WESTMINSTER SINGERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 774, 21 September 1929, Page 19

WESTMINSTER SINGERS

FINAL CONCERT THIS EVENING A. very pleasing change from tho usual run of concerts was that provided at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening by Mr. Edward Branscombe’s Glee Singers. A fragrant breath of the Old World is brought with their glees, madrigals and tolk songs, and their singing, which is in the best English traditions, is always delightful. Last evening’s programme was well up to the high standard that was set at the opening concert. It included Williams's “Song of the Pedlar,” Sanderson’s “Break o' Day,” Sir Edward German’s “Rolling Down to Rio,” “The Banks of Allan Water,” Thomas’s “Mignon,” “Mendelssohn’s anthem, “I Waited for the Lord,” “The Banks of Loch. Lomon’ ”, and Sir Edward German's “In England, Merrie England.” In the part songs the singers showed perfect control and fine tonal balance, and interpretations always showed a high standard of artistry. The singing of the boy sopranos was also a pleasing feature of the concert. Koenemann’s “When the King Goes Forth to "War,” with its imposing contrasts, was finely sung by Mr. Charles Draper, who also gave the “Song of the Volga Boatmen.” Mr. Ernest McKinlay delighted with a Maori number, and Mr. James Barber sang the popular “Rolling Down to Rio” with fine effect. The bracket of sailor chanteys, ably led by Mr. Albert Greene, were again warmly received. The Westminster Glee Singers will give their final concert this evening. If the members of a sound stage production staff and crew are judges of what’s popular in music—and this proved true with the song numbers of “The Broadway Melody”—then the world^ presently will be humming “Singing into the Rain.” This is one of the tuneful melodies produced by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed for “The Hollywood Revue of 1929,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s musical and talking extravaganza. Stage carpenters, electricians and property men and labourers were hurr.ming the new tune as they worked after only two rehearsals,, of the number, which is one of the features of the revue. “That’s the answer to a song’s popularity,” commented Arthur Lange, musical director, himself the author of 100 or more song hits and the musical arrangements for some 2,000 others.