ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIV, 20 March 1902, Page 2

ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

STAINEK'S " ORUCIFIXION." Thbkb was a large a''ten-lance at St. Mary's Church on Wednesday evening, when the choir gave an admirable rendering of Stainnr's " Crucifixion." Mr Fletcher and the whole choir are to be heartily congratulited on jhe merit of tbe proluction. B<yond a little uisteadiness, noticeable at times in one or two of the chorus ix, the who':e service 1 was a most meritori us one, ai d fir in advance of the choir's ptvvious efforts. The soloists were in good voice, and the choruses tuno'ul and expressive, while the organ accompanitne t was very effective. The time and expression in the choruses was on the whale excellent, and showed much careful training and steady practice, the unsteadiness referred to being due to the absence cf the conductor's baton, which is a great help in the cage of a large choir such as this. The opening solo was beautifully t»ken by Mr Miller (whose clear tenor was heard to great advantage all through the evening), the expression on the words " Sit ye h're while I shall pray " being perfect. The bass solo, "Could ye not watc* l ," by Mr Ryan, wan an excellent it«m. In tbe chorus, " Jtsu, Lord Jesu," a slight nervousness was app'rent; but in " Fling wide the gates " a splendid recovery was made, and an excellent rendering given, all the parts being well sustained and melodious. The s n l», *' How sweat is the grace," w*b given with perfect expression by Mr Mile?, the concluding line, "All sins of man," fcei.-ig very t uohiog. The cboru«, "Then on to the end my God and my frind," was a fine piecj of work. Mr Ryan w»s als> very iff ctive in th« sulo " And whejj they were com« to a place," and in the one following the first hymn "He made Himself of no reputa'ion." In the air " The Mijesty of the Divine Humiliation " was po jsioly Mr Miller's bes'. i ffort, and it contained s >me remarkably fine passages, 1 the orgtn cc imp.mimtut being all that ' could be desirtd. The baas solo following was nicely t-uog by Mr Woodard, 1 who proved to h*vn a viry sympa he'ic 1 voica of good c lmpass, aud tuneful. ' The choru-i " God so 1 jved the world " I began a little unsteadily, but som I so tUd down and wa« nicely rfndcre'. " Father, forgive tbem " (men's voices) > was nicely rendered, end was followed > by a real gam, a duet by Messrs Rynn i and Wood aid. This was sung very feelingly, the voices blending nicely, 1 the organ accompaniment being very ' soft and tender. Mr Woodird was also very successful in "One of the 1 malefactors," Mr Ryan giving the con- : eluding portion with excellent ex- ! pression. The chorus " Verily I eay " was very spiritedly taken. The solo 1 and chorus "When Jusus saw His ' Mother" was very feelingly rendered, but the following solo and chorus " My God, my God " were somewhat lacking in expression. The otgan accompaniment was, however, very fine, and »1most redeemed the defect. The sol'> "Is it nothing to you" w.<s a vary praisworthy effort. Although beginning s rather unsteiiily and lacking in ex- " pression, ir. scon improved, aod aft r ' the first verse left notbiog to be oe--1 sired. The concluding verses were 1 given with taste, feeling and ex--1 pression, all tl.e parts heing splendidly ' sustained. The concluding sjlo by Mr * Miller aud chorus "It is finished " wer--1 a fitting finale to one of the most enjoyable atid artistic production# ever heard in St. Mary's, and speak volumes for the progress of the choir. Needle-s to say, the several hymn* with which the service wasinterpersed, in which the congregation joined, were very heartily givdn. Mr Fletcher certainly deserves the thanks of the musical portion or' the community for affording an opportunity of enjoying such a high olass production so efficiently render'd.