“THE CREATION.”

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2425, 24 December 1880, Page 2

“THE CREATION.”

This fine oratorio was given last evening by the Timaru Harmonic Society, in the Fresbytorim Church, which was kindly placed at the disposal of the Society by the trustees. The excellent acoustic properties of this building enabled something like justice to be done to the composition. The accompaniment was almost perfect, and the choruses were well rendered. Mill. B. Walcot conducted, Messrs J. Bilton and A. J. Merton presiding at the piano and harmonium respectively, and Mrß. Haigh leading the orchestra. It is said that when Haydn proposed writing an oratorio, he applied to a friend for his opinion as to what portion of Scripture should be the subject of his muse. The reply was “ Commence at the beginning,” and the result is an oratorio, taken from one of the finest, if not. the finest, chapters in the Old Testament. The oratorio opens with a musical representation of chaos, a very peculiar and also a very fine piece of composition, which describes the desolate condition of the earth in “the beginning.” The work of creation is des cribed by the Angels Baphiel Uriel and Gabriel. Ilaphiel commences with the recitation “ In the beginning” a chorus of Angels replying with “ And the Spirit of God moved upon the Waters,” the pianissimo commencement gradually breaking into fortissimo at the passage “And there was Light.” The beautiful rendering of this remarkably fine passage is worthy of especial notice. Mr ]{.. Foster sung the recitative, and Mr Walcot followed with the splendid tenor solo, “ Now Vanish before the Holy Beams the Gloomy Shades of Ancient Night,” descriptive of the consternation of the spirits of darkness at the nobly created order of things. Mr It. Foster sang “ And God made the Firmament ” in a very line manner. “The Marvellous Work," a soprano solo with chorus, in which the Angels are represented as rejoicing at the work accomplished, was snug by Mrs Wilson. “ Bolling- in Foaming- Billows’’ (bass), a farioso, which finishes with the pianissimo, “ Softly purling, glides on through Silent Vales, the limped brook,” was expressively rendered by Mr Ziesler. “With Verdure Clad,” a pastoral, capitally snug by Miss Haigh, represents the Angels rejoicing over the birth of the earth. The trio and chorus, “ The Heavens are Telling,” was grandly given. “0 mighty pen,” a soprano air by Miss Haigh, was given with great beauty, ami was undoubtedly the finest rendering of the evening, ' The second part commenced with an air and recitative “Now Heaven in fullest glory shone,” by Mr Ziesler, descriptive of the completion of the work of creation, now awaiting only the advent of man. The angel Uriel then gives the description of the first appearance of man. The chorus concludes with “Achieved is the Wondrous Work.” A trio “On Thee each living Soul awaits,” was finely given by Mrs Wilson and Messrs Walcot and Ziesler. The line passage, “Thoutakcst their Breath away, they Vanish into Dust,” being given with a marked and solemn emphasis by the latter gentleman. The oratorio was brought to a conclusion with the grand chorus “ Sing the Lord ye voices all.” The success of last evening’s performance should nerve the Timaru Harmonic Society to further efforts.