WESLEYAN CHURCH CONCERT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3171, 1 June 1883, Page 2

WESLEYAN CHURCH CONCERT.

The Wesleyans of Timaru it must be owned have done a great deal to enliven our dreary winter seasons with the excellent entertainments they have proyided during the past year or two. The opening concert of this season was given last night in the school-room, Bank street. The audience was numerous and very appreciative ; and the programme was a most rcchcrchc one. There were three glees in the first part and two in the second, rendered by the choir. They were all sung with correctness and taste, but they lacked the crispn\sa which is indispensible in glees. A little practice under a sharp irritable conductor would soon work a change. Mr Warrington gave “Will o’ the Wisp” effec-

lively. “ I cannot mind my wheel, mother,” brings up before us the vision of Eosina Uarandina (who that has heard her sing that plaintive song will ever forget it ?), Miss Wilson sang it very sweetly indeed. Miss Warrington’s “ Captive Greek Girl ” was tastefully sung. Mr Foley being absent through indisposition his. place was filled by Messrs Gilchrist, Howies and Foster, who gave the trio ‘‘You Gentlemen of England.’ Mr Fostersang “The Gauntlet” but it was deficient in enunciation and expression. He altogether failed in this song to do himself justice. Miss Foster’s fine voice was heard to great advantage in the “ Skipper and his Boy ” which she rendered with great distinctness of enunciation and much feeling. This young lady only wants training to make her a very effective singer. Miss Haigh sang 11 The Camelia and the Rose” fairly well, but she was evidently laboring under some disadvantage—a cold, probably—which prevented her for some time from displaying the quality of her voice and the excellence of her training. Miss Haigh’s singing is always worth hearing, and it is far too seldom heard. Mrs Waters contributed two songs, “I’m Watching O’er Thee ” and “ Tell Her I Love Her So,” and two exquisite proverb songs. This lady’s singing grows upon an audience. It is entirely free from meretriciousness. It is genuine artistic singing, and the more one knows of music, the more fully one must admire it, as the result of high culture and an excellent gift. Miss Bezzant played a pianoforte solo from “Martha” with taste and expression. We should like to hear this young lady’s performances on a better instrument. Mr Gilchrist sang “The Sea is England’s Glory,” with much acceptance. Mr Gilchrist is a most attractive and inspiriting singer. Miss Ball played Thalberg’s “Home, Sweet Home.” This splendid piece of music demands a first-class instrument or none. We should be sorry to say anything disrespectful of the instrument used last night, and shall therefore confine all our praise to the player, for Miss Ball’s instrumentalism is always appreciated. The same young lady also played the accompaniments throughout. Mr Tiece gave a recitation, “Shamus O’Brien.” This well-known piece taxes the powers of the best reciter, for it requires a good deal of self-possession and versatility. Long-as it was, it evoked a rapturous encore, to which Mr Tiece responded with a very hutnerous piece. Those who heard this gentleman last night will look forward to In's next appearance. The concert was over at about 10,20, and everyone went away thoroughly satisfied with the excellent evening’s entertainment.