RANGITIKEI CONCERT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 5309, 15 March 1884, Page 3

RANGITIKEI CONCERT.

(from our own correspondent.)

The Rangitikei Harmonic Society gave their first concert of the second season last night, at the Town Hall, Bulls, to a large audience. The first part consisted of Farmer's beautiful Mass in B flat. The second part was made up of miscellaneous pieces. In critising any amateur society it does not seem right to deal too severely with the individual efforts of the members, who are banded together solely with the object of entertaining their fellow citizens, and thus breaking the monotony of everyday life in an up-country towrship. The Town Hall is a disgrace to the management. It is the worst finished hall outside Wanganui. How members of the society submit to risk their health iv such a shell is most astonishing. It was painfully evident during the evening that unless the pei'formers came absolutely to the footlights, their voices were lost in the back scenes. It is quite time the. secretary of the Town Hall Company took immediate steps to rectify this disgraceful state of affairs, and by the expenditure of a few pounds convert the present unsightly barn into a decent hall. The Kyrie and the quartette with which the Mass opens were well rendered, the four voices being well balanced, showing that great care had been bestowed upon the • piece. The chorus, "Gloria in Excelsis," was Very grand. The bass were not quite so perfect as they might have been. The quartette was accurately rendered. The text piece, which opened with a solo for the tenor, was, I think, one of the best of the Mass, the four voices blending beautifully together. The lady who took the solo in the next piece, "Quonian," is to be congratulated upon her very perfect rendering of this part, as also tor her able lead throughout the evening. " Cum Sancto " was almost perfect as to time and marks of expression. The "Credo" went well, but the tenors strained too much at the higher notes. The solo "Et incarnatus" was very good, the lady who rendered this piece having a voice of splendid quality. "Et Resurrect" went with spirit, as al.°o the quartette "Benedectus," which had a very pleasing effect.

The " Sanctos " and two following choruses were very well rendered. " Agnus Dei " *■ was very pretty, but seemed shaky in the tenor part. The whole was brought to a close by the grand quartette chorus "Dona Nobis." The society has made a name for itself in so ably rendering music of such high order. The second part opened'with a solo on the piano, "Invitation Waltz," which was brilliantly executed. The chorus " Now by day's retiring lamp " was not equal to the last time the society pave it. The song "Twickenham Ferry" brought out a new soloist who did ample justice to the piece. A song in character "The Frenchman" brought down the house, the make up was perfect. A piano and violin duett by Mr and Miss Norberg from " The daughter of the regiment " was undoubtedly the piece of the evening, and was a treat not often enjoyed in Bulls. An encore was given. The sole and chorus " Come where my love lies dreaming" was beautifully given, and encored. The solo " All things love thee, so do I " was duly appreciated by the audience "Friendship" (by Marziels), a duett, was listened to with great pleasure, and a repetition insisted upon. The solo (serio-comic), " Round goes the wheel," went round very well,, find an encore was also called for, and responded to. Solo and chorus, " Now tramp o'er moss and fell," brought to a close one of the societies most successful efforts. It is very pleasing to notice the marked improvement the society is making under the able and painstaking conductorship of Mr G. J. Scott, and I cannot close without a few words of praise to the lady who so efficiently presides at the piano. The small but excellent orchestra was ably assisted by Herr Norberg.