HAWERA MALE CHOIR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 22 June 1927, Page 6

HAWERA MALE CHOIR.

LAST NIGHT’S CONCERT. A MARKED SUCCESS. One of the most progressive and live musical institutions of the town and district is the Male Choir, which this year entered its fifteenth season, and which has, in the course of that period, given thirty-eight concerts, each marked by a special effort to give the people the .best in .concerted music and the opportunity of charting talented artists from other centres. Last night’s concert. iait the Opera House worldly upheld the high standard set by the society in the past, and was thoroughly enjoyed* by a very large audience which showed its cordial appreciation in no* uncertain manner. The choir had the unusual di-sti;notion of being recalled on .several occasions. Perhaps the outstanding feature .of the choral work was the success secured in the iinaecoiaiipainAed numbers. They were in the main delightfully rendered, and enabled the choir to show its |>est in expression, in sole tone, land in nice balance and blend. The only thing wanting was to* have sung without music. That is an essential for good singing, and enables the performers to give all attention to secure the utmost results and also 1 to watch their conductor’s baton.

The opening number was M anscluier’.s “Freedom of Song,’’ in which good tone and expression wla® secured by the choir, the crescendo in the finale being specially good. The unaccompanied quartette in the middle of each versa was effective, the “resolving,” as it were, of the chorus into, the four-part section being effectively done. I,n the quartette the balance was not quite so good as could have been wished. The basses .are to he commended for their intelligent and good reading of the part. The singers in the quartette were Messrs J. C. Smith and McDonald (h • ore) and Morris* 'and Chadwick (basses). “Spin, Spin,” is a soft number demanding good tone and careful singing and the choir secured one of the snooesses of the evening in that lovely part song. The encore too, a Mendelssohn song “Parting”, was thoroughly enjoyable. “Old King Cole” is a rollicking jovial number that needs a feeling of abandon, especially in the first bosses, wlien they sing the ai,r to. a vocal accompaniment and there the singers hardily succeeded in letting themselves go as was needed. But the pianissimo 'accompaniment, imitating the stringed instruments wa® good . ■ Another style 'altogether, somewhat modern in expression, was t*he “Sea Fever,” in which somewhat weird 'harmonies are .introduced. The effect was certainly striking. The bass section waS excellent. . Appropriate expression and general effeot were secured in the pretty number “In the Forest’s Solemn Stillness, a work by the master Franz Albt. The choir scored a distinct success and had to repeat the number. The outstanding features of Hie unaccompanied number “O Sorrow Not ’ were the dean attack and release, combined with soft tone and excellent sustained effect and diminuendo at the finale. This was one of the best effects secured by the choir. “Song of the Dirum” was a good number, with many well executed movements. . , One of the best and most enjoyed selections was the great oliorus, with solo for tenor. “Great is Jehovah (Schubert). The words and music are inspiring and carry the .singers on to put their best effort into the magnificent harmonies and progressions Ihe solo was well sung by Mr. 0. Liaimb, and he is entitled to much praise .for his reading of a great aria. The vocal accompaniment too was very good. The work of Miss D. JOll, the society’s accompanist©, was, as always, excellent and la great asset to the* performance. In the Schubert number there was also, a pant, for the organ, and this was played by Mr. L. Rowe. The effect* of the organ was excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed by all was Hi© playing of Mr. Leon DeMauny, the talented violinist from Wellington, who contributed two numbers. _He played “Bla.llade and Polonaise” (Vieuxteimipjs), “Nocturne in El Flat” (Ghopm-Saraisafie) and “Liebesfreud” (Kreislier). In each number ihe showed a- marked appreciation of the beauties and the wonderful effects to be secured, and with master hand realised in full measure the ideas of the compoisers. He lijas a marked power of execution and excellent technique. and draws from, his instrument a full rich ringing, tone. His playing vneatly delighted everyone. In the “Ballade” he secured a fine firm tone in the “Polonaise” played with a fine abandon and freedom. The “Nocturne was a delightful number land Hie Kreisler selection, played on muted strings, was excellent. He was reoailled again and again, and added “Berceuse"’ (Jarnefeldt), the “Gavotte (Goesach), “Traumerei,” “Serenade (Drdla), and the wonderful minuet of Beethoven. His was a remarkable performance. The solo vocalist for the evening was Mrs S. Bryant, mezzo soprana, and she ’achieved a decided success. Iter first number Avlais tli-e fine song To tlito Angels” (Zardo), with cello obligato, by Mr H. Leister. The second numbei' was “Dawn” (Curran), and this also was much enjoyed. Mrs. Bryants lower and middle registers are her best, her quality of voice being rich and fun, and her oiiuncia.tdojiL is a very marked fcia'tuue of her singling. Misis I>. Job also played accompaniments for the soloists. To Hie conductor (Mr. H. O. A. Fox) i.s due much credit fo rhiis training of the choir. He had it always well under control and (inspired the members to give of their best-.

SOLOISTS ENTERT AIN EiD. After the concert the chair and friends adjourned to the Oainltan Rooms where supper was served. The president (Mr. E. Dixon) was in the chair. “The Soloists" was 'proposed by Mr. Horner, who emphasised the great pro<toks music had made in the town, and the debt owed by the .people to the choir for securing such good performers from abroad. Mr. DeMaainy gave a jfrief reply. . , ~ “The Conductor,” was given by Mr. C E'liinih, and replied to by Mr. Fox and ‘‘The Accompaniste” was proposed bv Ma*. Morris and acknowledged by Mr. MeiQuin. A marked tribute was paid by the proposer to the good work of Miss Jolh gongs weiro isung by Mc>ssns j-m'i.o Vi\my iand- A. EL Morris and a violiui solo was given by Mr. DeMaunr. . . “Amid Lang Syne” concluded an interesting gathering.

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