PROMENADE CONCERT, HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1170, 25 December 1879, Page 2

PROMENADE CONCERT, HAMILTON.

If only the weather had proved more favorable, the promenade concert (held on Tuesday evening on the croquet lawn and grounds of Mr R. Gwynne, m aid of the fund for providing prizes for the East Hamilton School), would have been m all respeots a most successful affair. 8o showery was the evening that until the lively strains of the Light Infantry Band struck up the opening piece many must have doubted whether the concert would come off at all. Nevertheless, more than' one hundred persons were present, and as the evening advanced the weather cleared up, and the various performers and the band, if they had not a numerous, had at least an appreciative and apparently wellpleased audience. The Light Infantry, Band (to whom the thanks of the community are due for -their kindness m volunteeringtheir services on so many occasions), played selections from various composers m excellent style at intervals throughout the evening; between which duets and solos were rendered, by lady and gentlemien amateurs, the .pianoforte accompaniments being played by Mr Thomas Bell, to whom much of the applause with which the various songs were received by the audience is undoubtedly due. The vocal part of the concert was indeed almost an impromptu affair, but we were agreeably surprised to find so much vocal musical talent available m Hamilton at so short a notice. The first song, by Mr Henry Steele, « The Village Blacksmith," was very effectively rendered, and followed by a duet, « All's Well," by Mrs | Von Stunner and Mr Laishley, the two ! voices blending well together; A selection by the Band followed, and then " ( Whafc Are The Wild Waves Saying," by; Mrs Cumming and Mr Meacham. This duet was excellently sung, the powerful and olear soprano voice of Mrs Cumming telling with wonderful effect on the still night air. Mr Meacham has. a pleasing tenor voice, and the song was warmly applauded by the company present. Mr Laishley sang " Kafoosalem " m very good style, the chorus of which was spiritedly taken up by the audience, and again later on " The Marseillase," to which his full rich tenor voice did ample justice; but perhaps the best rendered, us it was deservedly the best received piece of the evening, was the duet " Gathering Flowers," gang by Mrtf Cumming and Mrs Von Stunner. Theso ladies sing well together and with good taste, both possessingpowerful, well-cultivated voices, and the duet, which, is a very pretty one, was quite a gem i» its way. If Hamilton possesses so much musical talent as we heard on Tuesday night, the absence of the Choral Society, owing to the hurried manner m which the concert was got up, and the performance of a few well-chosen, carefully-studied concerted pieces must have been a matter to be regretted. The Band possesses -some very excellent musicians amongst it, 'and considering thai it has only been organised some four or five months, has reached a wonderful amount of proficenoy under its able Bandmaster, Mr Simms and BandSergeant Williams. "God Save the Queen," at about 11 o'clock, brought the night's performance to .a close. The thanks of the committee are due to Mr Gwynne for his krndness m placing hia garden at the service of the public for this and a previous promenade concert, held lately for a similar object. A snm of £4 ,188 was, we are informed taken at the gates.