HARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 87, 14 April 1871, Page 2

HARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

The Nelson Harmonic Society gave its quarterly concert lust night, but owing to the prevalence of colds amongst some of the leading members, and other unavoidable causes, it was hardly so successful as some of its predecessors. For the same reason the first portion of the programme was not strictly adhered to, and some of the songs were compelled to be omitted, and others substituted without due notice being given to the performers. Of one of these, however, wejnust take special notice, as having afforded us considerable pleasure namely, Die Wacht am Rhein which was most spiritedly rendered by a gentleman possessed of a fine bass voice. The second part consisted of selections from "Maritana, " the pianoforte overture to which opera was a brilliant piece of execution, but we regret to say that the effect was somewhat marred by certain members of the audience who were apparently quite unable to appreciate its beauties, as was shown by their preferring the sound of their own voices to the. tones ofthe piano. In order to atone for some of the omisions iv the first part of the programme, an excessively pretty little ballad wassung witbgreat sweetness by a lady who at one time was a most invaluable member of the Society, and whose appearance on the platform was greeted with loud applause. It is scarcely necessary to say that her song called forth a loud encore, which was good-naturedly responded to. The charming little ballad "In happy moments" was well and feelingly sung by a gentleman, who, evidently, had carefully studied both the words and the music of the song intrusted to hira. The gem of the evening, we think, was the duet " Sainted Mother," which was most effectively rendered, and showed most unmistakeably that the greatest care bad been bestowed upon its preparation, especially in the ad libitum passages, which were suug with an amount of feeling and pathos that had a marked effect upon the audience, who showed their appreciation of it by loudly demanding an encore. The chorus that followed was well and steadily sung, but we take the liberty of suggesting that in this, as indeed in all the chorusus, a more pleasing result would have been achieved had a little more attention been paid to the expression intended by the composer to be given to the various passages as indicated by him iv the words piano and forte. Passing over the ballad " Scenes that are brightest," which was loudly encored, we come to the trio and chorus, " What mystery." The tenor part in the trio was taken without previous notice, and this may possibly account for the little shakiness that was perceptible; it was, nevertheless, well suDg, and the subdued accompani- . ment of the chorus was extremely effective. Then followed the Sceoa "No, my courage now regaining," which called forth another encore, and the concert closed with the chorus "Oh! what pleasure," without doubt the most graceful and flowery of the concerted pieces in the programme. The peculiar, but elegant, accompaniment was done full justice to by the lady who presided at piano during the evening, and to whose exceedingly accurate playing must he largely attributed the amount of success attained.