SEASONAL CAROLS

Evening Star, Issue 25047, 14 December 1943, Page 6

SEASONAL CAROLS

MALE CHOIR'S CONCERT

Carols and other seasonal music were featured on t'ne programme of tne la.it concert oi; the year or tuie Royal Dunedin Maie Onoir in the Concert Uliainber last night, ami it was one ot the most success'iul tor some time, it was tne second concert under tne new conductor, Mr W. L. Francis, and it was apparent that the choir had made notame progress under his direction. At Mr Francis's hrst concert there were some disappointing features, notably a failure of the voices to maintain true pitch, but this defect was absent from the singing last night. The choir achieved a good balance, and there were pleasing contrasts of light and shade and spine successful experiments in tone colouring.

A novel item which was*- deservedly popular was a Russian part song. ' Tnose Evening Bells,' similar in character to many of the folk tunes introduced by the Don Cossacks Choir with the body of the choir providing a wordless organ-like accompaniment to a highpitched solo voice. The choir achieved a fine sonority of sound in this item, and enhanced the effect of the tastefully sting solo by Mr Sidney Taylor. Among the carols the choir was particularly successful in Vaughan Williams's arrangement of ' An O'ld English Carol,' the subdued unaccompanied voices harmonising delightfully, especially in the middle section. The traditional, '0 Sing'of a Saviour's Birth,' was another excellent item of soft harmonisation. In more vigorous nunvbers the choir was at a disadvantage, as its strength has been considerably reduced through the absence of members on military service, but more intimate performances than usual of the rollicking ' Rolling Down to Rio ' and 'The Song of the Jolly Roger' were not without their merits in sound interpretation. A vocal quartet from the choir, consisting ot Messrs Eric Richardson, W. E. Mills, G. M Sahnond, and J. D. McKechnie, achieved some moments of good harmony in ' All in the April Evening,' but were rather lumpier in the simpler ' Fain Would 1 Die.' Mr E. G. Bond. also a choir member, sang the popular ' Wandering (he King's Highway ' and 1 Because I Were Shy,' his deep bass voice being very appropriate for the items.

Miss Alison Tyrie was the principal soloist, contributing two groups of contralto songs. Her voice has attractive qualities. Her items included ' Roam as 1 May,' ' Hush-a-bye, Baby.' and two Coleridge-Taylor songs, ' Thou Art Risen. My Beloved,' and 'Thou Hast Bewitched Me.' Misses Joy Stewart and Betty McDonald played as piano duets two vigorous pieces, ' Finnish Dance ' and ' Italy ' (Moskowski)with considerable claritv of fingering and a good body of tone. Mr A. H, Pettitt_ played the accompaniments for the choir with distinction, and Mr L. Tyrie was accompanist for Miss Tyrie.