AMATEUR CONCERT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 295, 25 September 1873, Page 5

AMATEUR CONCERT.

An amateur concert in aid of the funds of the Tuapeka Athenaeum was-iield in the Athenaaum Hall, oh' the evening of Friday last. The attendance,<conaidering the state of, the weather, was almost better than the most sanguine could have, expected. The frequent marks qf approval by the audience must, have .been yery gratifying to those ladies and gentlemen who took part in the entertainment, It is no small task for a company so large as that which appeared before the Lawrence public onsFriday evening to .get thoroughly up in the different parts. The-uuinitiated have no conception of the trouble entailed upon anyone taking part in a concert of this kind atthis season of theyear — plodding through mud night after night to.' rehearsal. The various g^eesand part songs were rendered in a manner highly creditable to the company, more especially as we learn that at the very; last moment they were disappointed in finding one of their . leading treble voices absent, thus making a vaoancy which there w,as no time, to till up. Even amongst accomplished musicians such an occurrence in part sjnging' creates considerable inconvenience and annoyance ; it can therefore readily b,e. understood huw much more embarrassing and vexatious it becomes to a company constituted , entirely of amatenrsi bath as regards vocalism and music. Although the concert was advertised for eight o'clock, it was half-past that hour before Mrs. Hansen, the pianist on the occasion, took her seat and played the opening, overture/ "The company then assembled o'n[ the- platform* and sans* the the well-Jmown chorus " 4 wake, JEolian Lyre '*• in excellent time. Mr, Ford then followed, and sang li - Molly Asthore." This gentleman's aweet. tenor voice was well suited for- this old favorite song v A trio, entitled "Ye Shepherds., tell me." had justice done to ' it by Mr. and Mrs. Holmes and Mr.' Bamford. Mr. Leary followed with a comic song, "-'I couldn't help laughing, it tickled me so, n and sang it so admirably that it tickled the fancy of the audience, who joined spontaneously in, the laughter. The duet, K Go where thja, Morning Shineth,"- waa very well rendered by Mrs. Titchener and Mr. James, Menzies. Mr. Dowries then sang "Nil Desperandum" in exo^llent ■spirit^ Song and chorus, "Put me- in my Little Bed," by Mrs. Needham and the- company. This piece is an established favorite ; both, solo and chorus, were capitally sung. " The Monks of' Old" was sung by Mr. Barnford, whose deep rich voice was well adapted for 'the song. " The Gipsy Countess," a duet, was then sung by Miss Fowler and Mr. Holmes. The first portion of the programme was concluded by. the company singing •< the the glee '•' God Bless . the Prince of Wales."' An interval of ten minutes proved ample time for outside recreation ; the "bitterly cold wind*, soon drove the ,'audience'back to its place. . ' - * Part two- of the programme was opened with, th,© old and lively : glee, "'From Oberon in Fairy Land," in which the. •whiple . company joined. • A new song,, entitled j** Enoch Arden's Dream," was then Bung by Mr. James Menzies. It is a sweeij piece of, music, and Mi\ Menzies sang it with'good taste and feeling. Song, t •"• Maggie's' Secret.'"- l>y Mrs. NeeiJham, 'next followed. This lady was deservedly '. honored' with' an encore.. ! Tfewas her. first appearance! before a Lawreuce audience. Song and. .chorus, "Driven, from Home,'* solo by Mr. Downes, with chorus by the company,, is an old favorite, and one in which' Mr. Downes invariably excels'; the chorus was- weir 'sustained. Duet, 1 ' "What are the Wild Waves laying,'* was sung by Mr. and Mrs. Holmes in good style!. . Song, *' Come •back to Erin." Miss Fowler sang this , sptetty piece of rausi&so very sweetly that the audience called loudly for its- repitition, 'wften the young lady kindly reheated the last verse. " Song, and: chorals, f * In her' little- bed w6 laid her," a companion' aong to "Put me in my little bed." 'solo by Mr. -Leary and chorus bythe company, promises to become a favor-, ifce. Song, '5- Oh, Gently Breathe,',' waswelr executed by Mr. , For,d, and the qhorus mug._ by the company behind the screen had a charming effect. ' Descriptive song, " Wrecked and Saved,'* by Mr. I}pw-nes. This was quite a- gem of^ its 1 -kind-, ■ and was" rendered m a scyle which | fairly . brought down the house* Duet, j "Bright Waters," was sung by Miss Fowler and: Mr. James Menzies. „Thi's , piece, was considered by many the geiii of the evening-. The yoic.es were well plended, and the style in which iii was sung-showed good taste and the fruits # of careful practioe oathe part of the singers. Mr. Hplihes then sang ff-The Bnglishtman'/., with,good effeqt, . after, wjiiph:3lr. ,;Abel, onj behalf of the A't^nspum Committee, thanked: the audience for their attendance and, the *ingera for I^heir efforts to s^well the : funds-^ of the institution. He toatie a few- appropriate-.' remarks on the position of the Athenaeum, Observing that the •Committee. TfereSdesir-, ,{OU»of adding corwiderablj^Oith^nuinber of books in ,the Kbrary. /fhe; National ■Anthem, sung, by the company r - concluded the vocal* part of the entertainment. After the room was cleared 1 , dankin^com;nien'cted, and was kept vp 5 with' spirit for a i few hours.' ■■ The proceeds fiomithe entfer>tainment^ wjß.le^jramounjt^d.to ,