LECTURE AND CONCERT.

Shannon News, 15 July 1927, Page 3

LECTURE AND CONCERT.

On Monday evening last, the Shannon Choral Sodiety had a most enjoyable evening in the Parish Hall. Mr J. Garde Grimshaw, of Palmerston N., brought down a couple of his advanced pupils and gave first his lecture (illustrated by slides shown on the screen) on “The complete vocal organ.” Then he, with Ins' pupils, gave a short but very enjoyable entertainment of songs and elocution.The lecture was very enjoyable and instructive, showing as it did the “mechanism” of the voice, and thereby the method of improving 'and building' the voice, by the simple expedient of developing and building the mechanism which creates voice. The lecturer was fully at home with his subject and made the lecture very easily understood. He was accorded a hearty applause at the conclusion of the lecture which occupied close on an hour. Hi, audience showed a keen interest throughout. Mr Grimshaw invited fpicstions after the lecture and entertained the audience with a demonstration of deep-breathing. The second part of the programme consisted of songs and elocution by Mr Grimshaw and songs by Miss Bertha Uewe (winner of the scholarship at last year’s Palmerston North competitions) and Miss Hughes, both of Feilding. Mr Grimshaw sang “On with the Motley,” ‘'Butterfly Wings,” and “Invictus,” and was encored and double encored, lie showed great voice and breath control and was equally effective in the robust songs and in the lighter songs of the latter the most appreciated being an encore number, “Evening Song.'He also redded dramatically “Wolsey’s Downfall,” and in response to a hearty encore gave Edgar’s challenge' to Edmund from King Lear. Miss Bertha Dewe, the possessor of a beautiful mez-zo-soprano voice, delighted the audience with her easy singing which was characterised by beautiful production and very clear articulation. Her voice and breath control were both excellent. She sang “Softly Awakes my Heart,” and “Allah,” being /vigorously encored on each occasion, singing Elgar’s “Pleading,” and “Spirit Flower,” respectively as encore numbers. Miss Hughes is the fortunate. possessor of a beautiful rich soprano voice with which she sings through a big range, being equally at ease in the higher and the lower parts. Her singing also was characterised by great ease and perfect enunciation. She sang “Morning” and “Flutes of Arcady,” being warmly eneored on each occasion and responding with “Life’s Epitome” and “I heard you Singing.” Both these pupils showed excellent training and are a great credit to their teacher, who may be reckoned fortunate to have two such talented pupils under his care. After the concert Mr Andrew thanked Mr Grimshaw for bringing his party down, and Mr Grimshaw responded, thanking Mr Andrew and the executive for so kindly making all the necessary arrangements. . A very tasty supper was partaken of by visitors and members and pleasantly rounded off an excellent evening’s entertainment.