Musical.

Southern Cross, Volume 10, Issue 17, 26 July 1902, Page 7

Musical.

THE PIPERS’ ASSOCIATION. [Contributed.] It is without a tendency to undue self-satisfaction that our local branch of the Pipers’ Association of N. Z. may congratulate itself on the success attendant to its third social and dance on the 18th inst. To begin with, the function was presided over by one who did not deluge us with a flood of unnecessary chairman's remarks—by one who knew how to say apt things, put each and every one into a happy frame of mind, and so pave the way for coming events. Next, there was a “ dandy ” house, for Ashley’s Hall was packed with an appreciative and responsive audience, and last but not least, an evening’s entertainment teeming with gems of Scottish descent that went with a hum and with a swing from start to finish. It would be impossible to individualise each item, for there were no less than twenty-seven of them, to say nothing of the encores which were insisted upon. The programme opened with a selection of Scotch airs by an orchestra of six gentlemen, with Mrs Blue at the piano, and then for the most part the remainder of the instrumental numbers was either marches or strathspeys on the pipes, played to the subdued and measured tread of an audience’s feet. Two other masterpieces of instrumentation may not pass without at least brief notice. The one was Mr W. Ferguson’s violin solo to Mr John McKinnon’s pianoforte accompaniment, and seldom has it been our privilege to hear “ Auld Robin Gray ” receive such delicate and sympathetic treatment as it did at the hands of the gentlemen just named. The other piece of brilliant execution was on the cornet. We have only to mention the instrument and our readers will conclude instantly, and rightly, too, that the performer was none other than Mr J. W. Glennie. For his first contribution Mr Glennie chose “ The bloom is on the rye.” The particular setting was prolific in cadenza arid embellishment, and lent itself admirably to testing our artist’s ability. Hater on he favoured us with “ Will ye no come back again.” Pipers Duncan and Bruce took turn about in providing the music for the Scotch dances. One little boy quite brought down the bouse with his Thug, plus the fancy touches he introduced. We felt admiration for the four braw Soots who undertook to share that gigantic platform of Ashley’s Hall with members of the executive, to say nothing of piano chairs and various odds and ends, and still with credit to themselves and their country, perform the figure eight and go through the steps and movements of the Highland reel. It required as careful steering as does the twelve thousand tons liner of the Norddeutscher Lloyd as she wends her way through the tortuous waters of the Suez. Three ladies delighted the audience with vocal music. Mrs C. R. Andrews sang the old ballad “ Fiona ” very sweetly, and on being recalled sang with becoming archness “ Cornin’ thro’ the rye.” Mrs Blue’s contributions are always looked forward to in pleasant anticipation, and on this occasion she rendered “ Lochnagar ” with such telling effect that we expected her to return and through the medium of song persuade some of her listeners to “ dry that tearfu’ eye.” In “ Caller Herrin ” Mrs Clayton suited the action to the words. Appearing in the fishwife’s dress, of short striped petticoat, turned-back apron of black, tartan blouse, elbow-sleeved, white kerchief round her shoulders, and basket on her back, she offered for sale white wadding herrin, and very cleverly depicted the “ laddies clad in silks and laces,” gathering in their braw pelisses as the creel o’ herrin, passed along. Unfortunately the gentlemen vocalists whose names appeared on the programme were unavoidably absent, but their places

were ably filled by Mr Dickson. About 15 minutes before 11 o’clock the social part of the function reached its termination, and the Pipers’ Association may rest assured that they left no stone unturned in catering to the tastes of sons and daughters of Scottish Fatherland,