EDMONDS’S GLEE CLUB.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9429, 11 July 1882, Page 2

EDMONDS’S GLEE CLUB.

The above club gave its first concert last Friday evening in aid of the Timaru Relief fund, and it passed off as successfully as we anticipated. Of course tb* fact that the club had been for some time under the tuition of Mr Edmonds was • sufficient guarantee of this, but it must be admitted his pupils did him great credit. The programme was a long one, but it might have been improved by ths introduction of a few comic songs. This had been the original intention, but Mr Kennedy, who had intended to take part in it, was unavoidably absent, and hence the reason that nothing of the comic element was introduced into it. The excellent way in which all the pieces were rendered, however, made this scarcely noticeable, and, judging from the frequency with which they applauded and encored, the audience were highly delighted with’the evening’s amusement. The members of the club opened the conceit with a glee entitled ‘May Day,' and at intervals during the evening sang ‘Sweet and Low,’ ‘Let the Hills Resound,’ ‘The Cloud-capt Towers,’ tod

the chorus 1 To Rome’s Immortal Leader’ in a manner that showed they had been carefully trained,and that they had given a thorough study to them. Everything was perfect precise and accurated, while the voices blended beautifully together. Miss Klee sang •In this old chair? very nicely, and Mrs Edmonds’s ‘ Excelsior was given with great spirit,but the principal features of the concert were the songs given by Mrs Rout, who certainly improves on acquaintance. She sang ‘True to the Last, and as an encore, ‘ Tapping at the Garden Gate also * Carrissima.’ in a manner that created quite a furore. Mrs Rout is ene of the best amateur lady singers vre have ever heard. Mr Edmonds was in splendid form, and sang 1 Man the Lifeboat,’ and « The Noble Boy of Truth,’ in splendid voice. It may not be uninteresting to mention that the last-named song is one which he sang at the competitive singing in Christchurch not long ago when he was very near bringing home first honors with him. Mr Edmonds was placed second then, but there are many musical people in Christchurch who assert now that he ought to have received first prize, as he sang much better than Mr Huxtable, his successful opponent. In response to an encore Mr Edmonds sang ‘ Will o the Wish,’ and took part in all the glees, and quartettes, besides officiating as conductor ‘The Wind and the Harp,’ duet, was done full justice to by Miss Thomson and Mrs Edmonds, Miss Thomson also sang ‘Dreamland’ in a really excellent voice, and with much spirit, which earned for her a well-merited encore, and the trio ‘ Mark the Merry Elves’ by Miss Landgridge,Mrs Edmonds, and Mr Landgridge, was capitally rendered. Mr E. Storey was enthusiastically encored for the manner in which he sang ‘ The four jolly Smiths.’ One of the most pleasing features of the entertainment was ‘ The Ash - Grove,’ harmonised by Mr Edmonds. Mr S. Burrow’s concertina solo, * The Chimes,’ was exceedingly well done, and showed

he was a thorough master of the instrument. His imitation of the bellringing |of the Lynch family was really excellent, f and it was thoroughly appreciated by the audience, who loudly encored him. The quartette ‘Calm be thy Slumbers,’ was capitally rendered, and the whole entertainment Concluded with the singing of the National Anthem. The owner of the piano on this occasion raised no obj ection to dance music, and so a ball was held afterwards at which there was a large attendance, and dancing was kept up spiritedly till a late hour. It should not

be forgotten that Miss Cox presided at the piano during the entertainment, and acquitted herself excellently. She played the accompaniments to all the singing with great taste and judgment, never drowning the voice of the singer in the music, as some pianists are apt to do. She deserves much praise for her capital playing. So for as we can learn the amount realised by the concert is about £2O, and as this is going to be augmented by the sum collected by the Committee appointed at the public meeting here, it is very likely that a decent amount will be sent to Tiinaru.