R.S.A. CHOIR

Evening Star, Issue 19723, 25 November 1927, Page 2

R.S.A. CHOIR

IN GOOD CONCERT FORI! Since its inauguration some eight years ago the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Choir lias more than justified the confidence of its subscribers by showing consistently good concert form in choral singing. A large and distinctly appreciative audience was present in His Majesty’s Theatre last evening, when the third concert of the season was given. Under the baton of Mr John T. Leech, the choir rendered a good account or itself in a well-varied programme of part songs and concerted numbers. The singing, especially in the tenors, was at times ragged, but this was more than compensated for by the qualify of tone brought out. The basses were inclined to dominate, but on the whole the singing was wclibalnnccd and under pleasing restraint. A feature of the programme was the section devoted to sea shanties. Since they have been salvaged these fascinating songs of the sea are becoming increasingly popular. The numbers sung last evening were ‘ Fire Down Below’ (capstan shanty), ‘Boll the Cotton Down’ (capstan and halliards shanty), ‘ Storinalong ’ (halliards shanty), and ‘Boll the Wood Pile Down’ (capstan shanty), the solos being taken by Messrs S. Jeffs, H. L. Paterson, G. Anscll, and P. S. Anderson respectively. Soloists and chorus alike caught the spirit of the shanties and sang them in the true rollicking stylo necessary. A part song, ‘ Soldier Best’ (Oliver King), was a commendable effort, deeply expressive music being sung with feeling. ‘The Sword of Ferrara’ (Field Bullard) was a popular number, and was in a stirring manner. Maunder’s_ rousing ‘Border Ballad,’ an old favorite, was an admirable setting for fbo choir, and here the singers were hoard at their best. In an arrangement of ‘ln a Monastery Garden ’ (Kotelbey) an unusual and pleasing effect was obtained. The choir accompanied the soloist, Mr W. N. Satterthwaito, behind the lowered curtain with the ‘ Kyrie Eleison.’ The singing was in perfect accord, an organ and chimes lending an impressive air to the scene. The lifelike cat imitations of the members of the choir in the humorous part song, ‘Peter the Cat’ (Eastman), created a great deal of amusement. A part song, ‘Nazareth’ (Gounod), and the introit ‘The Monk’s Prayer’ (Palestrina), two sacred numbers, were also given. The choral section of the programme concluded with Edward _ German’s breezy ‘ Bolling Down to Rio.’ An encore was insisted upon in most of the concerted numbers. Miss Meda Paine was the outstanding soloist of the evening. She sang ‘An Indian Squaw Song’ (Morgan) and ‘ Waiata Poi ’ (Alfred Hill) in the first section and a bracket of songs of spring by Marlin Shaw, ‘Through Softly Falling Bain ’ and ‘ The Herald,’ with ‘Wistful’ (Newell) as an encore number later,_ Miss Paine sings with finish and artistry, and knows exactly the treatment required in her songs. Her interpretation of ‘Waiata Poi’ was notable. Mr Boss Hughes sang ‘On Wings of Song’ (Mendelssohn) pleasnntly', but with undue emphasis. On being recalled be gave ‘ I Pitch My Lonely Caravan at Night,’ and in this was beard to advantage. Mr J. M'Naughton’s ‘ Will o’ the Wisn ’ was well received. Several violoncello solos by Mr Phil Palmer contributed materially towards the enjoyment of the evening. Mr Palmer was heard in ‘Scherzo’ (Van Coens), ‘ Plainte d’amore’ (Tellier). ‘ Valse Apache’ (Van Biene), and ‘Serenade’ (Pierre). Mis playing was characterised by a depth of tonal purity, especially in the ‘ Serenade.’ Choir _ and soloists had a fine accompanist in Mr L. S. James.