WESTMINSTER ABBEY GLEE] AND CONCERT PARTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12239, 7 April 1903, Page 6

WESTMINSTER ABBEY GLEE] AND CONCERT PARTY

A SUCCESSFUL OPENING. The opening concert of' their season, given at the Opera House last night by Mr. Edward Branscombc's Westminster Abbey Glee and Concert Party created an emphatically good impression upon an , audience which filled the theatre well nigh to its capacity. There was a large representation of the local musical world .present, including the majority of themembers of the Auckland Liedertafel. It was probably anticipated .that the concert was to be of a nature somewhat out or wis ordinary ruck, though it is doubtful whether many of those present were fully prepared for the several delightful musical gems ot which the programme was comprised. JNot only was it unique, but it was also refreshing, reminiscent, and most pleasant hearing, it was a charming admixture of the old, old songs, glees, and catches of yore, with examples of the more melodious of the modern school of solo ballad. In short, a popular programme, strictly in the sense of being just what the people love. It was, moreover, rendered by artistes of high training and intelligence, who, singing conjointly in the quaint and homely part-songs of our forebears' times, revealed their rare ability in such wise as surely as though they had been heard in more ambitiousmore classicalselections. We have had epochs in the history of our music previously, and the present visit of this party of singers marks one more. They set a standard in the art of combined singing by which those who will may learn much. In introducing to us in so finished a style the lighter side of the cathedral school of unaccompanied vocalisation, t-nese artistes men and boys—have immediately popularised it, and it would not be surprising if they should have succeeded in inspiring the cult of that school. Looking back upon the concert as a whole, it will occur to the just critic to remark that one salient feature common to each individual singer, apart from the generally excellent quality of voice, was the perfection to which they have brought the art of enunciation. It was a distinct pleasure to be able to hear and understand each word of every number. The great value of training such as theirs was shown furthermore — we speak now more particularly of the partsinging—in the artistic vocal control exercised by the singers, enabling them to secure the best effects in the blending of their voices, and to pass with wonderful ease and evenness from forte into pianissimo _ singing. They thus secured in the rendering of each concerted number the requisite light and shade so invaluable in such selections. Expression was another convincing feature of their work, and where gesture could bo serviceably employed it was. used with ability and acumen. All the singers of the company shared in the enthusiastic recognition of their merits, which the audience was quick and constant in bestowing upon them, but there need be no reserve in saying that, excellent as the impression made bv the adult male vocalists was, the chief public enthusiasm fell to the lot of the four boy singers of the party. These gifted little artistes firmly established themselves as warm favourites from the outsot, their fresh young voices being a revelation and appealing irresistibly to their listeners. They sang exquisitely throughout, the liquid beauty of their sweet and musical notes being frequently in evidence, especially when they were called upon to sing in the higher register. Admirably tutored in the art of singing and of refined diction, possessed withal of really beautiful voices, these little choristers (neat garbed in Eton suits) won many a heart and were applauded to the echo. The concert was entirely.pleasurable and its success an auspicious beginning to the party's New Zealand a.nd Australian tour. The programme opened with the chorus. "Take Thy Banner" (James Coward), by the gentlemen of the glee party, Messrs. Edward Branscombe and George Pownall (tenors), Mr. Herbert Hilton (bass), and Mr. Percy Coward (alto). This received a fine artistic rendering ana was warmly applauded. The succeeding item was Sir Henry Bishop's delightful glee, " Oh, by Rivers," sung by the gentlemen of the party and the four boy choristers, Masters Leonard Hubbard. Alfred Broughton, Reginald Hyde, and Horace Marchant. The glee was given with a wealth of expression, the lilting refrain at the end of each verse being faultlessly sung and with a cheery swing. An imperative encore, followed, producing an equally enticing supplementary number in Morley's glee, "It was a Lover and His Lass." Master Leonard Hubbard then sang with quite remarkable sympathy F. H. Cowen's " The Swallows." The young artiste's exquisitely pretty voice and unostentatious style so charmed his hearers that in response to loud recalls he gave as an encore Hatton's '' The Lark Now Leaves," a solo in which he increased the favourable impression he had already made. Madame Marie Hooton, despite the fact that she was suffering from a cold, was warmly encored for her artistic rendering of a nuaint old Cumberland ballad, "The Oak and the Ash" (arranged by E. Branscombe). The singer's voice—a contralto of good, quality, admirably cultivated— was heard to advantage in this solo, which was treated both with expression and character. Her encore number, " Good Morrow, Gossip Joan," smacking as it did of ancient times, 'was also most artistically rendered, resulting in cordial applause. Mr. ■ Herbert Hilton, possessor of a musical bass voice, gave a good rending of Reeve's well-known song", " I am a Friar of Orders Grey." The quartette, "Of a' the Airts the Wind can Blow" (William Shore), was next submitted by the gentlemen of the party. Their rendering of it was excellent, the voices blending beautifully in the harmonies of the number and their inflection being sympathetic in the extreme. Mr. Percy Coward, the alto of the party, followed in Tosti's " Venetian Song." The singer's voice—admirably suited to part-sjnging— rather a severe test in this solo, and was not entirely well suited in it. An encore, however, followed, and Mr. Coward, in response, gave the solo, " All Love Can Say." Of all the concerted numbers sung during the evening, that which followed—" The Bells of St. Michael's Tower" (a glee arranged by Sir Robert Stewart from the original by William Knyvett)was undoubtedly the gem. Opening with a skilfully written and equally skilfully sung simulation of cathedral .chimes, it ran a merry course through three melodious verses. It was sung with sparkling vigour and " go," the boys' voices taking up most of the burden of the air. The item was most successful and aroused the audience to a pitch which resulted in an enthusiastic encore. ■ In response the party gave a delightful rendering of Pearsall's "When Alan-a-Dale Went a Hunting." At this stage Gounod's anthem, " Bethlehem," was interpolated, the sacred element thus introduced being intended as a recognition of the fact of it being Holy Week. The anthem served well to show the ability of the sintrers in this direction. A pretty old English madrigal, "This Pleasaunt Mont-he of Male" (William Beale), by the gentlemen of the party, opened the second part of the programme, and was much appreciated. Mr. Edward Branscombe was next heard in an old sea song (arranged by himself), " The Lowland Sea." He proved to have a tenor voice of fine quality and very musical in tone, and sang the quaint old song-story with exquisitely varied expression, his sympathetic pianissimo singing at the close making an impressive finale. Mr. Branseombe was loudly encored, and in replygave a most enjoyable rendering of Lord Henry Somerset's " Across the Blue Sea." Madame Marie Hooton was warmly encored' for an expressive delivery of Robert Crawford's old Scotch song, " Down the Burn" (arranged by E. Branseombe). She supplemented it with a remarkably good rendering of "Loch Lomond." Messrs. Coward, Pownall. and Hilton, for their humorous singing and gesture in the catch, "'Twas you. Sir" (Earl of Mornington), were vociferously recalled and repeated a verse. The boy choristers followed in Lane Wilson's bright partsong, " Gentle Spring," which they sang so well. as to earn a richly-deserved encore, in response to which they repeated a verse. A houmorous interlude was provided by Mr. Dudley Causton, who, amidst peals of irrepressible laughter, gave a musical sketch of his own entitled "The Musical Village." His various clever imitations in this caused great amusement, and he had to add another-in response to loud demands for more. The additional imitation also resulted in a recall. The glee party then save Samuel Reay's part song, "The Dawn of Day," with artistic taste. The programme concluded with the national anthem, sung by the party. The second concert will take place to-night, when an entirely new programme will be presented, the items of which are advertised in another column. The season ends with a third concert to-morrow night.