MALE VOICE CHOIR.

Upper Hutt Weekly Review, Volume I, Issue 2, 20 December 1935, Page 2

MALE VOICE CHOIR.

Concert at Upper Hutt.

A concert was held in the Majestic Theatre recently, and we are quite justified in saying- that those who did not go missed a musical treat of an exceedingly high standard. The choir and the community of Upper Hutt are more than fortunate in having in their midst such an excellent musical conductor as Mr. S. W. Josland (Mus. Bac.), and one - has only to look back a matter of two years to realise the energy and patience Mr. Josland has put into his work with the result that the raw material with which he started has been brought to the present standard of efficiency. Perhaps it would not be amiss if we describe briefly how this excellent choir first originated. The Woman's Institute gave an evening to their husbands and the husbands decided to give an evening in return. At a meeting held for this purpose someone suggested that as there were a few singers amongst them it might be possible to find a conductor who could train them for part singing. Mr. Josland's name was suggested and upon being approached consented to undertake the task. On a later night eight men, with Mrs. L. W. Tomlin as pianist, arrived at Mr. Josland's house for a trial of their voices. Mr. Josland's opinion of their singing is not to be recorded, but they evidently must have had the voices, as Mr. Josland has carried on ever since, and we hope will continue to do so for many years. TIIO choir is voi*y foi'tmis.'ts silso in having such a brilliant pianist as Mrs. Tomlin, for not only is she an excellent accompanist, but a concert player of high standard. The programme was ambitious and must have entailed an enormous amount of work.

The first item, Wagner's "Sailors' Chorus," was sung- stirringly with plenty of vim. This was followed by "All of An April Evening-" by Robertson, the pianissimo effect being very pleasing. In "Lift Thine Eyes" by Logan, the voices blended beautifully and was sung with spirit, but the gem of the eveningwas a choral work for male voices, "Recognition of Land" by Greig, and an enthusiastic audience demanded a repeat. The soloist in this work was Mr. C. M. Moore, baritone, who sang feelingly and effectively. The second half of the programme opened with "Tally Ho" by Lord, an old English rollocking song which was rendered descriptively. This was followed by three unaccompanied part songs. "In a Gondola" and "How Much Wood Would a Wood-chuck Chuck," both by Linders, and "An Evening Pastorale" by Shaw, the whole three being sung very creditably and with feeling. The concert concluded with a spirited rendering of "Ring Out Wild Bells," arranged by Fletcher. This is a part song that is always popular with the public and is usually sung by several choirs at Christmas time. During the evening the choir was heard in three Christmas carols in which they were assisted by a number of boy trebles. "The Carol of the Star," "I saw Three Ships Come Sailing By" and "The First Noel," all three sang with descants. The treble voices blended beautifully with the full choir and were so greatly appreciated that they had to be repeated. We understand that Mr. Josland put in twenty-four practices each of one hour to get the boys up to standard, and he certainly must have felt pleased with the way they were received.

The choir was fortunate in having- such talented artists to assist in the concert, as Miss Christina Spring - (mezzo soprano), Miss Eunice Bernasconi, L.R.S.M. (violinist), and Mr. Ernest Glading (baritone). These artists are so well know and so popular that no praise of ours could give them further credit. Miss Young sang "Sunday Serenade" and "The Blacksmith," both by Brahms, "Kreshmuld's Galley" by Kennedy Fraser, "When Daisies Pied" by Arne, and "Home, Little Maori, Home" by Alfred Hill. Miss Bernasconi, accompanied by Miss Joan Bernasconi, played "Nocturne in E Flat" by Chopin, "Serenade" by Drdlu, "Le Cygne" by Saint-Saens, and "Minuet in D" by Mozart. Mr. Glading sung "The Two Grenadiers," by Schumann, "The Menin Gate" by Bowen, "The Story Box" by Coates, "Not Understood" by Houghton, and "Youth" by Alletsen. Mrs. L. W. Tomlin's accompaniments were perfect. During the evening dainty floral tributes were presented to Mrs. L. W. Tomlin, Misses Bernasconi and Miss Christina Young.