CHRISTCHURCH MUSICAL SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIX, Issue 6871, 8 March 1883, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH MUSICAL SOCIETY.

On Monday last the Committee of the Ohristohnroh Musical Society held an ordinary meeting} present—Professor Cook (in the chair), Messrs Appleby, Gotterill, Loughnan, Rowley, Rots, Seager, and Wells (conduotor.) It was resolved that the programme for the first concert of the ourrent season, to be given about the middle ol April, should consist of Gade's "The Eri-King's Daughter" and " The Anoient Mariner."

Nine performing and sixteen non-perform-ing members were duly elected. 'The programmes for the three other concerts of the season were determined on as follows, subject to such alterations aa may be found necessary from time to time:—Second concert, about the middle of August, Gounod's " Redemption" or Handel's "Theodora"; third conoert, about the middle of October, Maofarren's " May Day," and Chamber music; fourth conoert, at Christmas, Handel's " Messiah." The Secretary was instructed to make enquiries re the purchaso of a piano by deferred payments. The Secretary reported that, in reply to various communications sent by him to the Secretaries of the Nelson, Dunedin, and Timaru Societies, thirty-nine lithographed voice-parts of "The Ancient Mariner" had been received on loan from Mr Ziesler (Timaru), and a number of ohorus and band parts of "The Eri-King's Daughter" had been received on hire from the Dunedin Society. From Nelson, a reply had been received declining to lend, but since its receipt Mr Appleby had received an intimation from Captain Webb, of Nelson, that the Nelson itooiety had altered their decision, and that extra parts oC " The Ancient Mariner" would be forwarded to Ohristohuroh in time for rehearsal next week.

The solo parts for the first concert were allotted aa follows:—"Ancient Mariner"— Soprano, Miss Spensleyt alto, Miss B. B. Bowley; tenor, Mr Dixon; bass, Mr G. D. Branson. " Erl- King's Daughter " Soprani, Misses Fairhurst and Parkerson; bass, Mr Button. The Seoretary was direoted to communicate with the ladies and gentlemen selected for the various parts. * It was resolved—" That the members of the Committee present, canvass for new nonperforming members and report to the Committee at its next meeting." Ihe Seoretary stated that the number of ton-performing members on the roll is at present 98, and of performing members 106 j and submitted an estimate of receipts and expenditure for the season, from whioh it appeared that to meet the extra requirements of the season—the purobase of new mutio (the musio for three of the conoerts being entirely new to Ohristohuroh), the purohate of a piano, and tho other itemt of expenditure usually inourred by the Society -& very large increase in the number of non-perform-ing members would be requisite. Tho Seoretary alto ttated that, from enquiriet whioh he had made, ho found that the Timaru Harmonic Society numbered over 200 regular subscribers (non' performers), and tho Auckland Choral Society about 600. This concluded the business.