CHORAL SOCIETY'S PERFORMANCE TO-NIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4545, 18 November 1884, Page 3

CHORAL SOCIETY'S PERFORMANCE TO-NIGHT.

Strike of t_e Orchestra,

For some short time past there has been a difference of opinion among the members of tho Choral Society as to tho advisability or otherwise of postponing the performance of Handel's "Israel in Egypt," It was not, however, imagined that the littlo " rift within the lute" portended any serious trouble, but, contrary to expectation, it has suddenly developed into a startling breach involving a withdrawal of the orchestral forces. Tho history of tho trouble may be briefly stated. _ Threo weeks ago a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs C. Hemus, E. Harker, V. E. Rice (Treasurer), R, A. Milligan Hogg (Secretary), and J. Knox (temporary conductor), was appointed to arrange the cast of solo parts and to recommend the date of tho concert. This cast and recommendation were in duo course submitted at a committee meeting convonod in tho usual way, but held at 3 p.m. instead of at the usual hour, which is 4 p.m. At this meeting none of the five instrumental members wore present, the reason subsequently assigned bein" that tho hour was inconvenient. Tho sub-committee's cast and recommendation were of course adopted by tlie Committee. Fivo days later—tickets and circulars for

. the concert having in tho incuntimo been issued—the Secretary learned that there was a strong probability of the orchestra as a body witholding its assistance at tho ap proaching concert. He therefore took upon himself tlie responsibility of summoning a special mooting of Committeo for yesterday, - at 12.30 p.iu. Of the 19 members-of Committee—viz., 5 instrumentalists, 7 vocalists, and 7 honorary members—ll wore present. Mr C. Hemus was again the only representative of the orchestra. A letter was read from the temporary conductor, stating that he had been told that the orchestra considered itself unprepared for the concert, and remarking that perhaps, in the faco of this fact, it would be advisable to postpone the performance. A motion was at onco made that the concert should be given on tho date already fixed, and to it an amendment was proposed that the concert should be postponed. The amendment was lost by only two votes, so that if the orchestral representatives had taken the trouble to attend the meeting, it could easily have been carried. After this the motion was put and agreed to nejji. con. As a consequence, the final rehearsal took place last'night. It was very largely attended by the vocalists, of whom about 150 wore present. The orchestra, however, was conspicuous only by its absence. ' . In assuming his place upon the conductor's stand, Mr Knox briefly explained that the members of tho orchestra had absented themselves, believing that " Israel in Egypt" had not been sufficiently rchenrsed to admit of a satisfactory publio performance. As fer himself, however, ho was prepared to obey the decision of the Committee that the concert should take place on the following evening. . This declaration was received withapplause. The Rev. D. Bruce (as Vice-Chairman of the Committee) then mounted the platform, and stated the circumstances leading up to the action of the orchestra. He said also that when tbe amendment for postponement was ' carried, the minority who had supported it had loyally accepted the decision of the majority, and were prepared to do their , best to render the concert a success. The Committee was therefore resolved to pro; ceed. with the concert, and relied upon ' the support of the vocalists in strengthening the attitude it had taken, up ns against the orchestra. This speech was also greeted with applause. The rehearsal was then proceeded with, and tho choruses wero performed with great spirit and accuracy, although only supported, by tlie instrumentation of piano and organ. "We understand that the members of the orchestra advance as reasons for their determined action — (1) That there is a strong.and growing feeling . of dissatisfaction among the performing members that the Society Bhould be practically governed by gentlemen who have been appointed ori account of their social position rather than by reason of their feterest in ox knowledge of music, and that ' "fcheee gentlemen, while shirking; the regular duties of their office, .muster in full strength whenever it is desired to ■outvote t-o workers. (2) That the Comtaitteo meeting at which the date of the concert was fixed took place at a highly inconvenient hour for the bulk of the per : forming members. (3) That the decision arrived at was tasty and ill-advised. Upon bobs of these grounds, however, can the uncompromising stand which the orcnest? a Jiaa taken up be justified. Jf the ' constitution ol the Committefi: is objectod toj then other steps can J>e taken .to secure relief; to jeopardlsa the success of a concert will not. effect that result. As to the inconvenience of the foour of meeting, the orchestra should havo tuade prompt complaint of that, instead of preserving complete silence, ond tlie chances are that the time would have been altered ' tosuittbem. The third reason hardly requires answering. There can be tto possible jj.o_.«s vivendi among the members al any body unless in all matters of divided - opinion those who happen to be in; the "-' minority are prepared to cheerfully bow to the will of. the majority. The orchestra may, and very likely can, make out a very strong casp in support of its wish \ to postpone the concert, but in delaying action until the eleventh hour it is Clearly in tho wrong. It should either Ibiivo n_ide its decision knoWn sooner, or also Its representatives should, have attended the Committee meeting ' and carried through, as it could have done, the rejected amendment. ' ** It would really seem as though a kind of fatality attended the performance of "Israel in Egypt" in Auckland—as if . gome malifiic influence were at work 1 ■r.teiittnK dissensions beforehand, among trie-performers. When it-was last in rehearsal—now very many years ago—the tenors and basses, resentful of some action or. remarks on the part of Mr Joseph Brown ttiie then "conductor), withdrew'n't the last moment to the number of about 25. - Despite this desertion, the concert proved a triumphant success, and th 6 shame-faced vocalists promptly returned to their alle-

l glance.' . f ',:- So may it be on this occasion, At any rate, thO Committee is exerting itself to ensure a successful result. It is expected that 170 vocalists will be iv attendance '.to-night,- and 'the- incidental', instru- ■ mentation will be supplied by 2.grand pianos, 1•• double-power harmonium, 2 double basses, 2 cornets, 2 French horns, •1 trombone, and perhaps some clarinettes, Mr-Neville G. Barnott and Mrs Woolley . will be tne principalpianists, and Mr V. E. Bice will act as organist.