CAMBRIDGE HARMONIC SOCIETY.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 103, 6 March 1897, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE HARMONIC SOCIETY.

♦ The first practice of the members of the above Society was held in the Cambridge i'ublic Hall on Thursday evening. There was a good attendance, fully fifty working members being present. The conductor, Mr Rout, gave them a preliminary canter through a couple of choruses from the " Messiah," and then attention was turned to the oratorio " Samson," the two first choruses being tried. Mr Rout can certainly congratulate himself upon the improvement shown by the members, for they were very successful in leading their parts after a couple of attempts without trying any single part over by itself. Thanks to the fore thought of Messrs Kout and Brook?, who had imported copies of the oratorio from London, the members were supplied with "Samson" at the English price, viz., one shilling each copy. During an interval in the practice, Archdeacon Willis, on behalf of the vestry of St. Andrew's Church and those who had attended the " Messiah " practices, piesented Mr Rout with an ornamental baton as a slight recognition of the great trouble he had take:) "in instructing the vocalists and making the performance such a success. Mrs Pileher was also presented with a music stand for having so kindly and ably presided at the liar monium. Mr Kout thanked the members tor their gift, and said it had been a labour of love to him, and he had been amply rewarded by the attention they hat! paid to his remarks and by the handsome manner in which they had seconded his efforts to give a good performance of portions of the " Messiah/' —The lion. sec. (Mr G. S. Dixon) said he had sent invitation circulars to all the vocalists he could think of to be present, but if any had been omitted he trussed they would atteud the practices, and not feci offended at their omission, as it was an oversight.—The conductor said he hoped after the society had got fairly started it. would he able to supply its members with copies of the music free of charge, but the initial expense of the platform (which was not yet finished), etc., was great, consequently they had to charge for " Samson/'