THE LAST JUDGMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 12899, 23 August 1906, Page 5

THE LAST JUDGMENT.

The choir of All Saints' Church sang L. Spohr's 'The Last Judgment' vesterday evening, Mr Haggitt conducting, Mr W. E. Taylor assisting as organist, and the soloist;? being Miss Grant, Miss Butler, Mr Blandford, Mi* Salter, and Mr Haggitt. The preliminaries took very little time. There was a processional hymn—a good idea, serving to ally the congregation with the choir, and bring all present to a devotional frame of mind; and then the Very Rev. the Dean made a few remarks as to the nature of the composition about to be presented. Unluckily, our reporter had chosen a back seat, and on account of the coughing around him it was difficult to hear all that the rev. gentleman said. The drift of the address, however, was this: Spohr's work was not altogether an attempt to describe the Last Judgment, but rather a setting to music of several impressive ' passages of Scripture, mostly from the Book oj the Revelation. For the present title the composer wag not responsible. It was, in fact, inaccurate and somewhat misleading. Spohr's title was 'Tho Last Things.' Although not often sung in the colonies, the work was fairly well known, and it ranked with the greatest of the musical productions of a devotional character. To be properly ■appreciated it should be listened to in a i devotional spirit, and not regarded as a I concert performance. I The music then began, and for the space of about an hour and a-quarter it thoroughly interested the congregation. A detailed notice of tho rendering would bo out of place, but we may safely set it down as ;i record that the oratorio -was carefully and correctly sung. 'lhe choruses went remarkably well. It was evident at the outset, by the sure reading, tho excellent tone quality, and the tasteful heed given to the marks. of expression in ' Praise His Awful Name,' that Mr Haggitt and his choir had.studied the music diligently; the next chorus, 'Blessing, Honor, Glory, and Power,' confirmed this impression, the only drawback being that the tenors were rather prominent and" the contralto part somewhat tight; and the, rest of the work by the full choir gave great satisfaction, particularly 'Destroyed is Babylon' and 'Blest are the Departed,' the latter being sung with oxceJ lent judgment, ejxl constituting a feature of ; the programme. The eclo singing may also be commended, the various airs being safely read and marked by taste, whilst ' nothing more restful to tha ear covld ha wished for than, the quartet in 'Lord God of Heaven and Earth' When "I'h© Ltist Judgment' was announced, somo said it would prove too heavy for a church choir. All Saints' Choir have falsified this prophecy, and we may add that there have not been many better performances of this clasi , ia Bunedln, "vsrithira our recollection, J