TARANAKI PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 820, 11 April 1868, Page 2

TARANAKI PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

In onr laafc we briefly chronicled a full dress Coucerb given by the Taranaki Philharmonic Society on the 2nd of April, at the Freemasons Hall, before a large and discriminating audience. This week we propose to enter into the details of the performance with a view of illustrating how the " self-reliant" policy may be as successfully applied to the amusements as it is to the-st^rn and practical duties of life. We entered the hall at a few minutes past 8, after the mombers of the Society had taken their seats, and tho spectacle that met onr view was one of surpassing loveliness, for though the platform erected for the occasion was but plainly ornamented, yet it sparkled with animated radiance, which art could not imitate or nature excel. The Concert was opened with the overture t<S Donizetti's " II Barbiere," which was played with great taste and brilliancy. After a short interval the whole of the ladies and gentlemen rose to the tap of the condaotor'B baton for Bishop's " Tramp o'er Moss and Pell ;'-' this beautiful glee was most artistically sang, which the audience fully recognised by prolonged acclamations ; to our tasto this was tkechef d'umvre of the evening, and alone Shows what perfection, 'amateurs may attain in part singing by application and study. Any remarks upon ''the' succeeding song, the " White Squall," would be. unfair, asthe singer was evidently suffering from a severe; cold. The next piece was the " Fairies'* — the voices here did not quite harmonise ; it seemed to ns that the three gentlemen were a little nerVous in their assumption of characters, which in our flights of fancy we associate with loveliness arrayed in white muslin and garlands of roses. There are a variety of opinious upon the relative merits of old and new music, but after all whether old or new, success depends as often upon tho charms and natural gifts of the singers as of the music itself; bo with the,duet tho " Elfin's Call," which' followed tho " Fairies," the music is old and mediocre, yet it was well received, which we attribute entirely to tho delicious singing, spirit, and naivaite of the two highly gifted songstresses. The next piece on the programme was the " Angel's Whisper" — this was passed over in. consequence of the indisposition of the young lady who was to have sung it. The rendering of the quartett "Hark, tho Lark," was like to the warbling of a feathered choir, and the tremolo occasioned by the slight nervous agitation of the accomplished youug ladies rather increased than marred the effect of this beautiful music. The sweet plaintive song •' Adelaide" followed, and was nicely sung, bnt it requires a highly cultivated voice to do justice to this rich melody. ' It is but iOne jump from tho sublime to the ridiculous ; Beethoven's dreamy air was/ followed by a comic song " Advertisii»g,"/which liQwover was spiritedly given and created much amusement ; we are not admirers of this style of music, but the moral I6f the song meets with our entire approval, j The first part wag brought to a conclusion 'with Bishop's gibe the " Minstrels," which tfas greatly appreciated. The second part op^rfed with a pianoforte solo, followed by Balfe'a " \|ive le Koi," which was sung with great animation, ami -confirmed ns in the opinion we.hafl formed during .the earlier part of tho advening that it is<" to this olass of musio Our Society should' devote their more especial attention, for with a little hard practice it may rival any older sister society in these colonies. We listened to the next song the " Polish Drum," with a great deal of pleasure as Iho pi feed ' songstress possesses a voice of moro than usual power aud sweetness.--Our space will uot allow ns to go further with the programme, yet our remarks would be incomplete did we omit to notice the talented instrnmentalists, whose brilliant playing added much to the attractiveness and success of the evening's entertainment. Though last in order, yet not least in usefulness, comes the skilful conductor of the Society — Mr. R. C. Hammerton — whose trained experience has been of incalculable advantage , to his pnpils, and which manifested itself throughout the whole of Thursday's performance. We .would' however, call his attention to a little dofeot, arising as we conceive, from excessive diffidence, it is the lack of enthusiasm in the direction of his olass ; we do not desire a conductor a Id Jullieii, yet we think that the baton used "with spirit^ aud judgment would at times animate .and. encourage tho performers. We heartily congratulate tho Society upon the success which has attended its efforts to amuse and re-, fresh the people ; and we appeal with confidence

! to all lovors of musio, for thoir anpport and 1 approval, whioh they cauuot show better than by enrolling themselves as members of tho Society. 11 Tho man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoil."