CONCERT IN DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 26, 27 October 1893, Page 29

CONCERT IN DUNEDIN.

Thb concert announced by n«, in aid of the Dominion Nuns' parochial achool*, OAUQ6 off iv tlii Garrison Hall on WednesJay evening the 18 h inst. Unfortunately heavy thunder bhowers had occurred throughout the lat9r part of the day, ha*-, notwithstanding, the house was fairly rilled. The schools mustered in strong force and occupied a considerable portion of «h j space, as well in the bidy of the hall as on the platform. The girls wera prettily dres3ed ia white, and the different schools were distinguished by different c iloured scarfs. In the marching and couutnr-mirchiag, by which the children took up their pUcej for their various perfoimancas, and alterwards withdrew, tha effact wis very gaol. Thy wera accompanied ia their evolutions by one or two of their fellow pupils, or pupi -teacherp, on the piano. As to the pprf>rm\nce of the schools, it was, as usual, excellent. It commenced With two aongs— "Sing, Sing," aad " Let Bria Remember," sung, eacb in turn, as a threj part chorus by tha pupils, girls and younger boys, ot St Patrick's school, South Danedin. The manner ia which the pitch was sustained and the observance of the nuances, egpecUlly ia the first eoag, of which the melody was by no m^ans mirkttd, were very notable. lathe seconl song tin clear pronunciation of the words, and tue spirit that characterisad the sinking were additional merits. A simultaneous recitation by the girls of Si Joseph's school, which closed the first part of the programme, was given with intelligence) the epeakers keeping well in uniioi throughout. The subject was the legend " Kin* aui Cottager." • Dreaming ot Home," sung as a vocal solo and cbjrus by pupila of St Jjsaph's and the Christian Brother*' schools, was anotb n very pleasing perform mcc. Two of the girls (the Misses Miscall and Cantwell),and one boy (Master Clarke), respectively eang the solo parts very sweetty. The chorus singing was full, c irrect, and well modulated. In the concluding chorus, the "New Zaaland Anttem," of which Miss O'Neill sang the solo part, pupils of St Joseph's and Sc Patrick's schools had ttn aid of several members of Sc Joseph's choir, the eff.ct being remajkably fine. The clear pronunciation of the wjrds was here again p.rticularly noticeable. A fervent expression was also well maintained. We mention last, though neither leas; nor in proper order, the dumbbell exercises of the Oaiijtiai Bro bars' bDys, performed to tha mosic of tue puno played by one of the Brothers, and with whici toe second part of the programme commenced. This is always a taking item with th.3 audience. It's effect, moreover, ia the presant instance was heightened, in no light degree, by a new and unexpected feature— truly a "sudden and awful appaaraaca "— in th; shape of a master of the ceremonies. This individual camj oat iv a Bait of black cloth, cut-awiy coat and trousers, open vest, and white shirt; on his he.td a weil-brushed " bel!-topper," and in his hand a cane. His urbanity towards the aulience, to whom he bowed witn a graceful doffing of his har, again and again, waa only equalled by his severity lowarda the boys. Among them ha resentei with his cane the slightest suspicion of a departure from the str.ight liae. No more ferocious representative, in mtuiature, or thj peda^o^ue could possibly be found. The b ivf, we nee 1 hardly add, went through their exercises an i muiuwros jvuu the uUnost skill and dexterity. Caa wu venturj to cUss aaao .g ncho il-^rirl pei formers young ladies qualified to b >ld ihair o»i in p-rf^nmog- wuh a professional band ? Eight of the pjpils of tie Djrnaicu iJoave'ic High school— the Misses Sophy H*l , Kite L/nsh, Ida tietnslurlt and Tessie Bossbotham, (treble); Ag.ies Cantwel 1 , Kite Martin, Nellie Hall and M.. Ro*sbotham, (bass)— took pirc on f)ur pianos, with Mr RobertahAw's sring bind, — Me^rs SUivvud, Taylor, Knox, V. Bobertshaw, and A. F. liobertshaw— in performing NicoUi's "Merry wives of Windsor, ' beautiful music, ailnairauly performed. Another of the convent pupils, Miss O'fcldilly played witu a brilliant fingerasa pianoaolo, Aschei's " Alice," a piece r q uring tugb powers ot execution. The pupil who still remains for us v m-ntiou is Master Joe Ward, one of the Christian Brothers' juaior bojs Hj saig the solo, Piccjlomini's ' Sancta Maria," and very b j auuful the tong sounded in the pure, sweet notes of the little felloe's voice wtiich lost nothing in that they were distinctively those ofabiy. Ai an encore Master Ward gave the " Dear Little Shamrock," which also be sung very prettily. But we confess it once more. We do not admire the "Dear Litt c Shamrock " Tie tuoe is well eaoagh, bjt the words are — well, horrid. Wbat a raymj for Ireland— ' sins-land ' or '' mireland." There ip, in fact, no fk rhyma for Irela id. F.relan 1 won't do. It ia not appropriate in the first place, and, in the tejond place, it is taken ur, though ia a foreign lingo, at the other cad of the world. Cnoir-land won't do. As for equire-land that would be nearer the mark, but the assJCiaiioas, at lease at the present day. would make it eoaad like slang Tue intention is, besi lei, to break dowu tha ancient solitary reigu of the sqaire, and wao would care to peihis memory 1 There teems also tj ba a certain botanical incorrectness in the words of the sung. Our recollection of the shamrock ia that it grows in pasture-lands, those particularly of long standing. We are convinced that it cannot ba reckoned among plants properly known as bog plants, in which wo recognise old friends ; and we are almost ready to swear that it does not grow ia

the mire. Sirelaad, however, is b%-i enough, bat miielaad is detest. able. Besides, it is calumnious. T.iere is no mare mad in Ireland than in other countries of a rmiat climate. We are willing to bet with anyone that a man can walk two miles over the muddiest road in Connaught without gjttiog on his bjots one-half of the mud that he must necessarily pick np in walking one mile on the roads around Dunedln. If that boy of Dean B«ift's lired here, there would be some Baaß9 ia the excuse he give his master. " Why did not you clean my boots, you rascal? " •' Sure they'd be ditty again, your reverence." Bat we have strayed a long way from our concert. Music and mad have littlo ia common Of the performances of the ladies and gentlemen who gave their servios it is impossible to speak too highly. Where they weie coicirned the coucjrt wis one of the best of it s kind we have ever a'teniul in this city. Tin Misses Blaney in their duet, " Sained Mother," from " Maritana," sang delightfully. Mi 88 Rose Blaney in her solo " The Holy City," even attained to grandeur of expression. Miss M. Morrison, both ia Pontet'fl " SnowfUkes, and the soprano solo in the " Miserere " from " Trovatore," sang charmingly. This htter performance was, indeed, of exceptional merit. Mr Eager took the tenor p irt with exceeding sweetness an I admirable expression, and the other members of St Joseph's choir highly distinguished themsolves by their singing in the chorus. Mr Manson sang the '' Minstrel Boy, 1 ' giving it an interpre* tation that we have rarely heard excelled. His singiag was dramatic and spirited in the extreme. Miss Moloney's performauce on the piano of Ohopiu'a " Polonaise " was very fine. It showed a thorough understanding of the cjmposer's patriotic spirit. His pride and rejoicing in a them? that touched his hmrt s > deeply were vividly expressed, Mr Baeyertz gave a recitation— a narrative told in sympathetic tooes of the grievous plight in which two mashers foand themselves as a consequence of their impertinence to two young ladies, and of the disagreeable meal they were forced to eat. We understand that some question is made as to the propriety of this recitation, owing to its partaking in some degree of the nature of an expurgated edition — but those who object, perhaps, like our friend " Oivis " and the classics, know more than is good for them. As the tale wts recited by Mr Baeyertz, prudery alone could take offence at it. and it was extremely amusing. Oae might really believe that the reciter had actually served an apprenticeship in the chuacter he disclaimed. The enfant terrible, we may explain, pointed to him as a glaring example of the character. And if the matter were, as the narrative seemed to imply, one of collars— what then 1 Possibly the en/ant terrible also had his reasons. — Mr Valhs aced as conductor, aud, with Miss Moloney, shared the duties of accompanist. All who were engaged in the oncert deserve congratulations for the thorough success attained. During the interval a few words were spoken by the Rev Father Lynch, alluding to the inevitable absence of tin Bishop, who, however, there were good grounds to h 'pc, would b» presuat at the next entertainment, and thanking all who had kindly given their services, and the audience for their patronage.