"MERRtE ENGLAND"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1939, Page 6

"MERRtE ENGLAND"

Not a very large audience was attracted to the Town Hall last evening when the Guild Singers presented the concert version of Sir Edward German's "Merrie England." However, those who were present were rewarded with a very enjoyable presentation.' Some fifty mixed voices, under the! baton, of Mr. Thomas Wood, tackled the various choruses resolutely, while the soloists were generally adequate. The two contralto, parts were taken by Karen Look and Zena Willis, the soprano part by Maureen Hickford, while, Roy Hill. and George Gray were the principal tenor and baritone singers respectively. Gordon Mackay, Trevor Jamieson, Harry Chessman,' and Alfred Arnott filled minor roles. Each of the various choruses, concerted numbers, duets, and solos was received with well-merited applause, particularly good being Elizabeth's song "O Peaceful England," sung by Zena Willis with chorus. "The Yeoman of England," by Roy Hill and chorus, was another distinct hit. Two grand pianos, played by Jean KirkBurnand and Barbara Bannister, adequately took the place of an orchestra. In keeping with the spirit of "Merrie England," there were added to the programme several folk ana country dances, given by members of the Wellington branch of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. The solo dancer in these was Fred Hoy,and the pianist Mrs. Howard Cook, the dances being under the direction of Miss Hilda Taylor. As an introduction to the main feature of the concert, Bert Hickford, baritone, sang "Devotion" (Schumann); "Goin' Home" from Dvorak's "The New' World Symphony," and. as an encore, "The Glory Road.' "Still as the Night" (Bohm), "Devotion" (Richard Strauss), and : "Down m the Forest" (Sir Landon Ronald) were the three numbers contributed by Eileen Miller (mezzo-soprano).