WESTMINSTER SINGERS AGAIN DELIGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 770, 17 September 1929, Page 15

WESTMINSTER SINGERS AGAIN DELIGHT

FINE PROGRAMME Another line entertainment was given by Mr. Edward Branscombe’s Westminster Glee Singers in His Majesty’s Theatre last evening, when ' a complete change of programme was | presented. The numbers ranged from part songs, glees, sailor chanteys and national folk songs, with a leavening of solo numbers to give additional variety. That attractive vocal waltz of Lamothe’s, “Breeze of the Night/* served to open the programme. It was brilliantJy sung by the adults of the party, who acceded to an insistent request for an additional number with Bishop’s “Foresters, Sound the Cheerful Horn.’’ The boy sopranos followed with old English pastoral, “The Countryside," a number that showed their pure soprano quality to perfection. Their on core number, Moncton’s “Pipes of Pan," was sung with delightful expression. The bi’acket of sailor chanteys again proved very popular. Led by that very effective humorist, Mr. Albert j Greene, the chorus gave the rollick- ! ing “Billy Boy/’ “A-Roving/’ “Blow the Wind Wester,’’ and the more sentimental “Shenandoah.” All were warmly applauded Quartets included Vaughan Williams’s expressive “Linden Lea,” and some delightful nonsense rhymes Other enjoyable numbers were the anthem, "Oh, for the Wings of a Dove” (Mendelssohn), in which the solo part was artistically taken by Master Norman Clarke, a cycle of Scottish airs, and a group of old Irish ditties. Solo numbers that were warmly received were Mr. Charles Draper's “Song of the Flea,” Purcell’s “Arise, Ye Subterranean Winds,” by Mr. James Barber, Master Harry Fearn’s soprano solo, “The Swallows” (Sir F. Cowen), and Mr. Donald Reid’s alto solo, “Drink to Me Only,” which was sung to a very effective voice accompaniment.

There was not a number that was not encored and the appreciation of

the audience for the excellent fare provided was again expressed at the conclusion of the programme in a burst of hearty and sustained applause. The accompaniments by Mr. Edward

3ranscombe and Mr. Donald Iteid were ilways artistic and they added much .o the pleasure derived from an en.ertainment that for genuine artistic Tier it would be difficult to excel.