COLUMBA CHURCH CONCERT

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 7876, 26 April 1902, Page 4

COLUMBA CHURCH CONCERT

That the public are in perfect sympathy with the object of last night's entertainment —the raisins of sufficient money to provide a pipe organ for the congregation of Columba Church—was manifested by the numerous attendance. The programme was, as advertised, composed for the most part of Caledonian Airs, to fit the audience was the ably-fulfilled task ol£ PipeMajor Jamieson who, with the aid of liis pipes, aroused all their dormant national enthusiasm. Of the sis part songs rendered by the choir all were sung witli that respect which is due to time and tune, with the exception of a few lapses on the part of the tenors who, more especially in "The Sands o' Dee," lacked that confidence which is essential to concerted music. With regard to Mrs Watson's singing nothing- need he said, except, perhaps, that that vocalist was entirely in her element —her foot was on her native health. Mr Lucas was encored for liis singing of "Mary o' Argyle," and his effort would have been still further appreciated had he attempted his solo in a lower key. 'Miss Glen -was the first essayist, of several Dew aspirants for vocal honors, and her performance last night justifies us in saying that her aspirations are extremely likely to bear fruit. The humorous duet by Miss Low and Mr Fergusson," rather different from their ordinarv run of items, was highly acceptable to tie audience, and was encored. One of the most worthy items of the evening was the Wienianwski solo, played as a recall by Mr It. J. Meldrum. while Miss Low's song ran it veiy close as an individual performance. .Miss Mackenzie sang her solo and encore as if inspired by the spirit indispensible m such songs .as "Comin' thro' the Rye" and "Within a Mile o' Edinbro." The dainty Cltttsam solo, "Croon, Croon," as sung by Miss Diehl, merited the applause which was bestowed upon it, and Mr Crombit's "Afton Water,' if marked by a little crudity of musical method, was sung with a depth of feeling, their appreciation of which the audience marked by a double redemand. A good reading on a popular programme is always a pleasant change, and Mr J. M. Brown is invariajbly wise in his selection and elocutionary efforts. His memoirs of an antecedent, Dr Brown, were highly diverting, a remark which applies also to Mr Fergusson's "Laird o' Cockpen." A vocal duet, sung well ati<l brightly, by the Misses Low and encored saw the end of the programme of <i concert the results of "which must be very gratifying to all the performers, and more especially to Mr Fergusson, to whose enersv, and resource the audience owe their enjoyment of last evening, and the organ fund an instalment which was well earned and richly deserved.