LIEDERTAFEL "AT HOME."

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1329, 17 May 1918, Page 2 (Supplement)

LIEDERTAFEL "AT HOME."

A WELL-ARRANGED FUNCTION. Each season the members of the Christchurch Liedertafel set aside an occasion on which they are "At home" to their friends, such an event taking place last night in the Choral Hall. Always very pleasant and well-arranged functions, the "At home" last night was exceptionally enjoyable, the large audience that represented the guest list being most appreciative of the banquet of music and song set before them. The hall was tastefully decorated, the stage being carpeted and beautified with chrysanthemums and palms, the emblem of the 'society occupying a prominent place. In the body of the hall little tables were set about, for the greater convenience of serving refreshments, which made their appearance during the interval.

The programme, compiled with very nice discrimination and a due regard of the times in which we live, contained, as a leading feature a most interesting choral ballad of old time, "The Song of the Little Baltung," in which solo parts were taken by Mr G. E. March, Mr W. .1. Trcwern, and Mr J. S. Bowie, who caught excellently the strange and stirring spirit of the song, and made a vivid and telling picture of the words. The bravo and splendid "Song of the Northmen" (Maunder), the rhythmic "Marching Along" (Bantock), and the clanging, dauntless "Viking Song" were splendidly executed. The partsong "The Hemlock Tree and the Maiden" was most artistically presented, and the jolly and rollicking "Tar's Song" (Ilatton) was given with a fine, bounding spirit that smacked of the open sea, the freshening breeze, the homeward course, and merry hearts. The "nonsense number" concerning the well-known experience of one Simple Simon, was given as a part-song, and the humour of it greatly appreciated. Amongst the solos were two songs by Alfred Worsley. Each was a clever and attractive production, in totally different vein, the first being called "Speak,Ye Four, "Where Do Ye Dwell?" and, being in thoughtful, one might almost say devotional, mood; the second a light,! dainty, sparkling thing, "An Unfinishedi Picture," which completely and \\\- ] stantly won the audience, Mr Cropp being forced to repeat it in its entirety, ilr W. .Toll was very successful in the charming little song "Roses of Picardy," and Mr W. J. Trewern's fine aud sympathetic style of singing was happily suited in Landon Ronald's "Prelude" (from "A Cycle of Life"). Mr J. 11. Cocks gave a very refined interpretation of A. Goring Thomas's lovely song "Le Baiser," and, in company with all the other soloists, was recalled for an encore number. A pleasing instrumental quartet, an air from "Rosamonde" (Schubert), was aiso presented, Messrs F. Dobbie (flute), C. 11. Schmidt (oboe), 1). Sinclair (clarinet), and A. Worsley (piano) participating. Mr A. Worsley ably conducted throughout, and Dr Leslie C'rooke played the accompaniments for the soloiots in his usual finished manner. The programme, by the way, was very nicely got up, the numbers being interspersed with appropriate quotations, ending with a "finis" by Rogers: " 'Tis our adieu! Peace be to thy slumbers.''