Choral Union.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 46, 10 February 1894, Page 5

Choral Union.

INVERCARGILL

The annual general meeting of the Invercargill Choral Union was held on the evening of the 2nd inst. in Mr Gray’s rooms, Esk street.

The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year :■ —President; Mr T. M. Macdonald ; Yice-Presidents ; Drs Young, Galbraith, and Macleod, Mr Reginald Mackimmn, and Hon. J. G. Ward; Conductor ; Mr Gray ; Secretaries : Messrs J. L. Watson and J. I. Eoyds; Treasurers; Messrs D. Todd and F. M. Oldham ; Librarians : Messrs C. Rout and E. Mathcson ; Committee ; Miss Innes, Miss E. Waymouth, Messrs Taylor. Rigg, Mac Gibbon and Service. The following report was read and adopted

When the local Philharmonic Society wae disbanded in 188 G, it was felt by many that any attempt at the reconstruction of a similar institution would be a useless and impossible task. It appeared, however, to a few of our musical enthusiasts that with the advent of better times an effort might be made to remove the stigma which was felt to rest upon our community in that there was no representative Choral Union in the Town, and accordingly in the Autumn of 1891 the Invercargill Choral Union was successfully inaugurated. Mr Charles Gray was unanimously appointed your Conductor, and deservedly so, as it was largely through the good work done by him in his v. ell-known classes that the requisite number of vocalists were made up. There were some of our friends, who observed or thought they observed the hectic Hush on the cheek of the infant Society, and predicted its early dissolution. They gave us one, or, at the outside, two years to linger and then to disappear into thin air. It is therefore with much satisfaction that on this eve of our fourth session we are able to respond to the congratulations of our friends and to assure them that the

society is s'*ill going strong —stronger than ever. A brief retrospect of the concerts given may here be not out of place. Our first performance took place in a very modest way in Hanan’s Hall on Bth July, 1891. Prevalent coughs and eokls, as usual, thinned the ranks of the faithful few who did battle for the young Society ; but the audience overcrowded the building and very graciously received the programme, of which Sir Sterndale Bennett's “ .May Queen ” and a miscellaneous selection formed the subject matter. Operations were then tranferred to the Theatre Royal, where, on the 30th October, 1891, with our ranks slightly over fifty in number, Barnett’s “ Ancient Mariner ” was given for the first time with orchestral accompaniment, the second part of the programme consisting of miscellaneous items. Uur last effort in the first season was “ The Messiah,” which passed off successlully, the band and chorus numbering nearly one hundred. Thus our first season came to a satisfactory termination. In 1892 we began our second season with a a concert on 15fch July, in which Cowen’s “ Eose Maiden ” and Gaul’s “Joan of Are” were rendered, the latter work proving very acceptable. Then came our big effort, “ The Elijah,” on the loth December. It was with some anxiety that your committee decided to bring Mr Prouse from Wellington to take the part of the Prophet, but the triumphant success attending the performance amply justified the risk incurred. It may safely be said that this concert fairly established tne reputation of the Society, and since that time our audiences have been more numerous and enthusiastic and our members have been steadily increasing in number. With Gade’s “Spring Message” aad an interesting programme of carefully-selected vocal and instrumental items our second season came to a close on 27th of June, 1893. The pleasant memories of our third season just concluded arc still fresh to you all. “ The Creation ” on sth September was oerhaps our most interesting concert, and up to that time attracted our largest house. Then came “The Messiah,” on 13th and 14th December, in which Mr Weir, of Christchurch, assisted us. The new departure of repeating the oratorio on a second night was a plucky move, and proved a great success, musically and financially. Before concluding the musical references in the report, the Committee desire to record an expression of the obligations which the society has all along been under to the ladies and gentlemen of the orchestra, who have contributed so materially to the success of the concerts and whose assistance is so indispensable and is so much appreciated on all hands. The Committee also desire to lake this opportunity of thanking Mr Gray for his energetic services as conductor, and Miss Findlay for her much-valued assistance as pianist to the society. At the commencement of our career the roll-call was about fifty, —now we have one hundred and ten vocal and twenty-eight orchestral members. This large increase to onr membership rendered it imperative for the committee to look out for larger practice rooms, and they think the Society is to be congratulated in securing from the conductor the present commodious apartments, which have proved most satisfactory in every way. Looking to the past, the committee think there is no fear of the future of the society. We have a largo and influential body of honorary members. The finances are in a healthy condition, showing a current balance of LIG Gs Id. The committee also note with pleasure that there has been an entire absence of any of these troublesome little differences which militate against the success of similar musical organisations. They feel confident that members will continue to work shoulder to shoulder in flic interests of the socity and do all in their power to further the cause of good music in our midst.—J. L. Watson, J. I. Boyds, Hou. Secretaries.

We understand that the Union have selected the following works for performance during this year : Mendelssohn’s Hymn of Praise and Handel's “ Acis and Galatea,” with full orchestral accompaniments ; Mendelssohn’s “ Elijah ” for Christmas concert. There will ' also be a concert in which a miscellaneous programme of most attractive vocal and iurtrumemtal music will be presented, containing the following: — Eridal Choruses from “Lohengrin” (Wagner), and “ Koso Maiden ” (Cowcn) ; Slarch and chorus from “Tannhauscr” (Wagner) ; Schumann's “ Gipsy Lifeunaccompanied, part music, humorous glees, Spanish dance, “ Scquidilla ” (for full choir), with castauct, tambourine and triangle accompaniment, favourite orchestral selections, male voice glees and vocal and instrumental solos. The Union is to be congratulated upon the prospect of a most successful season this year.