SACRED CONCERT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5554, 4 December 1879, Page 3

SACRED CONCERT.

The second sacred concert at St. Paul's Church came off last. eyening, and proved even, more successful than the first one. Tho_ church was well filled, and the audience were highly appreciative. Tho concert went very well on the whole, those who took part in it doing -their best to make it a success, but unfortunately one or two of 'the gentlenieu who wove to have sung were unablo to sustain the pYirts allotted to them.

■The programme avus commenced, with 'Haydn's ' oratorio " The Creation," MY Apiin playing on the organ, in brilliant style, tho introduction, '"Representation <* Chaos.". > Tlie chorus, " And the Spirit 1 of God," was given with great tasto by; the. choristers, conducted and accompanied by Mr Aplin. The solo part in " The Marvellous Work " was sung very

by Mrs Bogg, the chorus. coming in very effectively. Mr .Bout's- recitativo "And God said : Let the' Waters," and the air " Rolling in Foaming Billows," by the 6amo gentleman, were both , well sung. The recitative " And God said : Lot the Earth," and the air " With ; - Verduro Clad " were rendered with great taste by Mrs Begg, the accompaniment being excellently played by Miss Eegg. Mr Stacey's recitative went off very well, as also did the trio and chorus "The Heavens- are Tolling/ the trio being taken by Miss Hitchings, Mr Stacey and Dr. '. Hitchings. The beautiful air, , "On Mighty Pens," was very well sung by Miss Hitchings. "How Heaven in fullest glory," by Mr Aplin, was given with power and tasto. Mr Morgon's recitaturo and air was very well received. A trio by Mrs Bogg, Messrs Edwards, and Aplin went very pleasingly. The first part con,eluded with the chorus " Achieved is the Glorious work."

Before the commencement of Handel's oratorio "The Messiah," Mr Flood played a piece on the organ, which we need hardly say was well appreciated by the audience. Mr Edwards sang the air. "Every valley shall be exalted' Avith good judgment and effeefc. The first chorus "And the Glory of the Lord" was excellently given ; in fact, with the exception of the concluding chonis, it was the best that was sung. Mr Aplin sang the air "But who may abide" with very good tasto, and Miss Martin's solo " 6 thou that tellest good tidings " was very richly sung, but the chorus would have gone better had there been a few more treble voices. The same deficiency was noticeable in the chorus " Unto us a Child is born," but otherwise it went very well. A recitative and the air " He shall feed his flock," were taken by Miss Martin and received justice at her hands. Miss Hitchings took Miss Kennedy's place in the solo " Come unto Him all ye that labor." and she sang it very sweetly. Miss Martin made a capital substitute in the absence of Mr Carter in the air "He was despised and rejected." Miss Eaven sang, "But thou did not leave," and rendered it very well. The chorus " He trusted in God " was not as well given as ifc might have been, but the " Hallelujah " went better. Mrs Begg sang the last solo, " How beautifui^are the feet," and received hearty applause. The last chorus'" Worthy is the Lamb," was very good, and considering that it was not sung at the previous concert, the singers deserve commendation for the excellent rendering given to it. Mr Rose, for some unaccountable reason, omitted his solo, which made rather a gap in the programme, but, as he did not appriso the conductor of his intention in time it was impossible to obtain a singer to take his place.