TIMARU HARMONIC SOCIETY’S CONCERT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2535, 6 May 1881, Page 2

TIMARU HARMONIC SOCIETY’S CONCERT.

SECOND EDITION

The Theatre Eoyal was filled last evening in a manner that must be exceedingly gratifying to the musical enthusiasts,whose labors have so greatly tended to foster a love for a higher class of entertainment among the people. The concert of last evening was in every way worthy of the hearty support accorded to it. Messrs T. Gooch and J. Bilton respectively presided at the organ and pianoforte, Messrs E. Haigh, Eimber, and Campbell being the other instrumentalists. -Mr W. Ziesler conducted.

The concert was introduced by an overture, “ Norma ” (Bellini.) The part song, “ Oberwesel,” was given by the choir in a manner that spoke strongly for the musical treat that was to follow. A new vocalist has been added to the muster roll of this society. Miss Innes made her debut with “ My mother bids me bind my hair.” This singer will be a valuable addition to a popular institution. The glees, “ Tars’ song,” “ How dear to me the hour,” and “ Take care,” introduced by Messrs Bowles, Ziesler, Walcot, and Haigh, were favorably received and deservedly applauded. Mr Ziesler’s powerful voice did full justice to a “Bedouin love song,” and the first part of the concert was brought to a close with Gade’s cantata “Spring’s Message.” The second pat t commenced with Barnett’s cantata. “The Ancient Mariner” the solos being given by the following : Mesdames Thomas, and Roberts ; the Misses Haigh, Innes, and Sbrimpton ; Messrs Ziesler, Wright, Walcot, Foster, and D’Emden. The sympathetic music of this line cantata was more than ablj' rendered, frequent applause following the solos. Miss Haigh was very successful with “ The fair breeze blew” and fully merited the applause which followed its termination. Miss Innes with the solo “ Alone, Alone ” added one more laurel to the golden opinions her musical attainments have elicited. The story turns upon the superstitions that exist among seamen relative to the destruction of sea-fowl and the disastrous results that follow an act of wanton destruction. The sailing of the ship was finely described the descriptive music fully illustrating the subjects as they are narrated. The storm that overtakes her as she drives along “ with sloping masts and dipping prow,” carrying the audience with her into the region of ice and snow. The appearance of the albatross is figuratively described “As if it had been a Christian soul ” majestically following the vessel’s wake, a fair wind attending the ship- until the bird is destroyed, when “ Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down ” and all the horrors attending a becalmed vessel and famished crew is forcibly depicted. The symphony “I looked to Heaven and tried to pray,” was finely given, and the choruses generally were carefully studied and rendered, the concluding one in particular, “ 0, Sweeter than the Marriage Feast,” being entitled to special notice. The concert was brought to a conclusion about 10.80, a very early hour considering the amount of work gone through. The Timaru Harmonic Society must be congratulated upon providing so fine an evening’s entertainment for its members, and upon the efficiency of its production.