CONCERT AT GORE.

Mataura Ensign, 18 September 1906, Page 4

CONCERT AT GORE.

Th: conceit held in the Gore Town Hall last evening, under the auspices of the Congregational Choir, attracted a splendid house. Proceedings opened with the selection, "Zampa," by tile Gore Brass Hand, under Mr ('. Steans. The Methodist choir, under Mr Kawlinson, followed in a glee, "May Day," a rather simple composition which failed as a guide to tho choir's capability. Later in the evening, however, the singers were heard to better advantage in their own selected anthem to be sung at the forthcoming contest at Jnvercargill. The number chosen was the well-known "Hosannn in (he Highest." This served as a better test of the choir's abilities, and a very fair rendering was given. The selection is an admirable one for the Methodist Choir, as it abounds in many opportunities for the basses, in which the choir is particularly strong. The Congregational Choir rendered the two anthems to be sung at the contest. The test piece, "Lead, Kindly Light," received excellent treatment, the singers acquitting themselves splendidly throughout, and being perfectly in time and tune. The tenors were palpably weak, but the other parts were nicely balanced, and the solo was excellently sung by Miss Smaill. In the second anthem, "0 Taste and Seo." the choir was heard at its worst, the singers getting very much out of tune, and the number suffered in comparison with the first one. The ladv soloists were Misses Kennedy ("Daffodils"), Dewar ("Mv Ain Folk") and Landels ("Gondola Dreams"), each of whom rendered her selection most acceptably and to the evident satisfaction of (he audience. Duets were sung by .Misses Pieece and Dewar ("Nocturne") and Messrs Matheson and Gvenfell ("The Land Appears in Sight"), and these items were probablv the gems of the evening, the gentlemen having to respond to an encore. The male soloists were Messrs T?awlinson ("The Midshipmite" and "The Better Land," the latter with a violin obligate! by Mr A. Christie), A. Crawford ("Beyond"), and Chisholm ("Behold, I Stand at (he Door and Knock"), each of whom did his number full justice. Kecitations were given bv Miss V. Cook (''Not Understood") anil MrAsquith ("Trouble in the Amen Coiner"), the latter being encored. The remaining item was the humorous trio. "A Little Kami Well Tilled," by Messrs As<iuith, Grenl'ell. and Chisholm, which met with great approval and was loudly encored. Altogether tho concert was a most successful one, and was apparently enjoyed by all.