VARIED VOICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 151, 29 June 1927, Page 9

VARIED VOICES.

AUCKLAND'S "MIXED CHOIR."

WOMEN HOLD THEIR O'.VN AT COMMUNITY SINGING.

Even at 11.30 this morning—an hour before the start—there was a big crowd outside tho Strand Theatre waiting for tho inueic to strike up for this week's community sing. By 12.30 the theatre wag crowded to the doors, and during a mirthful hour Aucklandcrs lifted up their voices in tuneful melody and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. It was a selected programme, that ranged from "Bye-bye, Blackbird" to "In Happy Moments," and from "Comin , Through the Rye" to "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp," the latter, no doubt, appealing to some of the unfortunate Aucklanders who arc at present out of work.

As is usual at community singe, women predominated, and clear soprano and cultured contralto voices were most in evidence, although a few tonors zang sturdily, while voices which ranjuvi from various grades of baritone to basso profundo gave a solid foundation to the chosen items.

At the sing today, Mr. A. J. Hutchinson, secretary of the Rotary Chili, was the chairman, and the song* leader was -Mr. Vernon T. Drew, who made things go merrily with his jokes and stunts. The soloist to-day was Mrs. I. Lilly, who sang. "Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms" and "Love's Old Sweet Song."

Each week Auckland's "mixed choir" improves. There U m> doubt about its volume. Perhaps the light and shade is doubtful at times, the counterpoint is occasionally indecisive, and there are times when the attack and retreat are doubt fill, yet the vojunic of sound i= in itself n tribute to Mount Eden's Mel , .a< and the Carusos of Castor Bav.