SCOTS FOREGATHER

Evening Star, Issue 19774, 26 January 1928, Page 5

SCOTS FOREGATHER

BURNS ANNIVERSARY EMINENTLY SUCCESSFUL GATHERING “The name of Robert Burns, Scotland’s greatest and best-loved poet, is engraved on every Scottish heart,” said Mr T. Gilchrist, president of the Dunedin Burns Club, in addressing a packed house in His Majesty’s Theatre last evening, on the occasion of the celebration of the Burns anniversary. “ This fine assemblage,” continued the speaker “ proclaims the popularity of a Scotch entertainment, and the Jove of the Scotch people for their national songs and music. I take it that it also shows our regard and reverence for the poet himself. We are not ashamed of our devotion to him, we are not his sole worshippers. It is cheering to know that in every part of the world, wherever our countrymen are to be found—and where, are they not to be found?—they are commemorating with us on this day the world’s tribute to Scotland’s greatest son.”—(Applause.) The Rev. R. Robertson, of Mosgiol, delivered a brief but very interesting address on the life and works of Burns. He spoke of the environment in which the poet was brought up, and its influence upon him. Burns came of poor parents, but they must not run away with the idea that Burns was povertystricken, because ho was not. llis first lessons were from a very able schoolmaster. llis works showed that bo was not uneducated. Burns ‘was a deep student of English, French, and Latin, especially English. It was in his fifteenth year that his independent thoughts first came into being with the composition of his first poem to Kellie Kirkpatrick —‘ Handsome Noll.’ Two years later ho was sent to study mensuration and surveying. When Burns was twenty-two years of age lie wrote three poems to Peggy Alison and Mary Morrison. Three years later his father died and the poet wrote several pieces, amongst which was ‘Man was Made to Mourn.’ Soon after Burns wrote 1 Holy AViollie’s Prayer.’ Ho was not irreligious, but he was right up against hypocrisy. The following year saw tbo composition of ‘ The Cottar’s Saturday Night.’ The twenty-seventh was an eventful and productive year, ‘To a Mountain Daisy’ and ‘The Haggis ’ being written in this period. Burns was of an extremely idependent nature, and Mr Robertson said that if ho had been living to-day be doubled whether the poet would have accepted a title. Mr Robertson detailed the poems written in the succeeding years. Burns died a comparatively young man on July 21, 1796, in his thirty-seventh year. Ho was a strong man, but his father and mother both died of consumption. The selection of concert items given during the evening was indeed a happy one. These were, for the most part, unpretentious and simple, and therein lay much of their charm. Mrs Wilfred Andrews sang excellently. The restrained fervor of 4 Ye Banks and Braes ’ afforded a pleasing contrast to the stately grandeur of ‘Hail! Caledonia.’ Later Mrs Andrews was heard in ‘John Anderson, my Jo. 5 and ‘The Woo House,’ both of which were sung with depth and feeling. Remarkable fidelity in expression and diction earned Mrs Andrews a well-merited applause. Mr Ernest MTvinlay invested ‘Robert Burns,’ ‘Bonnie Woe Thing ’ and ‘ The Border Ballad ’ with rare charm and understanding. ‘ Aftou Water ’ was sung with consummate artistry. Mi MTvinlay was insistently encored, and concluded with two Hebridean songs; ‘The Road to the Isles 1 and ‘An Eriskay Love Lilt.’ The peculiar haunting cadence of Hebridean music brings out the atmosphere of their native surroundings. Mr M'Kinlay appreciated these two lovely examples of the wistful songs of the North, and sang them with the true simplicity they demanded. As a duct, ‘O, Wert Thou in the Canid Blast ’ afforded Mrs Andrews and Mr MTvinlay an ideal sotting, two very fine voices blending to a nicety. ‘ The Crookit Bawbee ’ was the encore number. Miss Valda M‘Curdy, always a pleasure to listen to, sang ‘My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose,’ sweetly and with restraint. Clarity and truencss in tone and ease in production marked this and her encore, The Auld Scotch Snugs.’ Mr W. Hilliker sang ‘Scots Wha Mac ’ and ‘Annie Laurie ’ very pleasantly. The rounded tone and richness in ibis young vocalist’s notes created a favorable impression. Several violin solos were played with charm and directness by Mr W. Lo Gal, national airs being warmly applauded. Mr J. 15. Thomson’s elocutionary numbers included ‘Tam o’ Sbauter,’ ‘Address to the Haggis,’ and were rendered simply and with sincerity. The Burns Chib Choir, conducted by Mr F. G. Cooper, sang ‘There was a Lad,’ and although weak numerically, maintained quite good balance and harmony. A

‘Reel o’ Tulloch,’ by Misses Doreen Wheeler, Libbie Hayden, Edna Fincham, and Edna Agnew added a necessary touch to the concert. The Dunedin Highland Pipe Band, under Pipe-Major J. C. Smith, played appropriate selections of national airs v Tiie accompaniments were played by Mrs Newey and Mr L. S. James. The singing of ‘ Auld Lang Sync ’ concluded an enjoyable concert.