HARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 103, 1 May 1874, Page 2

HARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Notwithstanding the unfavorable tirae> necessitated by circumstance?, for the Society's quarterly private concert (it being a race night, and a popular musical entertainment given elsewhere in tho town) (ho Provincial Hall was as well filled as usual to hear the performance here, for the first time, of Sir Michael Coata's oratorio of Eli. This is a work we should scarcely have thought it judicious to select for a society 60 limited in numbers and in material, a vcrk seemingly composed for well-skilled executants, and 68 regards the solo?, for voices of a higher order than may usually be found among amateur vocalists; the character of the music, moreover, absolutely requires large instrumentation to give proper effect and expression to the subject. We refer to these circumstnncep, not as apologetic of any failings in its performance by the Nelson Harmou'c Society, but on the contrary, to express our high appreciation of the very able manner in which this artistically abstruse oratorio was presented. The choruses, though abounding with strange and difficult intervals, socce cf them with surprising ascending passages seemingly interminable, others suddenly and unexpectedly breaking time, syncopated parts frequent and many, Mendelesohuic in character so far as the peculiarities of the harmonies are concerned were sung steadily, spiritedly, and effectively. The eo'eoon strains of the organ in prelude and 6ymphony, as well as in combination with the other instruments in overture, March, and accompaniment was prominently pleasing. The character of the work is highly dramatic, and although recitative and solo continuously mingle with chorale and chorus, there are but few of what may be termed "arms;" of thtsa par excellence we must notice the song of Hannakj " I will extol thee O Lord !" as being executed in a manner reflecting high credit on the fair vocalist The part of the young Samuel is peculiarly interesting js being, as it. were, the centre of the " plot," and the "Evening prayer" with organ accompaniment, wns listened too perhaps with more sympathy than any other portion of the oratorio. The war eongs of the Philistines, the march of the Israelites, chorus of Levites, Angels' chorus, songs of the Israelites, were characteristic of the days When rose the choral hymn f f praise And trump and timbrel answeiel keen, And Zion'u daughters poured their 'ays With priest's and warrior's voice between. •We doubt not that to tinny, this concert may have been Bomewliat lacking in interest, and that, from our preceding remarks may be well understood. Costa's music is not destined to be, in the broad acceptation of the word, popular. Nevertheless the practice occasionally of music demanding tho profound and concentrated attention necessary to its execution,, must prove of the greatest benefit to amateur musicians, and we are sure the Harmonic Society, both members and conductor, have been both patient and assiduous in mastering the Eli in so short a time. We cannot omit the duty of referring (as did our then contemporary last year) to the growing habit among some persons in the audience of testifying their approval by clapping and stamping. We lake the liberty of assuring those who are so anxious to assert their applause, that this demonstration, during the performance of what is commonly termed " Sacred music," is an innovation very disturbing and distasteful to ears polite.