THE AMATEUR CONCERT.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 125, 11 July 1868, Page 3

THE AMATEUR CONCERT.

Never before, since it has been our duty to chronicle passing events in Blenheim, have we had to report so successful an issue to any undertaking, musical or otherwise, as the performance given on Tuesday evening last in the Provincial Hall. The object in view being so worthy, added to the curiosity which always pervades a community where the names of the performers are kept secret till the last moment, we fully anticipated a full house ; but considering the state of the roads, the prevalence of sickness and bad weather, and the difficulty of concentrating any musical talent, which may hitherto have been latent, the task of undertaking this concert must have been anything but enviable, and we little expected to find that the largest room in the Province was too small to accommodate the audience, an event which, we believe, never occurred before. In the arrangements it was quite evident that neither individual expense or personal sacrifice in aid of the cause was wanting, for upon the platform we noticed not only those whose homes rendered access easy, but also those who had a considerable distance to travel, not only on the night of the performance, but to attend the previous practices, which were absolutely necessary to ensure success.

With an exemplary punctuality the choir took their places on the platform. Mr. G. Henderson as conductor, occupied a central position, while Mrs. Rutland chiefly presided at the pianoforte, Tffd KpfiMMgTpiece'was"thr "famous ' old glee by Spofforth, “ Hail Smiling Morn !” given by the whole company, with a precision which evidently took the audience with surprise, and was not excelled during the evening. This was succeeded by a Scotch song, “ Whistle, and I’ll Come to Thee My Lad,” sung effectively by Mr. Falconer, and deservedly encored, when was given with very good taste, “For the sake of Somebody.” An instrumental duet was given most ably by Mrs. Rutland on the pianoforte, with Mr. Wyvill on the violincello, and the truly great reputation of both the parties was maintained, and very properly received an encore. “,Oh, Gently Breathe,” was sung as a solo by Mrs. Kissling, whose fame as a sweet songstress had somehow preceded her, and was completely justified by her performance. The chorus was very well rendered by the choir, and had a very pleasing effect. This song was rapturously applauded, and received an encore. Following this was a duet, “The Happy Hunter,” sung very sweetly by the M isses’Budge. Mr. Mears’ song, “ Come Home, Father,” was well given, and brought down a deserved encore. Possessed naturally of a fine powerful voice, he did ample justice to one of Clay’s finest productions. The powers of a good instrument were fully tested in Mrs. Rutland’s fantasia on the pianoforte; and ft'is needless TO ’say'that the piece chosen by her, “The Blue Bells of Scotland,” pleased all present. The fine old English glee, “ Dame Durden,” was delightfully rendered by the choir. A solo, “The Bridge,” by Mrs. Kissling, again met with an encore. Of this lady’s performance we cannot speak too highly, and her appearance on each occasion was the signal for applause. “ Here in Cool Grot,” another of the good old part-songs, brought the first part of the programme to a close.. After a brief interval, we were favoured with an instrumental duet, in which Mr. Wyvill again gave us a treat by his masterly performance on the violincello. “ The Brook,” sung very effectively by Mrs. Kissling, was accompanied by Mrs. Muller at the pianoforte, whose simulation of the course of the brook, and the dropping of the water, elicited deserved applause, and received an encore. A catch, “Mr. Speaker,” by Messrs. A. M'Laughlan, Falconer, and Cock, was delightfully absurd by reason of the discord, and the ‘ * Dundreary ism ” of one of the performers; this also was encored. A solo, “Twinkling Stars,” by Mr. Henderson, was sung well, and with attention to the music, but evidently the performer was suffering from a severe cold; the chorus was sustained by the company. A fantasia, “Home, Sweet Home,” upon the pianoforte by Mr. Griffiths, showed that gentleman was an adept. A comic song, “ Yankee Drum,” showed Mr. Mears’ humorous powers to perfection, and the improvised portion “brought down the house.” “I’ve wandered in dreams,” a duet in which Mrs. Kissling and Mr. Carey took part, was followed by a quartette, ‘ ‘ Sleep, G entle Lady,” by the company ; and the National Anthem, in which the audience joined upstanding, brought a very enjoyable performance to a close. The proceeds of the evening are estimated at about £45, and we arc authorised by the gentle-

men who managed the business, to return thanks to the public for the large measure of patronage "iven them on this occasion. We have heard some suggestions thrown out that ic would he desirable to get up a second concert in the course of a couple of mouths, in aid of another local object of benevolence, and we are led to believe that if certain fair ladies will but consent, tue others are quite willing to go on with the project. We trust that this slight difficulty will be removed, and ihe benevolent feeling thus evoked will be carried out with the same spirit and energy as the present one.