CONCERT AT TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2779, 6 May 1890, Page 2

CONCERT AT TE AWAMUTU.

BRITANNIA & HER DAUGHTERS. This grand allegorical cantata, which has been in preparation for some time, and which was looked forward to with sush pleasurable anticipation by the public of this and other districts, was given in the Public Hall on Thursday evening. Long before the doors were opened a large crowd had assembled from all parts of the Upper Waipn. It took fully a quarter of an hour for all to get admission, and when they got in the building was crammed, there being scarcely standing room. The entertainment was opened by the following short programme, ftlr Cottrell, President of the Te Awamutu Musical Society, occcupying the chair :—Overture by the band, " Duet in D." The President in hie opening speech said : " Ladies and gentlemen, I think it is due to you, and perhaps in some slight degree to myself, to state why I preside on this occasion. The Hon. Secretary, Mr Vause, wrote to me a short time ago and stated that at a meeting of the society I had been appointed to the position of President. I assented to this, and now I have to offer my thanks for the honour conferred on ire. There are those among you who are -bettm-quaHfi6d to fill that position than I. [t gives me great pleasure to be here this evening, and I feel sure you will derive great pleasure from theentei tainment, which will be given you this evening. You did not come to hear a long speech from me, and I will not therefore take up any more of your time, the concert will now commence by the einging of the chorus " Good night thou glorious Sun," by the company. This favourite chorus was well rendered, and was received with applause. Song, " Ora Pro Nobis," Mrs Long ; song, "The Outpost," Mr Burgess; song, "The Better Land," Miss Pavitt; song, "Moriarity," Mr Vause, this was encored, and the last verse repeated ; song, "Listening," Miss Pavitt. After a short interval the cantata " Britannia and her Daughters" was given. The scene opened with Britannia (who was personated by Miss M. Lewis) sitting on her throne on a dais, holding in her hand a trident, at her sido the shield and in front another and smaller shield of gold, upon which was a lion rampant. Miss fj'jwis made an excellent Britannia, and looked exceedingly well, the exclamations of approval being evidence of that fact. Ranged behind Britiannia were a number of ladies who took part in the choruses. On each side wera soldiers and sailors. The company began by singing the chorus, "Mighty Britannia." A lord-in-waiting (Mr Vause) then announced to Britannia that her daughters and their attendants wore without and desired to pay homage to her. P-ritannia expressed her pleasure, and guve orders that they should be received with befitting honours. Canada, represented by Mrs Long, richly dressed in furs, then entered, with her attendants—lumberer, miner, farmer, hunter, fisherman, and an Indian —tho band playing a inarch. Canada addressed Britannia, explaining the object of her visit, introducing oach of the attendants in turn. She then sang, "The Bird That Leaves its Parent Nest." Mr Jas. Taylor, who represents tho farmer, then sang "Let the Crowded Population," the company joining in the chorus. The lumberer (Mr D. Fry), fisherman (Mr Burgess), and hunter (Mr Long) then sang the trio " A Glorious Life." " Down the Deep and Dreary Mine," by the miner, Mr Rigg, then followed. "Sleighing Song," company. " The noble red man," as Fenimore Cooper calls the Indian, was then invited by Canada to sing " The Mocking Bird," in Indian. This was done, one verse only being inflicted. Upon being asked to sing the song nearest his heart he warbled something which once or twice b"re a faint resemblance to "God Save the Queen," at least some, who are very familiar with that air, thought they detected a resemblance. This noble red man was gorgeously attired in a garment that would put to shame Joseph's coat, feathers and war paint, and no less than two pig tails, beating the heathen Chinee in this respect, and, to complete the resemblance, the usual tomahawk was stuck in his belt, while in his hand he carried a pike, the like of which was never before seen off the stage. The red Indian is not musical, and the harsh, unmusical and discordant Toice was not calculated to give one a high opinion of native American music. Tho "get up" altogether was so true to the conventional brave, who is so subtle, cruel and cowardly that timid pooplo might, under such conditions, experience a slight feeling of alarm if they met him. Chorus, "Thrci Cheers for Canada," company; "Indian March," band. Mrs Andrew m India then entered with her attendants O.iolin, (Mr Cruickshank) Sepoy (Mr Vfewdall), Snake charmer (Mr C. A. Ogle), negio, (Mr H. Taylor). India in this instance represented British possessions in the West Indies also, hence the negro in her train. Three very pretty children suitably dressed as Nautch girls were included, Misses Bolur, Carrie Bond, and Ida Vanse. These little ladies went through their parts with the utmost self-possession. Each of the attendants sang a song suitable to the character, the snake charmer alone not having a song as there was not one in the piece for the character. Mrs Gresham as Africa, entered with her attendants, a farmer, Kaffir, and waggon driver, who also sang. Mrs Gresham sung a very pleasing song, "From Europe's Thick and Foggy Air," descriptive of tho healthy climate of South Africa. Then followed Miss Tristram as Australia, with her attendants, stockman, drover and black, all of whom sang- suitab.'e songs, Miss Tristram singing " When on a Broiling Chiisttnas Day." Miss Crookes came on as New Zealand with her attendants, two of whom were to have been a Maori chief and wife, but it was impossible to secure these so they had to be dispensed with, but the gold miner with his pick and tin dish was there, and sang "With my Little Tin Washing Pan." Mr D. Fry and Miss Layne sang a duet, "Maori Gome to Bow." This was undoubtedly the gem of the evening and was most deservedly encored, the last verse being repeated. After giving tho songs and characters in detail of the Canadian attendants, I found that it would take up too much space to give a detailed Recount of the others so I have had to curtail. Each of Britannia's daughters presented her with a suitable offering. Canada a fur mantle, India a string of pearls, Africa a handsome gift of ostrich plumes, Australia the largest nugget of gold ever found, and New Zealand a gold chain of fine workmanship. Each in turn addressed Britannia on entering, and when all the songs and speeches were finished there was a grand march past, each person doing homage to the " Mother of nations." The ladies representing Britannia's daughters were very handsomely dressed, some of the costumes and jewels being superb. As each daughter finished her pact she took her seat on the steps of the dais and when all were grouped together the display was very fine indeed, and was greatly admired. The brilliant costumes of the ladies and the picturesqne dresses of the various attendants making a tableau better than any seen here boforo, no less than forty performers being grouped on the stage. The cantata will be repeated on Thursday evening. The next piece which will bo put on is the cantata " St. Cecilia's Day," and it will be put in practice immediately. This is by Van Bree, the music being of a high class, and worthy of the undoubted talent of the company. The audiences here are quite capable of appreciating music of that quality for after the warm reception given to the " Wreck of the Hesperus," (the first put on by the society) there is no room to doubt their appreciation of high class music, and the way in which this latter cantata wan rendered shows that the society is quite able to do justice to such music. The orchestra is composed of skilled musicians, tho accompaniments therefore are well played. The accompanists on Thursday were : Miss Archer, piano ; Mr Patterson, organ ; Mr Wall, violin ; and Mr Tristram, collo.