ST. PETER'S CHURCH. RECITAL OF SACRED MUSIC.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1187, 5 February 1880, Page 2

ST. PETER'S CHURCH. RECITAL OF SACRED MUSIC.

The recital of sacred music given in this church on Tuesday night was a great succesß from all points of view, 200 people being present. The choir were conducted by Mr T. A. Bell, and numbered 21 voices in all. It had been announced that some members of the Band were to take part in it, but, owing to the unavoidable absence from home of the Bandmaster, they were unable fco be present. This was to be the more regretted as they had at some trouble and pains copied their parts and attended practices, which the promoters gratefully remember. The opening piece was the "Marche Aux Flambeaux," played by the organist, accompanied on the violin by Herr Miiller, whose playing greatly assisted the choruses throughout the programme. The " Old Hundredth " was next sung, and if it id quite fair to criticise the first effort of the evening, we should say it ■went a little roughly, as if the baton and instrument were not quite en accord. The anthem, " Teach Me, 0 Lord," however, quite removed any impression of unsteadiness, being sung with taste and precision throughout. The tenor solo, ' ' Remember Now Thy Creator," left nothing to be desired, words and music being of the sweetest, and execution of the beßt. This is a song which when onoe heard can never be forgotten. It was followed by another gem, a quartette, " God is a Spirit," sung very well together, in a soft, subdued manner, which showed the voices well, and did the beautiful words full justice. The success of this piece suggested the advantage of the study of part music in preference to tho multiplying of solos, which are sometimes of a mediocre character. Fart songs are, as a rule, more pleasing to an audience and more enjoyable to the performers. The anthems, " Lord, For Thy Tender Mercies' Sake," " Comfort, 0 Lord, the Soul of Thy Servant," and " Thine, 0 Lord, is the Greatness," were well executed, and did equal justice to conductor and choir. The well-known solosf rom " The Messiah," "I Know That my Redeemer Liveth" and " 0 Thou That Tellest " were really beautifully sung by sopranos and contralto voices respectively, and the complete silence of the audience during both testified to their appreciation more than the loudest applause would have done on any other occasion, 'lhe anthem, " Behold! How Good aDd Joyful," chorus, bass solo, duet, and chorus, was extremely effective, and sung with great care and precision, each part being led into without any hitch or loss of beat. The two instrumental duets, "Et In Terra," and the "Gloria" from Mozart's Twelfth Mass, were a great treat, being excellently played, and showing the capabilities of the instrument, whioh for these two pieces was done full justice to, and in competent hands showed great power as well as sweetness and richness of tone. The duet, " 0 Lovely Peace," was most sweetly sung by wellchosen voices, and the words carried special significance with the evidences of " peace and plenty " still hanging about the pretty church. The treble solo and chorus, "The Marvellous Works," was very effective, but showed a little want of neatness m coming in of chorus and solo ; but we understand that great difficulties had been in the way of all the voices practising this piece together. A difficulty of a like nature prevented the ne \ t anthem, " Hear My Prayer," from being quite the snecess it would have been with moro practice together ; the duet and solo were plaintively sung, but the chorus was a little vague in coming in, and rather heedless of the baton. The anthem, "In Jewry is God Known," chorus, quintette, and chorus, however showed what the choir can do when all are in one mind. Too much praise cannot be given to this — both chorus and quintette ; the con- , ductor might well be proud of his choir, both in this and the last anthem, " Thine, 0 Lord," sung just before the concluding hymn, •' Now Thank We All Our God," a chorale from the " Hymn of Praise." Before the "Benediction, the parson thanked the audience for tfceir attendance in guch large number, and especially for their reverent bohiiviour throughout, ex-pro-siug a hope that iv thu event of a Kucotul recital there would be aa good uu audionoe uud still better miwjo.