THE SONGS OF IRELAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22833, 18 March 1936, Page 13

THE SONGS OF IRELAND

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CONCERT The national concert held last evening to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day attracted an audience that filled the Town Hal] Concert Chamber to overflowing. Varied to suit every taste, and essentially national in its character, the programme was replete with the songs and melodies of Old Ireland, and so admirably was it presented that recalls were the rule rather than the exception. - ‘ Two particularly entertaining features were the numbers presented by the St. Joseph’s Orphanage Band and by St. Philomena’s Choir, both juvenile combinations, whose work was characterised throughout by admirable balance and precision, and reflected the utmost credit on the musical director, Mr D, Whelan. The choir’s two selections, “The Meeting of the Waters” and “She Is a Rich and Rare Land,” \frere delightfully sung, and the band, in its rendering of a pot pourri of Irish airs and another number, “ Kangaroo,” gave performances worthy of much more experienced players. Two of the members of the band —Master E. Redmond and Master G. M‘Lay—gave individual items. Master Redmond, who, despite his tender years, is a player of no mean ability, presented a cornet solo \yhich was given a flattering reception, and Master M'Lay, the possessor of a sweet and true soprano voice, charmed his hearers with his singing of “ My Wild Irish Rose ” and “ The Rose of Tralee.” v Miss Bertha Rawlinson, Miss Bridget Herlihy, Mr H. K. Poppelweil and Mr Alfred Walrasley were the vocalists, their offerings, proving so much to the taste of the audience that they all had to respond to enthusiastic recalls. Mr Larry Ford’s singing of the ever-popular “ Father O’Flynn ” was also well received, and won him a double encore. Miss Jean Hoggans, a clever young violinist, was heard in “ Londonderry Air,” her rendering of which met with an enthusiastic demand for more. Another young artist who acquitted herself with every credit was Miss Nellie Henaghan, whose recitation, a selection from “The Boree Log” was also encored. A touch of novelty was introduced by Masters Jack Miller and Keith Cameron, who gave a whirlwind exhibition of the Irish jig. Mrs A. J. Dowling, Miss A. O’Connell 1 and Mr T. Vernon Griffiths acted as accompanists.