SACRED CONCERT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3269, 23 December 1881, Page 3

SACRED CONCERT.

The sacred concert given at St, Paul's j Church last evening in aid of tbe organ fund was in no respect the success predicted. To begin with, the attendance was small; a too just appreciation of the treatment which oratorio music usually receives at the hands of amateurs no doubt keeping many away. We do not mean to say that Napier is worse in this respect than any other places having the eanie limited resources for constituting a good oratorio chorus at its disposal, but we are certainly of opinion, in common with many more, that only a very few of our Napier amateurs have yet attained to that stage of proficiency which might fit them for taking a leading part in a performance bo difficult as that attempted last evening. From one DOint of view it muet be admitted, and we make tbe admission with pleasure, that the concert as a whole was creditable, one or two of the solos being indeed excellently rendered. The chief drawback was the unhappy combination of instruments forming the orchestra. There was an entire absence of tone color, and no attention was paid to instrumentation. Had the parts been properly arranged, the effect would not ODly have been very pleasing, but the singers would have found their task a much easier one. At the same time we cannot but express regret that it was considered neceseary to supplement the organ accompaniment at all,* more especially seeing that the additional instrumento employed (piano and harmonium)

are not calculated to produce a pood effect. In short the instrumental music wa9 very monotonous throughout, not by reason of ajay fault in the players (each of whom worked hard for the success of the affair, and who are on that account worthy of praise), but owing to the cause mentioned above. Several of the singers, too, were placed at a decided disadvantage in being so arranged that their backs were to the conductor. We cannot help thinking that if Mr Aplin had paid more attention to the conductor's baton, and less to the harmonium, the result would have been much more favorable. Mrs Foster (pianist) and Mr Brown (organist) deserve special mention for the manner in which they carried out their portion of the programme. Mozart's "Twelfth Mass,",with which the concert opened, was disappointing even to some of the singers, who affirm that it went much better in rehearsal. Making all allowance for the performers being amateurs, it can only be said that the solo?, except in one or two instances, were fairly rendered. Owing to the indisposition of Mr Martin, Mr Gilpin took all the bass solos falling to that gentleman's lot, and under the circumstances succeeded very well indeed. His voice was occasionally flat, however, but this probably was due to his having to sing several unrehearsed parts on sight. Mr Hill gave good assistance in the " Macs" ; the remaining singers evidently did their best. There was a notable absence of proper volume of tone in the choruses, the sopranos beinz scarcely audible sometimes. The contralto was also very weak. The tutti movements throughout were given with indecision, and the singers were frequently out of time and tune, especially the sopranos, who were also too weak for the male voices in the quartette. Part second commenced with Mendelssohn's " March from Athalie" on the organ, piano, and harmonium. This was followed by the air " It is enough" from Mendelssohn's " Elijah." Mr Aplin, who sang this sp'endid air, was placed at some disadvantage in consequence of the accompaniment being too loud for bis voice. Tbe recitative and air, "If with all yonr hearts," by Mr Hill, was the gem of the evening, being rendered with both correctness and expression, showing that Mr Hill had perfect control over his rich tenor voice. "Agnus Dei," from Mozart's "First Mass," was given by Miss Hitchings very sweetly, although that lady appeared to be suffering from nervousness throughout. The upper notes were perhaps a little too strong in contrast with the lower ones. Mr Gilpin was in splendid voice in bis rendering of Bordese's scena, " David singing before Saul." Good attention was also paid to time and tune. In response to an encore Mr Gilpin bowed his acknowledgment. The air "He Wipes the Tear " was very well sung by Miss Reid. The piece, however, seemed scarcely suited to her voice, but tbis may be accounted for in the fact that the Ringer did not give her head sufficient elevation. Tbe same hint will apply to several of the other performers. Mr Hill sang tbe "Aye Maria" very well considering he had had so much to do during the former part of the evening. The " Hallelujah " chorus brought the concert to a close, thus terminating a fairly enjoyable entertainment.