MUSICAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4509, 6 October 1882, Page 3

MUSICAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

11 Eli." Sir Michael C«3ta has treated the story of "Eli" in noble fashion. Hi« music has through* out the stamp of dignity and a touch of tenderness, his harmonies are beautiful and most telling, in every lino there ie true dramatic instinct. He has earned rank among the tone poeti who have sung well of great things. He has given every phase of public worship ; the tender reverence of congregational prayer, the joyful singing of psalms, the solemn blessing of the Priest, the majesty of hia invocation*, tho sling of the just man's upbraidings, and the tendernesß of his entreaty. He givej us in sound the long troubled night of tho watcher, and the joy of the dawn coming. He sounds the trumpets of war tumultuous and spirited, and he touches with equal mastery tho notes of grief and humiliation. Particularly happy is he in tbe story of Samuel. We are touched by the grief of the mother, we listen reverent y to the boy'Bdcdicatiw.woaremade to feel how " blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord," tho loud hosannahs of tho peoplo are in our ear. Few things in music surpass the simple beauty of tho boy's prayer morning and evening, or the sub iuiity of his instruction by his parents, or the devotional spirit of the blessing when tho High Prio< t has joined the three after their morning exercise. There is incomparable freshness in the morning prayer, and that of tho evening is a soft lullaby dying away till it rnorges in a rarely beautiful chorus of angels, conceived in a pure spirit of devotion. All musical forma aro employed by the composer in producing his effects, and he makes grand use of the recitative. These things place Costa among the tone poets. Ko is not in the front rank, but he is nevertheless a true tone poet. After assiduous practico of many weeks, the Musical Society succeeded last night in producing this fine work in a very creditable mauner. The performance, on the whole, may be said to have beon worthy of thoir rendering of "Elijah" tome months ago, when they reached their highest point. It waß not without; fault?, for occasionally the voices bosame wild, getting out of accord sometimes with themselves and sometimes with the conductor, who was at times obliged | to remind them energetically of their errur. But these faults wero occasional, nnd by no means of sufficient importance to may the general effect. That was one of the bent, on tho whole, ever produced by any body of amateurs in that hall. Mr Wells began the training of tho Society for if;, and they have evidently not deteriorated under Mr Loan's batdn. At last the time has come when we can hear all tho parts, both vocal aud instrumental, distinct and full. The improvement in this respect on tho style of a few years ago was especially noticeable in the singing of the soprano parts. They gave us not only correct, decided, clear intonation, but tbe volume of sound to be expected from the numbers on tbe benches. The contralto is no longer a weak p'aso in the chorus, the tenors aro steady without screaming, und tho busses effective without roKring. All sing with the intolligonco which understands tiio expression marks on tho score, and obeyn th*iu, under reminder of tho conductor's directions. Especially noticeable for excellence and justness of execution wero tho opening chorus, "Let Cs Go," the fine chorala ufter blesjing bjr tho High Fricat, tho "Elosannah" fugue, tho w.ir chorus of tho Philistines, and tho "Chorus of AnpcU" (by soprani and c mt rail t) introduced by a briof eolo. The orchestra played throughout steadily und well, giving vi woll bnlanced appropriate accompaniments. They wero assisted by Mr R. Spritll, who play nil the harmonium liko n musician, and well-led by Mr Coombs (violin), who found oflicient help from Mr Cohon. The flute, we wiiy mention, was remarkably W9ll played, and the basses wero all that could bo desired. Wo cnngratululo Jur Li- un and thoio who liavo worked with him on tho general result. faiea Taylor sang tho iuimo of Hannah daintily and tunefully, m eho always sing*. Master Appleby was very pleasing ti» fl-unuel, singing st'oudily c jnvetly and sympalhoLicnlly bII ihrjugh. Mr Jo?epl.fl «ang witSi strength and clctwroeo of voice as Elbinah ; and would hare douo belter haJ ho bf-on moro careful to pronounce his words. In the trio, " 'hou shall love (ho Lord," ho nnd the two lastnamed wens very successful. Mr Huxlable wns tho Xli, aud made a derided success. Ho has a grand voic-.-, uud a fair notion of how to uso it. His intonation was cloar, cud his phi-using often good, oappciully when he warmed to hiß work. A? a eingor, he has expression and power, and a good d'umalic instinct. His drawback is want cf kno«lo;'-go This mnkoa him uncertain at tirres, an.l sl'jw. Practice nnd study, by giving liii-i confidence ought to make him a vi-ry 11/ o Ftntr^r. Mr Iz&rd Id tho war eor«j of tfio Philistine- with great spirit, and much better effect than on his Inst uppearanco. Th<* managers w-re kind enough this time not, to tako advantnge of hia good nature by getting him to tako a difficult parl ut a moment* notice. Mr Mertcn, >.b tho "Man of God" ina-io good uae of a fresh bass voice, somewhat light, ut p'cacr.t in tho uppor regi.-l- 1, principally owing, wo*b»iovo, to want t practic? on xroper principles. Ho him nifh good cdpabilitire that w-* hopo to hear liiiii again. Wo had nearly forgot. &> mention th • very lino manner in which tho unuceompaniod (|iiartfltte (The Blessing) was sunc liy Mii<B Taylor, Master Appleby, Messrs iimtftblo un^l JoHeplis.

A common pcandul in Paris i* that of thn Oriental practice of well-to-do Frenchmen, <>l keeping liarems. Tourist — "I eftj, my mun, do you know the way to Harrow ? " Buetic (contemjituouelv) — " The way to 'arrer ? D'yon think I jpoi.t nigh on forty jear§ on tbii 'ere farm, and I dunno bow to 'ami P"