WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17632, 8 December 1922, Page 7

WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS.

__» MB E. BRANSCOMBE'S ARRANGEMENTS. (FROM Otfß OWN COEEESPOOTENT.) LONDON, December 19. Mir Edward Bransoombt has now been fortunate in finally selecting' the soloists for his' next concert tour, and the party expects to. sail for Wellington about the end of November. The singers who are going out tlhia. time are:—Male alto, Mr Donald Eeid; tenor*, Mr E. Vizard, Mr N. Roberta, and Mr B. Branscombe; basses, Mr John Andrews and Mr Allied Cunningham; soprano boys, Edmund Walter, Albert Cooper, Hurry Collier, Leon Harper, Leslie bnow, and Ronald xnompson. The main idea, in the oonstuucuon of the programme is to bring into prominenoo the national .British music, particularly the old glees, madrigals, and ballads so seldom heard, but lound by experience, to be a never-ending source of delight, especially to audiences in the outlying portions of the Empire. A series of ninety pieoes of part-muedo has been prepared, »i----lording many complete changes of. _ programme, each one of which will contain an unaccompanied anthem or carol, as well a* numbers for boys' voices alone. Mr Branscombe tells me that the present company will be found to contain some of the finest soprano boysi' voices obtainable. It is the wonderful Cathedral choirs of Great Britain which are responsible for the excellence, of these English choristers, the high standard thus set having had its; natural effect in establishing a unique school of singing which is reflected in so many of the leading London and provincial ohuroh choirs. The salient characteristics of these small vocalists are beauty of voice, purity of expression, and unimpeachable articulation, allied, to an artless simplicity of delivery, so often lacking in artists of more mature years. All these young songsters have held positions in some of London's most famous churches, Edmund Walter and Harry Collier being ranked among the most celebrated soloists in England; whilst Albert Cooper, the most youthful of the six, bids fair to rival his older associates. The adult artists have been selected not only for their' technical vocal acquirements, but also for their intimate acquaintance with, and long experience of, the difficult art of partsinging. England contains very many distinguished singers, but few can claim to skill in negotiating the delicate subtleties of concerted vocal music, in which not only are beauty of voioe and interpretative akifi primary requisites, but also a high degree of musicianship, a qualification extremely rare with the majority of vocalists. Some Biographical Details. Mr .Donald Beid, the alto, was, as a bc% soloist at Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. Later he became organist and choirmaster at Newport Pagnell Church, and finally was appointed solo alto at St. Paul's Cathedral, London. As a conductor he has directed the North Bucks Diocesan Choral Festival, and various other choral bodies, whilst a happy fluency and skill in the art of musical composition has been turned to excellent account. Several of Mr Eeid's compositions will be included In the programme of the Westminster Glee Singers. In his youthful days Mr Ellis Vizard, tenor, was a soprano soloist at Gloucester Cathedral. : Subsequently he was leading tenor in Birmingham . Cathedral, a post which he relinquished 'to take up the more important appointment of soloist.at Christ Church, Oxford. Mr Vizard's other interests include sculling, swimming, cycling, and boxing, in all of which he has greatly distinguished himself.

The other tenor, M!r Neilson Roberts, who comes from north of the Tweed, is » fine exponent of Scottish songs. Mr Alfred Cunningham, who is already well known in Australasia for his connexion with the celebrated "Scarlet Troubadours" was, as a boy, soloist at Sheffield Cathedral where he received his musical education under the distinguished organist, Mr E Lemare. For some time he devoted himl self to grand opera; and was for four years the baritone with the famou« "Meister Glee Singera," with whom he toured Canada under Mr Branscombe's direction. After four years with tie "Scarlet Troubadours" he appeared with oonvincin'r success at many of London's best known theatres, Inrfudimr Drury Lane, the London Opera House, the Coliseum, and tho Alhambra. The other bass, Mr John Andrews, the winner of a scholarship at the Royal Collego of Music, is looked upon as one of those young singers for whom ultimate celebrity is, an assured achievement. Mt ■berts and.Mr Andrews are described u being l excellent examples of the best of the younig British singers, in whom purity and oharm of voice go hand in hand with keen artistio sensibilities of th* very highest order. The comin* tour to under the management of Mr Leo Du Chateau. •