FAREWELL CONCERT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14029, 28 April 1911, Page 7

FAREWELL CONCERT.

The choir of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church hit on a very happy method of farewelling their organist and choirmaster, Mr Wilfred Coulson, who is leaving for the 0!d Country early next month. Mr Conison intends to purine his musical studies at Home, and it is his intention to spend at least i three years there. The choir of St. Paul's'has the very friendliest feelings towards him. and it was considered that it would be an appropriate thing to tender him a complimentary farewell concert, the principal feature- of which would be the rejietition of Stainer's cantata, -The Laughter of Jairus." The concert was given in the church last evening, when there was a very satisfactory attendance. The interpretation of the cantata va3 on the whole an intelligent and pleasing one. Tin* choruses were nicely balanced, and there was an artistic touch of expression in the work of the choir which could not but be refreshing in these day.-, v.-hi-n so many choirs .strive after volume. The soprano recitatives were sung by Mrs W. .Toll dice Miss Chegwin), ".vhn.-o work* was most commendable. Mr Sidney Williamson sang the bass recitative.* fairly

well, and Mr Gardner was very fair j in the tenor solos. In the miseel- ! laneous part of tho concert Mrs E. ! Firth gave a very artistic interpretation ot 'He was Despised. Miss Doris Mclntyre played as a violin sclo three movements from Handel's Suite No. 1 with her accustomed grace. Mr H. S. Gardner has not the robust voice to do justice to "Sound an Alarm," and Mr Williamson hardly did himself justice in two bracketed numbers. Mr Coulson played as oripm solo, "Chanson Trieste' (Tschaikowski), "Gavotte" (Thomas), and "March for a Church Festival" (Best). Tho two first suited both tho player mid the instrument, and were capitally interpreted. Mr Coulson is to be entertained by the choir at a social gathering before his departure.