THE MUSICAL SOCIETY.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 795, 17 May 1865, Page 2

THE MUSICAL SOCIETY.

The Musical Society gave a most successful concert of sacred music yesterday evening to the members of the General Synod. The selection consisted of several choruses out of the "Messiah" and " Creation," the overtures of the former, " Sampson," and the Occasional, and some songs from the above-named oratorios, "Jeptha," and "Elijah." The Society has certainly mastered two works by the great composers, and has thereby laid a basis of musical taste and feeling which will strengthen its whole career. It was interesting last night to hear some of the best choruses from Handel and Haydn placed aide by side as it were, and to realise the unapproachable grandeur of the former. The first part concluded with "The Heavens are telling," the second with the " Hallelujah," which we may say was sung with a sharpness of time and clearness of intonation, as well as with a spirit and energy, which far surpassed anything we have before heard from the society. It is not too. much to say that it would have been pronounced to be a most creditable performance in any concert-room in the world. The opening part in the | "Messiah" did not go so well as we have heard it. One of the violins was out of tune, and the accompaniment did not go smoothly. And here we must again enter our strongest protest against the introduction of a pianoforte into a band. We cannot conceive who has the management of these things, or who is responsible for it. It must be perfectly obvious to every musician that an instrument like the piano which cannot prolong its notes is entirely incompatible with, stringed instruments, which hold out the note to the full time indicated by the music. The pianoforte is far worse than the harmonium, against whiah vre have bo often complained, for the latter is exceedingly useful in choruses to maintain tbe full body of sound; and had it not been used as it used to be to spoil every recitative it might have passed without remark. Not so the piano. It spoiled everything; and'in some pieces last night afforded us intense pain. • For example, in the overture to "Sampson" it was singularly offensive, and in the air "But thou didst not leave," the whole of the delicate accompaniment of the violoncello, which is Bingularly beautiful, was absolutely drowned, not a note could be heard, owing to the harsh jingling of the piano. La fact it is only when they are heard together that the coarseness and inexpressireness of the piano becomes apparent. It is all Tery well in a drawing-room or where the band do not accompany a song, but where we have stringed and. wind inatru-

ments, what object there can be in the introduction of an instrument of a totally different and incompatible character, we cannot imagine. We may also remark, that the way in which the orchestra was arranged—nearly level, instead of as it used to be, raised in tiers—made a great difference to the j sound and very appreciably for the worse. The greatest treat of the evening was the last chorus, and amongst the solos, that most wonderfully beautiful song out of the " Elijah," "If with all your Hearts." We have plenty of good voices amongst us, and some little knowledge of music, but that in which all our singers are deficient, is in taste and style. In that song from the " Elijah" last night, a lesson might have been learned by all (except those who have made up their minds that they have nothing left to learn) of what correct articulation means, and of how it is possible to express deep feeling without affectation or exaggeration. The Terzetto, from the " Elijah " " Lift thine eyes," was very successfully delivered, except that the soprano was hardly a match for the second and alto, the latter especially requiring a little modulation. We were very glad to hear that beautiful song from the " Jephtha," "Ye sacred Priests," introduced for the first time to a Canterbury audience. It is one of the best o 1 Handel's songs, but to be heard as it ought to be it must be heard with the band accompaniment—not the piano, which is dull and heavy. There is no song, especially in the exquisite second part of the air " Brighter scenes I seek above," in which the delicacy of the stringed instruments, especially of the violoncello, is so greatly missed.

At the conclusion of the concert, the Rev. E. Wilson, as president, presented a handsome silver plate and salver, in the name of the Society, to Mr. Bonnington, the leader, as a mark of their esteem and their gratitude for the aid he has so long given to the Society. Mr. Bonnington briefly replied, expressing lv's thanks. We believe that never was a testimonial more cordially given or better deserved, for it is mainly owing to Mr. Bonnington's exertions that the Society has attained its present high standard. The Bishop of New Zealand then, on behalf of the members of the Synod, in a few expressive and grateful words conveyed to the ladies and gentlemen of the orchestra their thanks for the entertainment which had been provided.

The Society have indeed every reason to be proud of their ability to give such a concert. But we hope to see them do much more, and this time next year we hope to see at least double as many voice' in the orchestra as there were last night. We were very glad to hear that it is in contemplation to give a benefit concert to Mr. M'Cardell, the conductor, to which no one is better entitled. We also hear that " The lay of the bell" will be the next piece rehearsed. It will be an agreeable change to get to another composer, but for our own part we should have been better pleased to hear the "Israel in Egypt" next attempted. Another of Handel oratorios would have served as a good substratum for the lighter subjects provided by other composers.