NATIONAL SONGS,

Grey River Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 3278, 18 February 1879, Page 2

NATIONAL SONGS,

The lecture on " The National .Songs of England, Ireland, and Scotland," delivered by the Rev. W. H. Root, in the Public Hall last night, was well attended,

the room being comfortably filled. Mr F. Hamilton was in the chair, and introduced the lecturer to the audience. The Rev. Mr Root, speaking of concerts, said that they had been known to be practised on the Continent as far back as three or four generations ; but it wa3 only in the middle of the last century that they were introduced into England, and detailed in an amusing way, the places in which they were held and the manner in which they were conducted, drawing comparisons between the concerts of that period and those of the pr esent day. The lecturer, in speaking of English ballads, regretted that there were so few — that although Englishmen could boast of Shakespeare, Byron. Milton, and .others, they had left few real national aong s to sing, and that even two out of the th ree songs on the programme were by Scotchmen, viz. — "Rule Britannia," and " God Save the Queen." After a iew remarks on the origin of the song Mr Ja\nea sung with much spirit and effect "'The British Grenadiers." The next song on the programme being "The Mistletoe Bough, 5 ' the reverend lecturer gave its history and origin, relating that the bride who said " she was weary of dancing " must have been a Continental — she could certainly not have been a Colonial, as no Colonial girl was ever kn own to admit to be weary of that exercise. Miss Moller sung "The Mistletoe Bough " very nicely. The lecturer said that they had to thank Charles Dibdin for most of the spirit-stirring naval songs of England, and aa showing the power warlike songs had over the people, instanced a great battle that had been won by the French over the Austrians, owing to their commander starting the soul inspiring- strains of the Maraellaise. In introducing the song of "The Death of Nelson," he gave a racy and interesting account of Napoleon, and 'his orders *o sweep the British fleet out of the sea, ? .. | also the result of the sweepiug at 1 - I falgar. While detailing the bravery avi j patriotism of Nelson, and his last ho- a ] with- Captain Hardy, the lecturer carr> • • ; with him the sympathies and feelings f ' the andience. After describing the

funeral of this great man, who had a nation of mourners, and whose first am] last words on that memorable day were — "England expects every man this dr.y to do hia duty," the lecturer catted on Me Warner, who sang in his uaual good style "The Death of Nelson," which was doservedly encored, The lecturer prefaced j his remarks on the sou?, " Rale Britannia," by saying that it was cooiposed by Dr Thomson, a Scotchman, but that nevertheless Englishmen vrere grateful for the crumbs that fell their way. However, if .it was written by a Scotchman, it was last night well-, sung by an Englishman, Mr Warner, and the chorus given with spirit by the amateur vocalists. The reverend lecturer then turned his attention to Irishmen and Irish songs, paying a high tribute of praise to the poets of that country. He regretted that only two songs appeared on the programme, but it was not from any lack of beautiful Irish national songs, but from the fact of not being able to get ladies or gentlemen to come forward to sing. The beautiful Irish ballad, " The Last Rose of Summer," sung by Miss Badger, wa3 one of the gems of the evening, and was well appreciated by the audience, who warmly encored the singer. The lecturer then gave the supposed history of the harp, and introduced Miss Moller, who sang "The Harp that once through Tara's Hall" in a manner. that brought rounds of applause. The next on the programme was was "The March of the Men of flarlech" (Welsh harp) by Mr Morgan, but, owing to unavoidable circumstances, he was unable to be present. This was to be regretted, as those present were denied a real treat. The lecturer then passed on to speak of Scotland's songs and ballads, and spoke in glowing terms of the good Burns had done in uuiting and cementing ihe Scottish nation, and also spreading the beautiful Doric all over the world. . After the lecturer had given the history of the following song, he introduced Miss Bachelor, who sang with taste and sweetness "Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonny Doon," which was encored. The next song, "Roy's Wife of Afdivalloch," was well rendered by Mr W. Hamilton ; and the spirit and mirth that spread over his countenance while singing showed that he was a thorough Scotchman, and rather seemed to enjoy the sentiment of the song. "Coming Through the Rye," the lecturer said, was not as it had beeu originally written. He could not say what was the reason for its being manipulated, unless it was on the same principles of mock modesty that prevailed in a certain place on the West Coast, where the reciting of " Tarn o' Shanter " was cried down. Miss Badger was entrusted with " Coming Through the Rye," and sang it very nicely. Mr Robert Shaw sung with great taste and feeling " Afton Water." The lecturer gave the history of Graham of Claverhouse — Bonnie Dundee — describing him as a bad man, who tortured women and children, and that instead of being beloved by the people he crawled out of Edinburgh for fear of his life. Mr W. Hamilton sang the songs "Bonnie Dundee" and " Auld Lang Syne,' and he rendered them with spch force and feeling as to cause the greater paitof the audience to join in the chorus. This brought the lecture and concert to a close, and we may say that a more instructive, interesting, and humorous entertainment has rarely been given in Greymouth. The Rev. Mr Root thanked the amateurs who had kindly given their assistance, and the audience who had given their patronage in aid of the funds of the Church.