THE HARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1242, 18 September 1875, Page 10

THE HARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

The Dunedin Harmonic Society's third concert was held in the Temperance Hall on the 14th inst. There was a tolerably numerous attendance, though it was, no doubt, not &o large as it would have been had the weather been anything like fine. The Society, it may be remarked, has been unfortunate in so- far as weather s concerned, each of its concerts having been on a rainy night. With regard to last evening's performance, the overtures of the first and second parts went on the whole well, considering the number of instruments. The band evidently needs strengthening, the addition of a few other instruments would be desirable, and we would b'ke to see the flutes better up in their parts and having a little more to do. There were three glees, '* Foresters sound the cheerful horn," "As it fell upon a day," and "Beam of Light/ the last of which v,-as, in our opinion, the best given — in the two former there was a little unsteadiness observable. The choruses, which were two in number, " The Prayer," from '"Masaniello," and " Comrades in Arms," were well given— though in the latter the tenors were rathei too strong for the basses. Of the part songs, that entitled in the programme " 0 sweet and laughing valleys " went'undoubtedly better than any other item of the evening — solos excepted — the singers appearing to be perfect in their parts ; but we think we have heard it given by the Society on a former occasion under a different name. The trio, "Mary, I will wait for thee," would have gone much better if one of the ladies had not been hinging somewhat flat. A duet, "I've wandered in dreams," was passably rendered ; it would have been better appreciated had the voices been more equal — as it was, the soprano was too powerful for the tenor. As to the solos, " The Arab's farewell to his steed" was given by a gentleman who no doubt is very useful in the chorus, ,but is hardly capable of giving a solo — that is to say, properly. "Kathleen Mavourneen" was nicely sung, but we would like to see the lady who rendered it select a song more suitable for her voice. An alto song, "Home they brought her Warrior Dead," was beautifully given ; and, on being encored, " Straugers yet " was substitued by the lady, who gave these songs with ease, in good time, and with unusual distinctness of enunciation. " The Memory of the Past " was fling by one of the tenois very sweetly, and was deservedly encored. " The Lover and the Bird " was given by a lady, so far as the music was concerned, well, but the words were not to be distinguished. Last to be noticed, and we must confess least, was a bass song, " Smile on in Hope." We hope that the gentleman will at some future time be able to give a solo. Mr Morrish was conductor, and we can only say that the more we see of this gentleman wielding the baton, the better are we pleased with him. The Society is evidently very largely indebted to him for the progress it has made, and instrumentalists and vocalists seem thoroughly to understand him. The concert last evening was, on the whole, a success, and we hope that the Society will continue to go on and prosper.