HARMONIC SOCIETY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21257, 31 August 1934, Page 8

HARMONIC SOCIETY

♦ SUCCESS Fli L CONCERT WORK 01 CHRISTCIIL'ROH COMPOSER •I he second subscription concert oJ: the Christchurch Harmonic Society opened with Ralph Vaughan Williams's "Benodieite," (or soprano solo, chorus, and orchestra. It is 0110 ot the most significant. works that h;tve come [rum any modern English choral writer, and shows Vaughan William;; in his typical English vein. 7he music springs directly from the impulse of the word'-'. In performance llu- welding of tin- simple, strong melodies to the text, is compelling to hear. The strength of this music lies in its downright quality of sincerity. Chorus and orchestra, under the direction of Mr Victor Peters, readied a tine fullness of tone without any loss in quality or weakening u: any direction. The music needs tirir. handling and this it was given. For letting {he music sing for itself. Miss Joyce Wilkinson's singing of the solo part deserves praise. Her voice was especially well suited to this music. Two psalms, No. J4O and the old 124 th, arranged by Gustav Hoist, gave the choir plenty of fine counterpoint, to .sing. As with the Vaughan Williams, both these psalms gained immeasurably by the orchestral accompaniments. That to the second, supported by an often repeated phne-e from the trombone, was rich in soimd. A folk song arrangement, by Hoist. "The Song of the Blacksmith," hep' going to a kling klang accompaniment. breaking of)' on a surprising last chord. In all oi' these the choir sai k admirably, resolving the difficulties oi the niUojc. to Die confidence of the audience. A double quartet, Misses; :VJ. and F. Jennings, Key and Webb, Messrs Watson, Archer. 1 lavvker. ariri Wytmc-Yorke. sang thr. traditionai J:.j>ane»e nxjlotlic.--. .V forte, "Th>. 1 "-mp On The JiiJl." "t:ti.., T y Bloom," "On a High Hill," v.-ere- plantive, rather bare in sound. IJ\ the time the third was sung the audience was i eady to hear mere. _ Perhaps of niui:i ii>U.ri v.as the first periormance m Oinstchurch o; a work by Mr Claude Williams. M" Williams has taken Mr M. C. Keane"? verses, "The Blind Obedient Oead." and sol them Jor tenor solo uvir C. Andrews. l . chorus, end orchestra. The work is definite, well-laid-out anci constructed; movements are compact the mood set by the openmg bars is maintained in some measure or other throughout. Al a lint hearing the eliorai movements, and especially the opening one, sounded !la- ;■ fronge: I. 'I he chora) uniting m the third movement was particularly effective. As ■far as could be judged, evening's performance gave a good account of the music. At its conclusion Mr Williams warmly congratulated by the audience Rutland Houghton's "Faery Chorus, I'-Oia "The Immortal Hour," Hughes's Part Song for Male Voices, "Doctor Foster," and a soberly sung arrangement of The Blue Danube concluded the programme. Mr S. C. Andrews sang two Italian airs, the merry "La Danza" of Rossini, and Verdi "Qucsta o quella/' from liigoletto. Mr Andrews has a splendid voice, and a way of using if. that holds attention. The Rossini air was taken at a pace moderate enough to catch the detail that, a quicker tempo misses. The Verdi, and an extra, Frederick Keel's "Trade Winds'," were equally clearly and firmly sung. Mr Terence Vaughan played a group of modern pianoforte solos, "Gold Fish," by Debussy, "Minha Terra,"' by Earrozzo Netto. "Folk Tune." by Goosscns, "Funeral March for a Rich Aunt" and "Hornpipe," bv Lord Berners, and the first of Poulenc's "Mouvements Perpctuels." Mr Vaughan has a keen appreciation for this music and a good technique to see it through. The Debussy was delicately touched; so were the conventional discords which Goosscns has piled on to the old folk tune of "Sheep-shearing." The Funeral March by Lord Be rners romped happily along. Miss Blanche Atkinson accompanied the soloist, and balanced her parts to some of the choruses rightlv; Mist Norma Middleton led the orchestra. The programme will be repeated at the Radiant Hell on Saturdav evening.