling, and joined m by the whole audience. Thanks to the presence of Constable Gillespie iir the gallery, that porfcion.of the assemblage was on its best behaviour, but^now and then there were little . outbursts of unruly -conduct. .Taken as a whole the entertainment was an unqualified ■? success. v l , .x ■■ ;i ■*»#: ;.■ ; '■■■