MUSICAL UNION CONCERT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12966, 20 November 1907, Page 8

MUSICAL UNION CONCERT.

Though somewhat partaking of what may be called a miscellaneous character the concert of tho Musical Union last night was eminently enjoyable as whole Tho two principal factors in this result wero the splendidly artistic singing of Miss Hosi-ija Buckmann. who took tho soprano solos, and the equally artistic playing of the piano solo in the Beethoven fantasia by Miss Katie Young. Miss Buekmann's singing of tho solo in the motett "Hear My Prayer," was very fine indeed, lhere was much clarity of tone, ami the groat range of her voico enabled her to give tho high passages with much force and effect. This quality was perhaps more 'strikingly demonstrated in tho soprano solo nassages in Sir Arthur Sullivan's "Festival Te Deum." The music for theso is written exceedingly high, plenty of C's being in evidence at times, but tho range of her voice and her artistic management of it enabled -Miss Buckmann to give tho high notes very fully and clearly. It was in the soprano solo, "When Thou Took est Upon Tlieo"' that Miss Buckmann achieved her greatest success, as it afforded more opportunity for the display of her fine middle re gister. The accompaniment by the .strings and wood wind was excellently played throughout, and tho solo was enthusiastically encored. Some of the choruses in the "Te Deum" were rather wanting in cehesion. there being al times an absence of that fullness ol harmony which is necessary to give the requisite effect. At times also the orchestra played far too forte, drowning the voices instead of blending with them in furtherance of the general bcdy of tone. The horns at times were exceedingly weak and inefficient, and the tone produced was of the samp character. The best efforts of the chorus were undoubtedly "We Believe. 0 Lord. S«ve Thy People," and the fugue on the well-known hymn. "O God Our Help in Ages Past,'' which forms the finale. The orchestra in the "Te Deum" were too forte in some of the passages, but the wood wind and strings played the accompaniment in the »*- ---cond ot Miss Buekmann's solos very well indeed, and the Garrison Band wore good in the festal march movement. The organ was of too lisntet! power to be heard much or to take that part in the "Te Deum" intended by the composer. The chorus in the rantasia, though somewhat weak in ]K>ints, nas good as a whole, the varying effects being well worked out. Mr D.'.Sinclair was heard to great advantage in the clarionet solo with orchestra, wftich was civen on a former occasion successfully. Dr. Bradshav. conducted, and Mr S. R. White led.