ST. DAVID'S DAY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17702, 2 March 1923, Page 10

ST. DAVID'S DAY.

WELSH NATIONAL CONCERT. i On St. David's Day the hearts of all loyal Welshmen—and all Welshmen are loyal turn to the ancient mountains and lovely vales of their native land. St. David's Day was celebrated .yesterday by a grand concert under the auspices- of tho Cambrian Society of Canterbury. The concert was a great success in every way, and Madame Gower Burns, who was in charge of the programme, is to he complimented upon it There was only one fault to be found with the arrangements—the encores were too many and they drew out the programme just a trifle top long. However, the tribute ■to the artists was well deserved, and as the festival comes only once a year, one can forgive their good-natured compliance with the insistent demands of the audience. The concert opened with the sburtai; of God- Bless the Prince of Wales," Tho soloistsl wore Madame Gower Buns and Mr 1. G. Rogers. The Btirring song was a fitting opening for the festival. Air T Cr. Rogers sang in Welsh, "Oh, that Sum I mcr Smiled for Aye" (Davies). He was m- excellent voice, and his enunciation was very distinct. He Bang as an encore, "A Farewell," and brought out all the meaning of Kingsley's well-known words. Miss Nancy Bowden's rich voice was heard to great advantage in two songs, "All Through the Night" and "Beloved, It is Morn " A Violin solo by Mr Albert G. Morgan was enthusiastically received, Madame Gower Burns sang "The Rising of tho Lark" an old Welsh air, in charming manner, and this was followed by n rendering of the song "I am Dreaming of the Mountains," which fairly took the audionce by storm. It was a romorlcabiy fine performance. Mr Wilfrid Scott's baritone voice was wellsuited to the song, "Because God Made Theo Mine," and the oncoro ho received was well-deserved. The Ghristchurch Lyric Four—Mesira S, J, Morgan, H, Blakeley K, More, and E, J, Johnson—song "DeaLand ef Our Fathers" in fine style, and found it difficult to cope with the demands ef the audience fer more. The Welsh Chelr opened the second part of the programme with tho part-song, "y Delyn Aur," Madame Gower Burns sanj several songs, and delighted the audience with each. Particularly appropriate was a "Cradle Seng," said to be composed from the orooning of tho nurse of the original Prince ef Wales, The uong carried one back over Bix or seven centuries to tho day when stern Edward of England presented his infant eon to the Weiih pepole, and proclaimed him their prince, The ether itenis et the second part were of a uniformly h'lgli standard, and they were nil well received, The oonoert concluded with the singing ef "Men ef Hfirieeh," the Wolsh National Anthem, and "God Save the King,'' The feed attendance, the fine programme, and the vivid splashes of colour provided by the national costume* worn by the choir, made the festival a picturesque and memorable ene. \