MUCH GOOD SINGING

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 213, 5 June 1931, Page 5

MUCH GOOD SINGING

Harmonic Society’s Concert SATISFYING WORK Eor its first concert of the season, given at the Town Hall Concert Chamber last evening, the Wellington Harmonic Society was heard in a really excellent and well-balanced programme. It had the assistance of Mr. Rex Harrison, a capable baritone, and Mr. Samuel McLean, a ’cellist of more than average ability’. The society’s conductor, Mr. H. Temple White, controlled the body of more than oO voices in an able way, and the choir showed in their performance many traces or his wise training. It was an altogether pleasant concert, and the audience, to be sure, letv the hall well satisfied. If a suggestion were allowed, it would be that encores to choral items should not be too numerous. The choir’s opening number was a partsong by John H. Densmore, “The Roadways,” to words by John Masefield. They made an immensely good impression in this, just as in the succeeding part-song, “It Was the Time of Roses, by Roberton, which was sung with excellent control and unanimity and led to an enthusiastic encore. Later they sang u Little Snowflake,” written by Cyril Jenkins to words by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. This was delightful writing, and the choir made a good job of it, although their grip was not as sure as in their opening numbers. The song, however, has its difficulties. “Deep River,” a spiritual arranged by W. A. Fisher, was an instantaneous success, and good music into the bargain. The principal theme is a well-known one, much used in America, and often for odd purposes, but it remained full of significance in the arranger’s hands. J.ue writing is full of skill and taste. light-hearted folk-songs, “King Arthur, arranged by Roberton, and “I m Seventeen Come Sunday,” arranged by Percy Grainger, both among the best of their kind, found admirable expression last evening, and were extremely well received. “May Comes Laughing,” a madrigal by May A. Strong, in which Myra Sawyer was soloist, began the second half of the programme. It and the part-song, A Love Symphony,” by Percy Pitt, were much to the taste of the audience, and were on the whole well sung, particularly the second. For female voices, ColeridgeTaylor’s “Encinctured with a Twine of Leaves,” which is most effectively written, found the ladies in good form. The balance was first class. Mr. E. Douglas Tayler’s part-song, “The Fairies Were Tripping,” was one of the high-lights Of the evening. It is a pleasant, lively work written to words by A. J. A. Wilson. The choir’s last number was Maunder s vigorous and impressive “Song of Thor, in which more voices would have increased what majesty the work possesses. Mr. Harrison was at his best in Sidney Homer’s dramatic song, “How’s My Boy?” Most capable baritones could produce a stirring enough version, but Mr. Harrison achieved something more. In the same bracket, Tchaikovski’s song, “To the Forest,” was given in a restrained and entirely pleasant way. Alfred Hill’s invariably popular “Waiata Maori” was the encore. In a bracket almost at the end of the programme his best performance was the solo, “It is Enough,” from “Elijah.” “Vulcan’s Song,” by Gounod, was heard in another restrained and workmanlike performance, but the singer should not attack Schubert’s “Doppelganger.” Mr. Harrison’s final encores were slight sofigs by Liza Lehmann and Salvatore Rosa. At very short notice Mr. McLean took the place of the young Palmerston North ’cellist, Miss Elvira Wycherley, who fell ill on Wednesday evening. Mr. McLeans first bracket consisted of “Hamabdil, by Granville Bantock, and a familiar bourree by Handel. His second pair of solos were “Apres un' Reye,” by Faure, and Kreisler’s arrangement of an andantino by Martini. All four are well-known solos, and Mr .McLean gave capable if not stirring performances of them. His tone, although not robust, is of particularly pleasant texture, and his right-hand technique better than that of his left. His playing was well received. Accompaniments during the evening were in the hands of Messrs. W. A. Gatheridge and Clement Howe, both of whom were in their customary good form and of great assistance to their co-performers.