PONSONBY CHORAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9186, 16 October 1888, Page 5

PONSONBY CHORAL SOCIETY.

THIRD CONCERT OF THE SEASON. The Ponsonby Choral Society held their third concert of the season yesterday evening, at All Saints' schoolroom, before a crowded audience. The concert was under the direction of Mr. T. T. Trimnell, Mus. Baa, Oxon., the conductor of the Society. The programme consisted of Mendelssohn's "Walpurgis Night," and for the second part a selection of orchestral and vocal numbers. There was a small attendance of performing members —.seventeen I sopranos, only tour altos, ten tenors, and ! eight bassos. As will be seen, the chorus ! voices were not well-balanced, but, taking into account the forces at the disposal of the conductor, the entertainment was a pronounced success. Though there were twenty-one instrumentalists — a number somewhat disproportionate to the number of chorus voices, it is essential for the proper rendering of a work like " Walpurgis Night," which is very fully scored, that all the instruments shall as far as possible be represented, otherwise the work would have to be given with pianoforte accompaniments only, and many of its beauties would be lost. "Walpurgis Night" is written in the romantic .style so characteristic of Mendelssohn, and is one of his most prominent works, abounding in grace and delicacy, and in dramatic tire is not inferior to any of his other creations. The general scope of the work is a representation of the celebration of the Druidical rites on the first day of spring. It opens with an overture or symphony descriptive of the gloom of winter. The storms and tempests, and the soughing of the gale as it sweeps through the forest, are well represented. Gradually a strain of a brighter and more cheerful character steals through the music. Slowly returning warmth and life are depicted, until a more decided joyous element predominates, and a Druid and his people break forth into a song of thankfulness and joy, " Now, May again Breaks Winter's Chain." An aged woman of the people warns them that to proceed with the Druidical ceremonies will " Doom Us All to Death Despairing," but the priest encourages them, and a watcli is set round the glen, and tho rites proceed, unauthorised intruders being warned away by a feigning of demons. The chorus here is of great power and expression. The choice of soloists was a happy one. Mrs. Edger sang with artistic skill the dramatic and effective solo for the alto voice, " Know Ye Not a Deed so Daring." Mr. T. Jackson, who took the tenor solo allotted to the Druid, was very satisfactory, his fresh clear voice admirably suiting the music of the character. The principal soloist was Mr. C. Taylor, bass, whose full round voice and cultivated stylo had a telling effect. Though not as strong as was to be desired, the choir sang well together, and with fitting attention to the marks of expression. This was especially the case in "Come With Torches Brightly Flashing" (the four-part movement), an especially bold number, showing free treatment) on the part of the composer, and demanding considerable care. The manner in which this selection was rendered elicited loud applause. The voices in the chorus were occasionally somewhat overshadowed by the instruments, a result due ehiellyto the batl acoustic properties of the hall, and the necessity of the choir being on the platform in a recess, the sound of tho voices is thus muflled, particularly that of the voices of the tenors ;md bassos who are at the back. In the chorus, "Come With Torches" (sung by male voices, and before the sopranos and altos join in), this defect was most noticeable. One of the most enjoyable of the choruses was " Disperse, Disperse ye Uallant Men," which is spirited and graceful. The accompaniment? were played in an excellent manner by an efficient orchestra, which was nearly complete as to the various instruments. Bearing in mind the size of the chorus, and the unfortunate necessity of placing the soloists behind the instrumentalists, tho conductor judiciously decided to do without the drums and the louder brass instruments, and had to a slight extent re-scored tho instrumental accompaniments, so that the absence of these and of a second bassoon should not cause any deficiency in tho harmony. This is generally very necessary, especially in modern works ; and in this and other respects, Mr. Trimnell spares neither time nor trouble in endeavouring to present the various works performed in as complete a state as possible. The difficult overture to " Walpurgis Night," replete as it is with heavy work for violins and some of the instruments of deeper tone, was played with great skill, whilst the interlude, a gem of fanciful scoring, which immediately precedes the opening solo of the Druid, was another pleasing item. Mr. C. Hemus was the leader of the orchestra. The second part of the concert opened with the overture to " Maritana," played in Auckland, it is worthy of note, for the first time since the copyright of this brilliant work has expire:!. Tho orchestra rendered the trying selection with fine effect. There were two other instrumental selections, a madrigal, a part song, and two vocal solos. The madrigal, " Let Us Careless," by Linley, an English composer of high merit, is a very favourable specimen of "this kind of music, and is said by a competent critic to be " one of the most graceful productions of its kind.' , Tho part .song, "Night, Lovely Night," is also very tuneful and pleasing. Both were rendered in a creditable manner, and with nice attention to light and shade. Unaccompanied partsinking is a branch o. music much neglected and decried in Auckland. Because music of this character has not the sustained interest and continuity of a cantata or oratorio, it is despised and thought beneath the attention of some members who honour a Society by being members ! But that this is .i very false estimate is shown by tho fact that tho very foremost composers have written this style of music, and that Henry Leslie's choir, at one time considered the leading choral society in London, was largely occupied with its study and performance. Two movements from Cowen's "Language of Flowers" were played by the orchestra —Nos. 5 and G, " Yellow Jasmine" and " Lily of the Valley." These are always favourite airs, the former especially so ; and No. 5 was so charmingly played that ihe audience demanded a repetition. Mr. Trimnell twice bowed his acknowledgements, but all to no purpose—a portion of the selection had to be repeated. Certainly this work ranks equally with any of the "suites de ballet" produced by Robert Valkmann, Svendgen, Lumbey, or the other composers who are known for this style of composition. Music of this character is frequently played at the Melbourne Exhibition, ami will bear a further hearing in Auckland. The chaconno and rigodon from Monsigny's opera " Aline " were also rendered. These are time-honoured forms of dance music, and very pleasing. Miss Edmonds sang "Will He Come?" with taste and feeling, the effect, however, being marred by tho immoderate use of the vibrato style. "Saving the Colours" was a solo by Mr. C. Chambers, sung with power, but the phrasing was not good. The Society has now been nearly two years in existence, under the conductorship of Mr. Trimnell, who has proved himself a capable and painstaking conductor. Several works new to Auckland have been performed, all in a creditable manner, and some with signal success. To Mr. Trimnell will be accorded the thanks of the musical community for the opportunity he has J given them of acquainting themselves with J many new and beautiful compositions. The I great drawbacks in respect to the perfor- j maiices of tho Ponsonby Choral Society has been the want of a suitable hall in which to give its performances, where the choristers, soloists, and instruments can be placed in proper relative positions, so that each can be duly heard. This is not possible in the room now occupied, and it is much to be desired that the committee should make arrangements for a larger and more suitable hall. If thin can be secured, and the chorus members doubled in number, greatly increased efficiency may be looked for in the Society's performances.