HARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12405, 21 November 1908, Page 5 (Supplement)

HARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

The Harmonic Society gave a. most . delightful concert last evening in. the School of Music, when the programme consisted of Mendelssohn's well known "Forty Second Psalm," and Alfred Hill's cantata "Hinemoa." Much interest was evinced as to the latter, it being the first occasion on which- -it has' been presented to- a "Nelson audience. 1 In other parts of the Dominion . and in Australia the Cantata has won an enviable position of esteem and appreciation amongst music lovers and critics alike, and by their warm applause last evening the audience gave ample proof of their own pleasure and appreciation. '"' The "book" of Arthur H. Adams the gifter New Zealand journalist and litterateur is Wound round the Maori legend of Tutanekai and Hinemoa, the Hero and Leander of the Antipodes. Naturally the libretto is not of uniform excellence throughout, but Mr Adams has been most successful in combining ,a delicate literary grace with the 'swing and rythm essential for the proper setting to melody. The best parts of the poem are^' found in the ballads and recitations, the words of the choruses being evidently written to suit the brighter character of the music and open the dramatic breaks in the story. With regard to MiHill's setting of the poem,. the musichas been .so _ warmly received throughout the Dominion, and'-indeeS^b^yqncT" these shores, and Mr Hill has! fe^eir the recipient of such a flood of' flattering enconiums of his work that any criticism of it is out of place. ' Suffice to say that Mr Hill has not attempted to write a Cantata, the whole music of which is characteristic of the Maori race, but has contented himself with a few- strikingly original,, adaptations of the racial melodies and measures, and for the rest has composed a bright and charming work, the lightness, tunefulness and brilliance of which at once appeals to the audience. The Celtic flavour of the adapted melodies is most remarkable, the ballad of Tutanekai being distinctly- reminiscent of a Scotch air. .-fine best known number is perhaps the "Raha Chorus," for mala voices, repeated last evening in reply to an insistent demand, and which with the ballad of Tutanekai, "Wake my tender, thrilling flute, and the "Lake Music" (unfortunately omitted) are the most admired and most successful individual portions of the work. Thq soloists for "Hinemoa" were. Mrs Wright (Hinemoa) Mr A. C. Maginnity (Tutanekai), v Mr E. Richards (Tiki), and Mr Glover (the prologue). Mrs Wright sang the nanie. part with great dramatic force . and effect, and with a keen insight to the possibilities of the music which is apparently, of a very trying character, demanding a good execution and considerable power. To the repeated- aiid continued applause Mrs Wright bowed/her acknowledgments. Mr- 'Magiiiriity sang in vigorous and tuneful manner the music allotted to the > 'youthful lover, and the duet with Hinemoa, "Over the Wave you heard "your Lover call," was splendidly.:' simg by both soloists, they being "cohtettt 'to beftv their acknowledgments. Mr Richards as Tiki and Mr Glover/as -the Prologue had: smaller parts in.which they acquitted themselves well: The concerted numbers were . excellently sung, especially the . "Raha Chorus" and' the female chorus, "Dearest of Daughters." The final chorus "Leaving her Tribe for the Love of a. Joe,", formed a splendid conclusion' 'to a meritorious performance. The.;, "42pd. Psalm was also well rendered 1 . . Miss Armstrong, who sang the solos'; iij this; work, possesses a sweet and 'flexiblevoice which rings true throughput.and she sang with, marked- feelingt{<jid. expression, though - suffering" sq£*{efthat from, nervousness. The best *iiumber was perhaps the ; Quintette : between' j\£iss ■ -A.rms-fcronjS-aii<l "fclio -well "-lciio win male quartette party (Messrs' v,A.. and T. Taylor, B. Tasker and -.Glover) which was splendidly rendered throughoiit. The orchestra in addition to the above works - played two overtures "Sphgeriua" (Gluck), and "Chanson re Matin" (F. Edgar), the first of which especially was most enjoyablei The wind instruments (both . brass and wood) the., orchestra is at present particularly fortunate and the most was made of the many apportunities afforded in "Hinemoa," for obtairiing striking effects in>the concerted instrumental passages. , The. leader of the orchestra was jiliss^Flett, Miss Kempthorne beiiig thepiahiste, and one and all acauitted themselves well throughout the programme. Altogether Herr Lemmer is to be congratulated "on the_efficiency of the orchestra and chorus and one the very pleasant and successful concert given. -It may be .noted that there is evidently plenty of- room on! the chorus benches for more . voices', v and it "is surprising that more young singers do not avail thepiselves of. the opportunity of studying the. ora|oros and works presented by the' Society. ■ ;