"HIAWATHA."

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 170, 20 July 1934, Page 2

"HIAWATHA."

AUCKLAND' CHORAL SOCIETY. FINE CHORAL SINGING. It has been said that to-day there are ' but three choral works the performance o.t which will fill the great Albert Hall i a London, these being Handel's "Messiah " 1 Mendelssohn's "Elijah" and ColeridgeTaylor's "Hiawatha." Proof that this latter work retains its popularity was given in the Town Hall last evening, when the Auckland Choral Society presented the trilogy, "Hiawatha's Wedding Feast" "The Death of Minnehaha" and "Hi'ai watha's Departure," before a large and appreciative audience. This work has gained the reputation of being the most popular cantata ever published in England, and it has enjoyed enormous public regard since the day of its publication. The reason for its popularity is not far to seek. To start with it is undoubtedly an inspired work on tile highest plane of choral art. The unusual melodic design, rapid transition from rhythm to rhythm and key to key, unexpected orchestral effects, the descriptive effect of the writing and the entire "singability" of the whole, combine to make a wide appeal. Jaeger, the musical adviser to Novellos, and upon whose recommendation the work was published, compared the trilogy to a symphony of which the "Wedding Feast" formed the opening allegro; the "Death of Mi nchaha" the slow movement; the first portion of the "Departure," up to the lagoo scene, the scherzo, and the rest of the "Departure," the finale, with th • baritone scene, "Hiawatha's Vision," added as a short fifth movement, or intermezzo, between the scherzo and the finale. The work of the chorus last night was excellent. The numerous entrances in the narrative-choruses were takenup cleanly, while the tonal quality of all sections was pure and round. The varying rhythms were well preserved and due regard was eivep to light and shade, the concluding chorus of the "Wedding Feast," "Such was Hiawatha's Wedding Feast," being particularly effective. The poignant choruses in "The Death of Minnehaha" were given with much expression, and the brighter music of "Hiawatha's Departure" was sung with spirit, a fine climax being made with the chorus "On the shore stood Hiawatha." Madame Aileen Johns, who was in excellent voice, was well suited in the music allotted to the soprano soloist, her singing in "The Death of Minnehaha" section being marked by true intonation, as well as appropriate dramatic expression, especially in the numbers, "And the other said, 'Behold me,'" and "'Hark!' she said, T hear a rushing.'" Her opening solo, of "Hiawatha's Departure," "Spring had come with all its splendour, was sprightly, and "From the brow of Hia- ' watha" was delivered with striking effect. Mr. J. T. Battersby achieved a distinct ;success in- that gem of impassioned : melody, "Onaway! Awake, beloved," perhaps the most perfect tenor aria of the last generation. His pleasant tenor voice was also heard to advantage in "He had seen, he said, a water" and "And the Black-Robe chief made answer." Mr. Barry Coney, who took the baritone solos, sang throughout with great artistic perception and brought out to the utmost the pathos of those expressive numbers in "The Death of Minnehaha," "And the ' foremost said, 'Behold me!'" "Wahonomin! Wahonomin!" and the impassioned "Gitche Manito. the Mighty!" His singing of "Hiawatha's Vision," "True is all lagoo tells us," was a fine interpretative effort.

| Considering the difficult nature of the i work, the orchestra played exceptionally well, and, with*he chorus, presented some excellent ensembles, although there was an occasional lack of balance between players and sinsrers. A tasteful interpretation, of the whole work was given by the con- ' ductor, Mr. Colin Muston, who made the most of the forces under his control. Miss Edith Whitelaw was the -usual effective leader of the orchestra.