NAPIER MUSICAL SOCIETY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3805, 25 September 1883, Page 3

NAPIER MUSICAL SOCIETY.

As tho interest taken in this .society is very considerable, judging from the number* of applications for tickets already received, no doubt many of our readers will bo pleased to have .some idea of the working thereof. The first practice took place on the 18th July last, when the roll consisted of 26 sopranos, 20 altos, 17 tenors, and 24 basses, with a tolerably well balanced orchestra of 10 instruments. These numbers have been considerably augmented since then. Romberg's celebrated work "The Lay of the Bell " was then taken in hand. It was certainly an ambitious commencement for tho society, as the music is much heavier than the usual run of cantatas, one or two of tho choruses being exceptionally difficult, both for the vocalists and instrumentalists, suffice it to say, however, that under the able conductorship of Mr G. J. Browne the intricacies of the music have been very successfully overcome. The average attendance at the practices has ben about sixty, which, considering that two or three of the meetings came in the very wet weather that prevailed about the end of July and the beginning of last month, is highly satisfactory. Some of our vocalists have, we hear, been holding bade from tho present practices, waiting to see the result of the first performance. This is to bo regretted, but from -what we have hoard of tho weekly practices of the present members these people of retiring dispositions will have no reason to remain in the back ground. The first concert, we understand, is to take place in the Theatre on Tuesday, the lGtli October, tho engagement of the room preventing an earlier appearance. It is the intention of tho society to give four concerts in the year, to comprise the following works, "Tho Lay of tho Bell," "Tho Messiah," "Tho Holy City," and another work to bo selected. "The Messiah" will be taken up immediately after the forthcoming concert, and will be produced about Christmas time. The music of " The Holy City " is expected to arrive by the New Zealand Shipping Company's November steamer, it having becin specially ordered from Messrs Novollo, Ewer and Co. Of this work we shall speak more fully hereafter, it having been specially composed for and performed at the last Birmingham Musical Festival. It emanates from tho pen of Mr Alfred Gaul, an English composer of tho highest merit. The committee and members arc certainly sparingno pains to make this society one of the first in tho colony, and it is to be hoped that support in the shape of honorary member's subscriptions will continue to ilow in freely, as the working expenses of such a society aro always very heavy the first year.