HARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 21, 24 January 1877, Page 2

HARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

The performance last night by the Society of the greater part of "The Messiah," at- ] tracted a large audience at the Provincial ! Hall, and was attentively listened to until the somewhat later hour tban usual at which the concert concluded. The performers' benches were well filled, and their work on the whole must be pronounced a success. Great care and labor had evidently been bestowed upon the rehearsals, and the choruses went with much spirit and precision throughout, wifch one or two exceptions, when, as ifc appeared rather from over anxiety, the . parts went somewhat astray. For an excuse it must be remembered that' but few of the old members to whom " The Messiah " was once so familiar now remain, that the music is exceedingly difljculfc, and that without the aid of a band it is almost impossible to get

-|hrouglKiftr^rqperly. x For onr,own.p»rt we question fche wisdom of. attempting to pro-A--ducb a work in which wind and stringed ixi\ str omenta f onh so essential a part,: and are surprised that . greater; efforts'are not made i > by !thB v Scciety to 'get togethei! at. least <a small band, •the;mafceii^ls^for^Mch, jvre arbf cbafident, exist in the place. The solos were .. r well and carefully sung; these, also are difficult, and always try to the utmost fche * powers of our amateurs. The ladies last night undoubtedly won the palm, among the I most successful,- perhaps, being the young lady who made her debut as a soloist in , the mr'-O thou that tellest," whose fine vbice* and careful and correct singing will, we .-hop-e,.gft£n be heard, in future. The florid andmost difficult im' u -Uej6ice-f^^lf*^maT giveu with great spirit and flexibility of voice, and the beautiful ah? «« He was despised" was most tastefully rendered by au -old-favorite whom wo are always -pleased- to * see on the benches. "But thou didst not leave " was one of the solos worthy of snecial mention, suqg^as-.it was * with exquisitesweetness, jmd. with a depth: of feeling that, spoke volumes, for the taste of thf* young lady towho-m.ifc was entrusted. "He shall feed bis "flock?' was taken by two sister debutantes, |:of :j whom thb younger seemed scarcely equal'to her task; the «lder, however, sang cotrectlyi- and shewed that she had a powerful voice when* 'fie-!-: first nervousuesiTwore ; off. Ifc lacked, however, sympathy, without: which? _o performer, howaver correctly he'-or she may sing, can' ever be really successful. - Tlus was njOßthe'.; case \fifch the yonng lady whojsang the ..principal, soprano ah?.,**,? I know that my Redeemer/! afnd afforded, we are sure, a treat; to all who heard her. * The solos for male voices are" even ***-ore out pf the reach of amateurs, and but f-j*,v were 'attempted limbngstifchese.; however we were glad*to hear again *?Tnh' *Erumjiefc shall soijnd/^ yery l well sung by thb. gentfejnan,tq;whom ifc seems fco belong, here, the Trampe&rbbhgato being most, efficiently giveciVr Thf! j 1 *! Hallelujah : Chorus* " was very j ipiriiedly rendered, and appeared to meet; | with the f disapprobation bf fche audience, as mdals9fchß ( ;!g>and*:chonis "W-Mthyis the I Lamb,- , * > which" b*^aghti*^acioWaco_cer6. that^-wider. the circumstances, may ba said to h^avie passed bfi! succeasf ully.,„ At ttia* samei .. .fame .it brought: out some cf the ] weak points'of fclie .Society, and; the weakest of these* is, a*£w"e have; said before, the absence of an orchestra. We hope,- 1 however, to see this remedied, at all events before the time comes round again for -too ■ performance bf that noblest of oratorios*" The Messiah." " c,: '*'