GLEE AND MADRIGAL SOCIETY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1810, 2 December 1919, Page 7

GLEE AND MADRIGAL SOCIETY.

LAST EVENING'S CONCEET. Under Mr Sidney Williamson's skilful direction, the Christchurch Glee and Madrigal Society gave its final concert last night, amidst the charming surroundings of the Art Gallery, which only needs to be more acoustically satisfactory to make it an ideal hall for such performances. The partsinging, embracing a really excellent) and varied assortment of" high-class compositions, was, in some respects, a marked improvement on previous attainments, and if only for the reason, that this organisation strives to keep alive an interest in a delightful form of musical art, its temporary disappearance from active work is to be regretted. The best singing was done in those numbers inviting daintiness, brightness and vivacity, such as Edward German's "0 Lovely May," Pinsuti's "The Part-, mg Kiss," and the same composer's "The Sea Hath its Pearls," and only - those with practical experience of' choral conducting know the laborious drilling which is necessary to ensure so unfailing a response to the directorial baton. Other good examples of very tasteful and refined vocalisation were Elgar's beautiful part-songs for female voices, "The Snow," as well as Eeichardt's "In the Time of the Roses" and Schubert's "Ave Maria,'*, both effectively arranged for a trio of u ladies and sung two to a part. Mr Williamson seems to get his happiest results from the fairer members of his choir, the vocal obstreperousness of his basses and the miniature tone of his tenors tending to upset all attempts at a proper balance. But this difficulty is a frequent one and easily accounted for, though not so easily rectified. la the singing of the old madrigals the society does not shine so conspicuously, though so modern a specimen as Pearsail's "Light of My Soul" was clearly an improvement on the ancient ! "When Flowery Meadows" (Palestrina). The early composers in this fine branch of music thought in phrases, whereas nowadays we think in bars, an. all-important differentiation, and one extremely troublesonio for the average ear to grasp. Other choral items were Pearsall 's interesting glee, "When Allen-a-Dale," Harford Lloyd's "Kitty of Coleraine," and Sullivan's "Golden Legend" excerpt, "O Gladsome Light," with.which the programme fittingly ended. Of the two vocal soloists, Mrs Lilly Glover and Mr Leslie Fleming, the former's fine voice did not serve her nearly so well as at her recent appearance as one of Madame Gower Burns' pupils, her production having a variable quality, which usually betokens uncertainty of method. This young lady has such possibilities as a singer that it is distinctly worth her whjje to give due regard to a sure technical foundation. Her songs were "Ferryman Love" and* Oley Speaks' "Morning," with their - attendant encores.

Mr Fleming's style and resonant organ, so well suited to music of the manly and declamatory order, does not enable him to do his "best work when engaged on such songs as Coleridge Taylor's "Elcanore" or the flowing Spanish serenade "Lolita." He was heard with more pleasuro in "Rolling Down to Rio,'' an unhackneyed example of the popular ballad, he contributed as one of his two encores.

The accompaniments throughout were played with consistent discretion by Miss Dorothy Naumann. Mr Sidney Williamson, who is shortly leaving New Zealand for a prolonged holiday, must certainly restore the Glee and Madrigal Society to activity on his return, when no doubt a better supply of men's voices will be available. In his choral conducting he has the happy knack of obtaining many very telling effects—sometimes at the expenso of the rhythm and phrasing—as well as great contrasts of tone and colour; and if, from reasons beyond his control, he has not always managed to give as finished performances as he has unquestionably aimed at, he has religiously maintained a high standard of music, and thus rendered an undoubted service to the art.