AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 84, 30 July 1914, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

THE KENNEDYS. It is not often that a concert company oi the calibre of the Kennedys is neard in totratford, and thougu last nignt's audience at the Town Hall was very enthusiastic, tne nunioer present must iiavo been disappointing to the management. Jiacn member of tile company is an artist, equally at: home m classical or popular music, 1 and on any instrument. JL'ney should really be classed more as "society entertainers" than as a concert company, tile latter definition too frequently leaving on the public mind the impression that all items will be severely classical and unsuited to any but the most refined and highly musically educated ears. VVhile giving due prominence to the masters, however, the Kennedys manage to sandwich in a great deal of popular, music both vocally and'instrumentally, such music being none the worse for being popular and much the better for being rendered by artists gifted to'get the maximum elfect from any piece of music dealt with. The definition "concert company" also too often indicates that the programme will consist of a succession of vocal and instrumental items, which, perhaps, will only appeal to the musical student or enthusiast. With the Kennedys the programme ranges from a violin solo fabricated to test the technical efficiency of the player to a rollicking chorus with a very apparent joke. The inclusion on the programme of concerted vocal and instrumental, items and vocal items with full accompaniment also tends to diversify and brighten the evening for the very numerous persons who like to be entertained with music but do not place their music next to their religion in point of. seriousness. Ktsith Kennedy, the violinist, of the company, snows complete control of the instrument, playing Sarasate's "Zigeunerweiseii" effectively, technical difficulties notwithstanding. As an encore he gave a coupld of Irish airs in good style. In the second part of the programme he gave a pretty dance of Dvorak's and as an encore a showy selection called "The Canary," producing the effects cleverly. Lance Kennedy, the flautist, gave "The Carnival of Venice" nicely, finding no difficulty with the intricate variations, and in his encore number (-Schubert's Serenade) he produced a fine round tone. Popper's "Ungarische Rhapsodic" was the first item of Laurio Kennedy, the 'cellist, who gave Raff's Cavatina as an encore number. His second-part item was Dunkler's "Chanson a Boiro,' 'founded on an old French drinking song, in which the "night-with-the-boys" feeling is excellently represented in some difficult passages which were rendered with masterly ease. A simple rendering of "Mary of Argyle" was given as an encore. The two parts of the programme were opened with instrumental quartettes —the first with Dopplcr's "Nocturne" and the second with the finale from Brahms' piano quartette in A. Miss Dorothy Grace Kennedy has a nice soprano voice remarkable for softness in the upper register. Her programme numbers were "Prince Charming" and "Love's Echo," both of which were pleasingly rendered, and her encores "The Cows are in the Clover" and "Men" showed that she was equally happy in lighter items. Miss Rose Fitzgerald has a strong soprano voice, particularly pleasing in the middle and lower registers, and her choice of songs was excellent, "The Cameron Men" (with bagpipe accompaniment by the violins), , "My Ain Folk," "Mother, Machree," j"A Perfect Day" (with 'cello obligato), and "The Lost Chord" (with accompaniment by all the instruments) being all excellently rendered and well received. The l*dy rooalists were associated in tha barcarolle

from Offenbach’s “Tales of Hoffman” and “Excelsior,” being accompanied by all the instruments. They also rendered a couple of pleasing items accompanied by piano, mandolin and mandola. In company with Mr Lance Kennedy they rendered a rollicking gipsy chorus and being encored gave “The Keel Row” with spirit. Mr Lance Kennedy was also encored for his spirited rendering of “The Little Irish Girl.” Madame Bertha Kennedy, at the piano, rendered all the accompaniments sympathetically. - An entirely new programme will be submitted to-night on the occasion of the final appearance of the company, though, by request, any of last night’s items will he repeated.