HARMONIC SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 130, 29 November 1926, Page 5

HARMONIC SOCIETY

A DELIGHTFUL CONCERT.

Inspired by the best works of the most famous masters, and capably handled by its popular conductor, Mr. H. Temple White, the Wellington Harmonic Society m. the Concert Chamber on Saturday night gave.its best performance to date, and sang with real feeling and nice temperament. Many of the items could have been repeated more than onec, so happily did the society's members present the full charms of the particular work. The part-singing was exquisite—flowing, easy, and full of rhythm. It was a sure tribute from the large audience that, it insisted on numerous cneore,s, and the'spontaneous applause was sufficient testimony oE the musical appreciation that is growing in our midst. Rutland Boil'ghton was on the programme with his "Early Morn" and "Spring," two part songs that were triumphs for the singers. The first was handled with rare delicacy, and the second, with its joyousness, was expressed in tuneful "La-la's," finishing on a melodious shout of exuberance. Both had to bef repeated. Granville Bantock's madrigal, "Jack and Joan," was merry and bright; Ravenscroft's "In the Merry Spring" struck another seasonal note that was comforting in view of the prevailing atrocious weather conditions. This also had to be repeated, Rootham's little chorus, with its graceful melodies, ''The Golden Time," was extremely well sung, too. Elgar was represented by his "Evening Scene," a harmonious part-song that could have been better appreciated, for it is full of music and was treated with real sympathy. The well-known lilt of "Banks and Braes' was heard in Robertson's arrangement of "Banks of Doon,'' and Dvorak's "Blossoms, Born of -Teeming Springtime," was sung with a sparkle that made it a gem. Yilliers Standford's "Diaphenia" was popular, also the "Ay, Waukin 0" of H. S. Robertson. It was a rich programme, and the singers, with Mr. Temple White, must be congratulated 011 their superb showing. Assisting artists included Mrs. A. E. Burge, a soprano, who chose "Adelaide," perhaps not wisely, as her first song, for' Beethoven's song is more suitable for tenor or light baritone. However, there was no gainsaying the sweetness of the notes, and in response to an encore, Mrs.1 Burge delighted with "The Woodpecker." Mr. E. W. Robbins, tenor, sang Michael Head's setting of "The Sc-i Gypsy," and as a recall, ''Because," in which his final notes were a joy to hear. Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Orr had selected "I Arise from Dreams of Thee" (Yates), an old song that was sung with captivating harmony; their recall number was "Just as We Used to Be." Messrs. V. R. Ben nett, E. W. Robbins, A. Stark, and B. O. Stokes, the Harmonic Male Quartette, combined beautifully in "Lovely Night (Ch'watal), "Fishing," and "Mother-m-Law," some not without their humorous aspect. Mr. Harold Whittle at the piano was the efficient accompanist, and deserves a special meed of praise for his artistic work.