HARMONIC SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 144, 16 December 1919, Page 4

HARMONIC SOCIETY

LAST CONCERT OF SEASON.

Only the hypercritical could have found fault with the work of the Wellington Harmonic Society's concert at the Concert Chamber on Saturday evening. It was evident from the first, number rendered that Mr. H. Tempie White had his forces well in hand, and carefully drilled in the art of part singing. The choral work was performed with ease and spontaneity, . bespeaking much for conscientious work on the part of conductor and singers. It is generally conceded that English choral work is superior to that of similar foreign societies in respect to interpretation. The standard set by the Wellington Harmonic Society on Saturday was no exception to the rule,, The choir gave a careful reading of the selected numbers, paying strict attention to rhythm, expression, and enunciation. In the first number, "Hymn to Music," the voices of the members of the soociety blended beautifully, alike in sostenuto and fortissimo passages. There followed- two dainty songs by Brahms. The choir produced a fine largo volume in the colourful item, "The Lee Shore" (Coleridge Taylor), without apparent effort. "Ay Waukin' 0" (H. S. Roberton), "Matona. Lovely Maiden" (Orlando Lassus), and "An Eriskay Love Lilt" (Roberton), were three particularly sweet songs, for the most part sung pianissimo and distinctly melodious. The most popular numbers were "The Bells of St. Michael's Tower" (Stewart), and the happy and virile, "Songs of the Vikings' (Failing), both "request" numbers.' "Fly, Singing Bird" (Elgar), for the female voices, was beautifully siing, and embellished by an accompaniment of violins (Miss L. Anderson and Mr. S. Anderson) and piano (Mr. Harold Whittle). A male quartette (Messrs V. Bennett, G. M. Howe, W. Feilding, and C. W. Svensen, was an unqualified success. Its numbers were, "When Ev'ning's Twilight" (Hatton), and "0, Peaceful Night" (German). Both numbers were encored. Two beautiful melodies from Mendelssohn—(a), "Auf Flugeln dcs Gesanges," and (b) "Fruhlingslied," were sympathetically played by Mr. B. Yeates on the bassoon. His second contribution, which, according to the programme note, was a humorous item, was an attempt to describe on the bassoon the vicissitudes of a lover. It was rather cleverly done. In -a singularly strong and powerful soprano voice, Miss P. Jones sang, "Stars Love the Night" (Tito Mattei), and in response to prolonged applause, rendered "Morning" (Oloy Speaks). Miss Jones was particularly successful in her efforts at declamation and the facile execution of difficult technicalities. Her other songs were also encored. The weather was wintry, and the attendance suffered in consequence, but those present were richly rewarded for their support of an excellent concert.