CHRISTMAS MUSIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23370, 9 December 1937, Page 15

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

CAROLS AND ORATORIO CHORAL SOCIETY’S RECITAL A programme consisting of Christmas carols and a series of excerpts from Handel’s “ Messiah ” was presented by the Dunedin Choral Society in the Town Hall last night. Under the skilful direction of Mr Alfred Walmsley, the choir sang with all the verve and polish that characterised its more recent recitals, its treatment of the carol section of the programme being particularly attractive. There was a noticeable lack of atmosphere in the “ Messiah ” presentations, which constituted the second half of the programme, however, for although the choir and the soloists carried out their work with a considerable measure of success, the absence of the orchestral background, which plays a vital part in the successful performance of this famous oratorio, robbed the presentation of much of its character, despite the artistic and sympathetic pianoforte and organ accompaniments provided by Miss Mavis Macdonald and Dr V. E. Galway. Apart from this, the recital possessed many enjoyable features, and constituted an effective climax to the end of the society’s year. The carol portion of the entertainment was opened with a graceful and attractive presentation of “ Silver Sleigh Bells,* 1 by Cuthbert Harris, the choir singing with good fluency of expression and fine cohesion. In the old French carol, “ The Citizens of Chatres,” the choir again produced good balance and tone control, the male section of the ensemble being prominent in some resonant and vigorous work. “Poverty,” an old Welsh carol, by Dr Caradog Roberts, yras an exquisite piece of restrained part singing, and in Vaughan Williams’s “Withers" Rocking Hymn" the choir provided an artistically controlled background for the soloist,. Miss Dorothy Mackay, who sang with apEealing expression. A traditional numer, “The Holly and the Ivy,” was sung by a quartet consisting of Misses Nan Wood and Agnes Hill and Messrs E. Fish and J. Philips, with good tonal blend. “Rejoice and Be Merry,” a gallery carol arranged by Martin Shaw, was presented by the choir with lively spirit, the joyous character of the composition being admirably produced, and in “Winter’s Snow,” by R. O. Moms, a work of orthodox devotional pattern, the singers again acquitted themselves with distinct success, the solo part being capably sung by Mr Graham McKinlay. An old French melody, “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” arranged by Gustav Holst, was a work of somewhat unusual construction, the choir investing its performance with a considerable degree of authoritative shading, while the mezzo solo was attractively sung by Miss Jean HarknessThe traditional “Coventry Carol,” a work of great beauty, received thoughtful and expressive treatment, the tonal control being excellent. The most interesting composition presented during the evening was a Christmas carol written specially for the society by Miss Mary Martin. This was a finelyproportioned work of rich devotional structure, embodying excellent harmonies and some effective contrasts and climaxes. The choir’s performance was full of rich shading and colour the climaxes being handled with confidence and vigour. In response to the warmly appreciative reception it was accorded by the audience, the presentation was repeated. The concluding carol was Thomas Dunhill’s arrangement of “It Came upon the Midnight Clear,” which was given a full-toned and robust rendering, a short solo part being sung by Miss Hannah Dick. In its presentation of the various choruses selected from “ The Messiah, the choir rose to considerable heights of interpretative and executive brilliance, indicating that although smaller numerically than formerly, it has vocal resources at its command that would enable it easily to rise to the occasmn in a performance of the full oratorio. “And the Glory of the Lord, Glory to God,” “Behold the Lamb of God, “Lift up Your Heads,” and Hallelujah.” the principal choruses, were all sung with excellent depth of expressional shadings and rich tone quality, the final “Hallelujah” chorus being exceedingly well sung. The soprano solo part was sung by Miss Dorothy Mackay, whose treatment of the recitative There Were Shepherds,” and the second part of the aria “ He Shall Feed His Flock," was marked by fine vocal control and thoughtful interpretation. Miss Bertha Rawlinson, in the contralto role,, sang the arias “ O Thou That Tellest, the lovely “He Shall Feed His Flock,” and the dramatic “ He Was Despised,” with great depth of artistic shading, her rich contralto always being under perfect control. The tenor part was sung by Mr Rowland Dunbar, who sang the famous * Comfort Ye” and “Every Valley with confidence and skill, and was equally successful in “ But Thou Didst Not Leave.” Mr J. L. Tennent, a resonant bass, sang the famous arias “ But Who May Abide” “Why Do the Nations,” and “The Trumpet Shall Sound” in good style, achieving fine declamatory effect in the two latter numbers. Miss Mavis Macdonald had a fairly strenuous evening, but her pianoforte accompaniments were unfailingly accurate and sympathetic, and Dr Galway, in his organ accompaniments to several of the choruses, and such arias as “ He Shall Feed His Flock,” “He Was Despised,” and “ The Trumpet Shall Sound,” provided an artistic background for the singers.