S. ANDREW'S, CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2341, 12 July 1887, Page 2

S. ANDREW'S, CAMBRIDGE.

A keittai, of sacred music was given in the above church on Friday evening, on which occasion the choir was largely assisted-—both in vocal and instrumental portions—by friends who are not members of the congregation. Tire acoustic pr->-pcities of S, Andrew's are known to be very bad, and, indeed, when the church is full, although there may be a large choir, they are heard very indistinctly by anyone who happens to be sitting at the extreme end of the nave. On this occasion, with a view to remedy the defect, the harmonium and choir stalls were removed to the centre of the building, their place m the chance! being filled with seals forth® congregation. The effect was most marked, both voices and instrument sounding much better, than when m the old position. W e-hould think the choir mu-t have felt the alteration for the better, as it is undoubtedly nrieh ea-ier to -mg in the nave than in the chancel. The proceedings opteerd by the singing of a hymn and a short prayer by the \cn Archdeacon, another hymn bung sung at the close. The programme was as follows Voluntary'. Mrs Chitly ; chorus, “The Glory of the Is-Til I Handel;; “Xazrclh (Gounod), Air Walter Chambers; “He wipes the tear from every eye P ..d-n- I Miss Surah I 'avie.- ; voluntary, Ali-s M. Xixmi : “ He shall feed His Flock' (Handel), .Mrs Russell ; “ H fl was despised' (Handel), Mrs Chambers; “Comfort A e (Handel), Mr O. Gailand ; song. Mrs Mackie : "Hove not the World'’ (Sullivan), _ Mrs U. Garland; march, “Romance’’ Mi-s Frazer ; chorus, “ (lloria 12th Mass’ (M .zart). The whole of the soloists acquitted themselves in a very creditable manner but the ladies decidedly carried off the palm. It is very seldom that you hear solos from the Messiah rendeie 1 by amateurs in a manner equal to the two given on Friday evening by Mrs Chambers and Mrs Kt:—oil, although we ura-t admit that we prefer hearing the latter portion of “He shall feed His flock," taken, as is usually the case, by a soprano, it having a tendency to become monotonous when the whole of it is sung by a Contralto. Miss Havie.- tine soprano voice was heard to good effect, and greatly pleased the audience, a- did also Mrs Mackie and Mrs Garland. The latter lady possesses a very line contralto voice, exceptionally rich in the loner regi-ter. Airs Alackie was to 'nave sung “ Ruth," but substituted another —that we did not know—that was far preferable, and just suited her voice. Air W. Chambers did full justice to Gounod's grand song. Air (larland, who was suffering from a only sang the first portion of “Comfort ye.’ The harmonium solos were better than was exacted, Aliss Frazers being the best, as the instrument is not one that is calculated to show off anyone's playing, and with the expression stop out—without which it is very little good for solo* —is much too heavy for any lady to perform upon. The choruses weie very shaky, and wanted a lot more practice. Air Garland conducted, but some of the choir did not pay much attention to the baton. A collection was made dining the singing of the last hymn, after which the Archdeacon pronounced the Benediction. On Sunday the choir again sat in the centre of the church, a great improvement in the singing resulting, not only to the choir but also to the congregation, as some that used to drag kept much better time than when the choir was farther away. We trust these recitals will become a lienuaneiit institution, many friends being willing to assist. The offertory will go towards reducing the church debt.