TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2705, 12 November 1889, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

Musical Society's Conceut. —The first concert of this society was held on Thursday, 7th in «t., in the hall, and wis in every respect a most unqualified success. Mr J. H. Mandeno, one of the vice-President,* occupied the cliair. It was looked forward to by the public with pleasurable anticipation, and by the performers themselves with confidence, and in neither case was there room for the slightest disappointment. The hall was well filled by representatives from all the surrounding districts, and judging by their appluuso and expressions of approbation, the society should feel well pleased with the result af their initial performance. It must also be a source of pleasure to the conductor to know that his labours were crowned with success, fur to his skill and untiring care, as much as to t he talent of the singers, are due the success of the evening. The orchestra, which consisted of two violins, piano, celio, and a very tine toned American organ—kindly lent by Mis Coulthard—played several selections very beautifully, as well as some of the accompaniments at intervals. One of the violinists, Mr Wall, is quite an acquisition to the district, as he is an accomplished musician. Young Mr I!. Cruickshank, also a violinist, gives promise of being a finished performer too with practice. Mr Tristram, one of our best known musicians played the cello. The accompaniments to the various songs were played on the piano by Mr Patterson, but Miss Archer played the piano, and Mr Patterson the organ in the overture "The Caliph of Bagdad," but what was in my opinion the best instrumental piece of the evening was the performance on the organ of one of Mendelsohn's '■ Songs "without words" by Mr Patterson, this was played with great taste, and showed that he is a master of the organ. Of course the piece of the evening was "The Wreck of the Hesperus," by the company, the. solos in which were excellently rendered by Mesdames Burgess and Long, and Messrs Christie and D. Fry. Mr Fry lias a really fine tenor and with cultivation and practice will take rank with some of the best tenors of the country. As an alto Miss Layne will make her mark in musical circles. That the formation of the society has had the effect of discovering many accomplished musicians, vocal and instrumental, who hitherto persistently hid their lights, not exactly under bushels but under cover of their own modesty, is quite evident from the fact that many of the performers made their debut that evening in public. Notwithstanding the tact that the chief interest of the evening centred round the cantata, "The Wreck of the Hesperus," I do not think that at any time during the singing jf it, excellently rendered as it undoubtedly was, did the voices of the strong company (forty in numbei, I believe) blend more beautifully or harmoniously than in the fine chorus "Good-night Thou Glorious Sun," an( i h'"" 1 the hearty and sustained applause with which it was greeted it was quite evident the audience thought so too. I feel sure that at the next performance if it is repeated it will be received as heartily. The octette "The Belfry Tower," was splendidly sung, the altos of Misses Storey and Layne sounding to advantage. The only drawback to the performance was in the hall itself, which is not ceiled or lined ; but even that could not mar the harmony, but there can be no doubt that it is a heavy handicap on vocalists to sing in such a building. Mr O. Garland very kindly came over from Cambridge to assist, aiid his appearance when he came forward to sing his first solo was a signal for applause, the one drawback in being such a good singer is that Mr Garland is in request everywhere. He was encored in his second song, " The Anchor's Weighed," but merely bowed his acknowledgement?. The duet, " The Sailor Sighs, - ' by Mrs Burgess and Mr Garland was beautifully sung. Mrs Long also sang her songs and solos ill the cantata with her usual taste and feeling. The society may be sure of one thing, viz., whenever they aunounce a performance there will be a crowded house, for the success of Thursday evening stamps it as being one composed of musicians of a high order. After the overture, " Caliph of Bagdad," the Chairman rose and said he had much pleasure in introducing that evening a new arrival. He (the chairman) was an old resident and had always much pleasure in welcoming an addition to the district, especially if the new arrival was likely to prove an acquisition. The new arrival was very young, reckoning his age by months rather than years, and, like most young colonials was very precocious, and had a good opinion of himself; so much so that he came before them that evening for their approbation, it would be for the audience to say how much he deserved it, as they were to be the judges ; for his own part he had no doubt on the matter of his worthiness. All he asked for was a fair iield, and in this instance, plenty of favour. The new friend he had so much pleasure in introducing that evening was tho Te Awamntu Musical Society. These felicitous words of the chairman were received with applause, winch showed that tho audience were willing to give the youngster a cordial reception. (I don't exactly know what gender to give this promising child as she is composed chiefly of the fair sex, the other and smaller part of him, of course being composed of the sterner and less fair sex), She looked charming and at ease, and when tho applause had subsided lie showed plainly by his expression that he knew the audience would not be disappointed with her performance. (In trying to give each sex a turn I am getting ii little mixed in my use of the pronouns). The following is the programme:—Ciiorous, "Awake .-Lolian Lyre" (Boosey); song "Come into the Garden, Maud," Mr (>. Garland; song, "The .Fog Bell," Mr Burgess; octette, "Fays and Elves" (from the opera "Martha)"; duet, "The Sailor Sighs," Mrs Burgess and Mr Garland, chorus, " Come;, Come Away " (from the opera " La Favorita)"; song, "Masks and Faces," Mrs Long ; duet, " Love and War," Messr* Garland and Burgess (encored, last verse repeated), chorus, " Good-night Thou Glorious Sun." Interval of ten mim.tes. Organ solo, " Song Without Words" (Mendelsohn) Mr Patterson, chorus, '* Old May Day," (.Jules Benedict); song, "The anchor's weighed," Mr Garland (encored but not responed to); Octette, "The Belfry Tower" (Hatton), Cantata "The Wreck of the Hesperus," (Anderton) Quartette, "Calm be Thy Slumbers," (Boosey). The second interval concluded by singing "God Save the Queen." I was glad to see that the "inevitable "dance was left out, the committee very properly setting their faces against such a thing. If the excellent music«is sufficient of itself to attract an appreciative audience, the Society had better give their performances in some other md more musical place, but happily such will never be required, for the people of this district are no mean judges of talent, and do not require the additional attraction of a dance to secure their attendance. After the exertion entailed in hard practices and the performance on Thursday, the members of the Society will rest for | some days, the next practice will be held on the evening of Wednesday, 20th inst.