PONSONBY MUSICAL SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 116, 17 May 1901, Page 2

PONSONBY MUSICAL SOCIETY.

At All Saints' Schoolroom last evening- the Ponsonby 'Musical Society gave their second concert of the season before a large audience. Andreas Romberg's cantata, "The Lay of the Bell," was the work submitted, and it received a creditable delivery. "The Lay of the Bell" was composed in 1808, the music being- set to Schiller's famous poem of the same name, whose stately measures are admirably adapted for musical exposition. Of all Bomberg-'s musical settings this work is the most popular, and was, nnti] a few years ago, a stock piece of nearly every leading musical society in England, Germany and the United States, and though now in the category of oldfashioned music, it still has a strong following. The music is light and melodious, and at no point is it of such a nature as to make exigent demands upon its executants. The performers attended in . good numbers, among them being 73 lady vocalists and 27 men singers, while the orchestra consisted of about a score of players* All through there were signs that the Society's resources were taxed to its full limit, still, save one or two exceptions, they acquitted themselves very creditably and secured a reading of the work to the satisfaction of the audience. The best-sung choruses were "To Mother Earth." "Prom the Steeple," "Thousand Active Hands," "Liberty! Equality!" and the closing "Joy to All." In the concerted number, "Right Helpful," the sopranos, in the syncopated bars, were uncertain of their time, and the leads by all the voices were not always resolutely delivered, while some of the executants attacked their music prior to the beat. Tbe intonation was defective, and the attack was feeble in the chorus "The Master's Hand," and in "No Heaven-lit Torch" the sopranos failed to give their lead, which marred the effect of the music. In nearly every chorus the singers were disposed to hold on to their closing notes too long, makingtheir crochets appear as though they were dotted, and sometimes as minims, while the release of the notes was often in the style of an arpeggio, not simultaneous as they are written. The attention given to expression was correct, and as a rule the intonation and articulation were good. The solos were carefully executed by Mrs Parkes

(soprano), Mr J. Ferriday (tenor), Mr W Manning (baritone), and Mr J. Christie (bass). A fairly successful readingi was secured of the "septette" by Mesdames Carter. Bartlett Miss Wright and Messrs Carder, Wallnutt, May and W. Fricker. The quartette, "Peace and Concord,"' was tastefully given by Mesdames Carter and Bartlett, and Messrs Carder and Fricker. Mr R. L. Hunt conducted, with efficiency and tact. The first part of the evening was devoted to a miscellaneous programme in which the following performers took part:—Mesdames Parkes and Duder, Messrs S. Adams, Manning and Ferriday, while the orchestra played "Les Huguenots' Overture." The accompanists were Dr. Thomas and Mrs Neave. The concert was ten minutes late commencing, and as there was no interval during the performance the wait would have been much more acceptable in the middle than at the commencement. The programme was brought to a termination by the singing of the National Anthem.