SCOTTISH CONCERT

Otago Witness, Issue 4030, 9 June 1931, Page 66

SCOTTISH CONCERT

AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAAIAIE. Picture theatres may fail to fill their houses, and the best touring theatrical companies and artists occasionally feel a lack of enthusiasm in their Dunedin.audiences. but a genuine full-blooded Scottish concert can always be relied upon to coax every southern cfiiel from his own fireside to hear once again the music and the songs of the land of his fathers. In past years the Scottish concert that has brought the piping and dancing competitions to a close has attracted large house®, wet or fine, and Wednesday evening was no exception. Indeed, long before the performance started the Town Hall concert chamber was filled upstairs and down, and many’ people were turned away disappointed. The event of the evening was the beautiful singing of Miss Mary Pratt, whose rich contralto voice wae ideally- suited for the Scottish melodoes she had selected. On each of her two appearances Aliss Pratt was encored twice, and had the audience failed to show due consideration she would have been recalled again and again. Her six numbers were ‘Gala Water," “Annie Laurie,” “ For the Sake o’ Somebody,” Aly Ain Folk,” “ When You and I Were Young, Maggie,” and “ Winna’ Winna, Canna’ Canna’,” but ’it was “Annie Laurie ” that was the gem of the collect’on - There is a depth to her voice that makes of this grand old love song something that stirs the very soul, especially when the audience is Scottish. Hardly less popular was Air Arthur Macdonald, who was also compelled to sing three songs on each of his two appearances. His robust voice is well suited for the defiant Scottish ballads, and he made of “ Bonnie Dundee ” a challenging performance. “ Blue Bonnets Over the Border ” was equally well sung, while many people found inspiration in the stirring words of “Hail, Caledonia” and “ The Alacgregors’ Gathering.” His first number, “ Scotland Aly Ain,” was well received, and his final song, “ The Leader of the Town Brass Band,’ r was something entirely different from the character of the evening, as he pointed out himself, but was certainly well sung and well selected. Aliss Ruby Baxter is also the possessor of a sweet voice of singular purity, and her first number, “ AVee Bit Land,” was enthusiastically encored. After her rendering of “ O Scotland, Bonnie Scotland,” in the second part of the programme, Aliss Baxter sang as an encore » Aly- Ain Fireside,” which she really did best of all. “The Auld Scotch Sangs,” sung by Airs B. Alacartney, must have stirred many memories, for here, too, there was a demand for a reappearance, Mrs Macartney singing this time “ Home Land of Mine.” In the second part of the programme she sang “ Scotch Blue Bel's,” and was was recalled twice. Another favourite was Mr Alex. Snell, whose opening number, “ Bonnie Alary of Argyle.” was followed, in striking contrast, with “ Scots Wha Hae.” Air Snell was well annlauded in the second half also, and “ The Piper o’ Dundee ” proved an extremely- popular number. The humorous side of the programme was contributed by Air Roy Bachop. yvho gave a character impersonation and a song. A fine exhibition was given bv the Dunedin Highland Pipe'' Band, which opened the programme with a number of selections. The dancing was another popular feature, and included “ Reel o’ Tulloch ” and an Irish reel by two parties of girls. In the vocal numbers Mrs A. Newey played the accompaniments. The concert concluded with the singing of “ Auld Lang Syne ” and the National Anthem.