CHORAL SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2376, 31 October 1877, Page 3

CHORAL SOCIETY.

Bakl-Ttt's oantatfl,, •' The Ancient Mariner," | (woris by the poet Coleridge) was performed I last night by the n_ember_ or the Auckland I Choral Society. Itisiust ten years since this 1 cantata, produced at the Birmingham musical festival, brought the Dame of the composer into i prominence among- the musicians of the day. j The success widen he then achieved was not diminished by his subsequent effort " Paradise and the Peri," a work which was produced for a simi- . lar occasion some three yeara later, and which is not unknown to Auckland amateurs. Mr Bar- j nett aims at adapting his notes to the ever- ! !l varying character of the words, rather than J attempting a complete illustration of the subtle I meaniner of the poem. In this, way, while we j miss the masterly genius of the greater composers, we cannot fail to be pleased with the I I tuneful and melodious writing, and with the i I evidence of a thorough command over tho I j resources of voices and instruments. The : one demerit in both the cantatas is the : large proportion of recitative, which j though cleverly constructed, and perhaps indispensable to the libretto, ia apt to weary the list- I encr. The performance of last night is to be ' commended, i\r3t, because it was an evidence of pluck in an amateur society, and, secondly, : 1 because the singers and instrumentalists strove j to do their very best. The chorus numbered I about sixty voices, but the band was not so I strong as usual. Mr Brown conducted, and we need hardly say that his familiar face was onco ' more gladly welcomed as that of a friend in merit. The Society has learnt one thing well, how to sing and play pianissimo and forte in successive contrast. The descriptive passages in the accompaniments were Tery fairly rendered, and the chorus -was evenly balanced, the alto being somewhat stronger than usual. The best choruses were "The upper air burst into life," and that most characteristic one, "About, j ' about." Tho plaintive chorus of females ac- | ooinpanying the recitative, " And the bay wan i I white," was most delightful, though the effect j would hare been greatly improved by an attention to the mark sostenuto.' The part of the "Mariner" was undertaken by Mr Georsre Harker. His best effort was the ! airljj "And now the .pell was snap.." The . no. solos were very creditably performed .by Mr Edward Harker. Hi_ articulation was j j clear ana distinct, and it is a great pity that his style of singing is so deficient in animation. Mrs j Mitchell sang as sweetly as ever, and with greater power. Her recitatives were marked I .vith expression and tender''feeling, and the j declamatory air "A good south wind," was | specially effective. The charming air " O sleep it is a gentle thing," was tastefully tung b/ Miss Leaf, who also undertook the contralto part in j I the various quartettes. Mies James was of great j assistance at the harmonium. ' i Sigma, j i