CROMWELL.

Otago Witness, Volume 01, Issue 2123, 1 November 1894, Page 24

CROMWELL.

October 27.— The sacred cantata "Calvary" •was rendered in the Presbyterian Church "here on the evening of the 25th iusfc. Sacred music 'is not generally popular, but the audience was large, every seat being filled. The Rev. Mr Cummingpresided, and made a few introductory remark*, during which he explained the meaning of the term cantata. It was, he said, an ancient arrangement, there being one such work in Scripture— namely, canticle, which is really a cantata, but not necessarily by Solomon. After giving a sketch of the piece to be rendored he called upou the conductor, Mr ~D. W. M'Gregor, to commence proceedings. Th« vocalists, about 30 in number, were drawn from the B<tnnock> burn and Cromwell choirs, and were assisted by a number of instrumentalists. "Calvary" is a Bhort piece, but there is a good deal of variety in it. There are three orchestral movements, including the overture, and the choral parts are freely interspersed with solos, duets trios, and quartets. The music 13 attractive, and not always easy, but it had been well practised and was produced under favourable conditions. Mrs Morri*, Miss M'Gregor, and Mr W. D. Jolly sanjr. the solos, Mrs M n Gill, Miss E. Pierce, Miss M. Jolly. Miss Wushart, and Master R. Wisharfc taking tb£ other leading parts. Mibb Fricker presided at the piano throughout and Miss Wishart at the organ. There were naturally a few hitches, as was almost inevitable, but the excbllent way in which the cantata as a whole was rendered proved that great praise was due to those who had devoted themgelvos to getting it up. The cantata wab blbo rendered to a fairly good house in the Athenasum THU at Bannockburn on the evening of the lltk.