NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 21 July 1923, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

This is proving a vary interesting

and useful year in the musical world of Havvera. The work done speaks well for the- enterprise and god management' of the societies, and bxls fair tor the future. It snows good progress, and must have a,.real educational influence. The impression created on the mind, of the .receptive and appreciative listener | when music of any kind is interpreted ; as well as it can be done, and with an "J intelligent appreciation of the mind of the composer, reives a feeling of satis- ' faction aiid creates ?. genuine pleasure, . while an indifferent rendering irritates, and leaves a feeling of dissatisfaction ; that "reacts upon both. Therefore it is [ that every member of a society should ' make a personal study of the work he ' is doing. If each does that it will be a tremendous help to the conductor, and will go a long way towards a perfect ■performance. Actually ii> no other way can real success be achievjed. ■ Good progress continues to be made with the "Geisha," and the public and honorary .members of the society may •look forward to a great musical t.'reat.- i I The work of practice for Gounoud's "Faust" has been taken up with keen enthusiasm, and already good progress is reported. The society can, however, do with many more voices in all parts, , and the conductor will be glad to meet any who wish to take part. ■ As a (reciprocal action to the visit of the Wellington Choral "Union to Hawera, the latter body have now extended a very cordial welcome to Hawera to visit, in conjunction with New Plymouth and Stratford, Wellington, and join with them in a production of the Messiah on December 15. As the secretary, Mr Caldow, lias to make arrangements well ahead, he would be

| gJad to know at once what ladies and gentlemen can make the trip. In view of this, ail members are asked to advise I\±r Liddington before Monday wliether they wish to be included. jViembtjrs will arrive k\ Wellington on December 14 and return on Monday, 17th. Wellington pays half fares and arranges for the entertainment . and billeting during *their stay. The move is one that snould anpeai to <iii members; of musical societies in Hawera. j It will be learnt with regret by lovers of male voice iskiging that Hamilton M»le Choir have decided to disband. The decision has been arrived at after much thought and discussion. During the course of the meeting at which, it was decided to disband, Mr Norman said that the downfall, of the society was that it had been too easy in allowing in anyone who eared to come along. The harden: the choir shut the door against respective members the higher would be tiie estimation placed upon it by singers. In similar societies in the Old Country there were waiting lists, aaid singers regarded it as an honour to be members. In referring to the apathy shown by a great, number of members, Mr Hare paid & tribute to the work of the conductor, whose enthusiasm, he stated, had been iarge.y resp»nsible for the choir having kept together so long. (Applause). Another speaker was of the opinion that a society that had done such a g-reaij deal for the town as had the Male Choir should not go out.of being altogether, especially in view of the sound financial condition of the organisation. . The speaker thought that if the choir wished to disband they should form a new society immediately, and put out all useless members. ; Referring to the lack of appreciation shown by the Hamilton public in the affairs of the society, Mr Norman said tha<t in Wanganui there were 340 subscribing members, while in Hamilton, a town with a population of about 15,000, there was not a single one.

The Male Choirs of the Dominion have entered into a joint engagement with Miss Ethel Osborne, of Sydney, to sing at a succession of concerts in New

Zealand, and in this connection Miss Osbome will appear with the New Plymouth Male Choir at the next concert. ' Miss Osborne is a soprano singer, and is highly recommended by Mr. Roland Foster, of the, New South Wales State gQßsgrvatQ-rium. ; Hie announcement by the New Ply-' mouth Choral Society of their forthcoming concert, at which Balfe's "Bo-1 hemian Giri" will be produced, will no doubt meet with popular favour. It, is niany years since the opera was sung there, and its revival will be very welcome. A good cast of soloists has been secured for the principal rotes, including Mr. Edwin Dennis (tanor), of Hamilton, who will be new to local concert-goers. I

Much fine choral singing enabled the Sydney Madrigal Society at a recent concert to introduce "O Mistress Mine" as set in Shakespeare's own day by Byrd, the tri-oentary of whoso death is being celebrated in London this year. In music of touching beauty in its harmonies this old-time composer reveals several haunting devices, as where an ascending passage for the basses is continued up by the tenors to altitudes inaccessible to those poor earth-worms to whom lark-like soarings are forbidden.