MUSIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1188, 7 December 1894, Page 33

MUSIC.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHORAL UNION.

About the beginning of the present year a Choral Union was formed in connection with the public schools of the city. During the last two months tho children who belong to it have been rehearsing under Mr Bobt. Parker (tho conductor) and Mr Win. Mowbray (Thorndon School), with a view to a public concert, a selection from the concerted pieces they are accustomed to sing in their respective schools. The concert took place m the Opera House on Friday, and quite surpassed the antici-pations-of tho audience, which, by the way, was a large one. It jn’oved beyond a doubt the aptitude of the children and the thoroughness of the training they have received.

The arrangements were admirably carried out. They were similar to those made for the recent Musical Festival, excepting that there was no orchestra. The youngsters, who numbered between 500 and 600, were grouped tier above tier within an enclosed space upon the stage, which was lit up by nine or ton pendent electric lights. A charming grouping they presented, the girls, who were all attired in white frocks, forming three parts of a solid square, and the boys in their dark jackets being massed together in the upper right hand quarter. More than half the programme was contributed by the youthful choristers, Mr Parker conducting all the pieces excepting the opening two-part chorus and two other choral numbers, when Mr Mowbray wielded.the bilton. In tho earlier pieces tho time was occasionally somewhat faulty, but as the concert progressed the young people acquired more confidence, and on the whole acquitted themselves with signal credit, keeping well in tune, alertly following the conductor’s beat, and observing very well the changes of expression. The numbers they sang wero Macfarreu’s twopart chorus “John Gilpin”; Stainer’s rounds “The Winter Has Passed” and “ A Southerly Wind and a Cloudy Sky ” (encored); the two-part chorus “Swing Song ” by Ernst.; the round entitled “ Hunlpty-Dumpty ”; Bossini’s chorus “ The Carnovale,” (encored), arranged for treble and alto voices by Mr W. G. McNaught.; Ilullah’s rounds “ The Five Bells of Osney ” and “ Who Comes Laughing ” (encored) ; Boeckel’s two - part chorus “ Lullaby,” and Bogors’ choral march “ March Like the Victors.” The encored pieces and the “Swing Song” and “Humpty-Dumpty” are especially worthy of mention for excellent performance. Misses Stewart and Banwell furnished the piano accompaniments. The pupil teachers’ class, numbering 27 young ladies, sang with good effect the two-part song by Sharpe “ O, Golden Days of Summer.” Miss Solomon contributed two songs, viz., “When the Heart is Young” (Dudley Buck) and Ganz’s well-known “ Sing, Sweet Bird.” Tho former was the better effort, the other being marred by nervousness. The young 'lady has a clear soprano voice of good compass, and her enunciation is distinct. Mr J. Prouse sang Dibdin’s sea song; “Blow high, Blow Low,” and Santloy’s “ Son of the Ocean Isle ” with- great artistic taste and admirable expression. Miss M. Myers (piano) and Mr B. Parker (harmonium) played with very fine effect a duet arranged by Engel from Meyerbeer’s opera “ The Prophet,” and Mr Mac Duff Boyd performed in first-class style two violin solos, “ A Bomance,” by Allen and a tai’antella. The piano and harmonium were supplied by the Dresden Piano Co.