The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-11-13 00:00:00

DORCHESTER VOCAL ASSOCIATION.

Fez from expiring, which a few months ago was oon-
sidered • probability, this association Ives on Tours.
day last oae of ita m t-t sticoessful concocts to •
orowled bones at the (Lira Excbaor sad it wee a
source of considerable plenums to all ?ovens of music
in the tows. The more exacting membsre of the
community may scarcely be oonsent with the modest
attractions which Mr. Biyton Smith with his limited
resources Is enabled to put forward, but we are sure
there are very few among us who woeld like it logo
forth that Dorchester is so barren of artistic life and
isterest that it is unable to keep alive He one musical
association. We fear this wasting away, this atrophy,
which the 11140006tiOn has dieing the last year or two
been undergoing, is due not to the executive, but
to the very marked leak of interest which the towns-
people have displayed. 00 SCI,X• than one woad=
the audiences have not been commensurate with the
expeassa, and on this account the hands of the Hon.
Secretary has been tied in a great measure, and each
succeeding concert bee certainly not improved. With
the new year then, we hope our Dorchester Vocal
Assocdation will eater on a fresh era of prosperity,aud
will give even better tam:arts, with • more powerful
chorus and higher-clam sol We, than have hitheriateen
the men

The Corn Exchange, as we have remarked, was
filled with • in ist attentive, we might even say
critical, but still appreciative, audience. Among
those who had reserved seas, and moat of whom were
present, were :
The Mayor (Kr. H. Dards)) and Mrs. Durden, Mr.
R. D. Thoratoo, Mr. liCiuderaley, jun.' the Mimes
Kinderaley, Rev. S. E. Nichols, MIMI Blackstone
Williams, hire. Kinglon, Mr.. G. Andrews, Rev. T.
Russell. Wright. Rev. W. Berne.. Kim Harvey Kr. and
Min Bornett,Mies Wyoyari.Mise Brooke,Mr.Coonobs,
Mee. Flooks, Mr. E. Faeroe, Mr. W. Darden, Mrs.
Hannah, Mrs, Basicombe, Miss Groves, Mr. and Mn.
Log, Miss Loa ier's young ladles, Rev. George Poole,
Mr. John Damen, Mr. U.
_Poway, jun.. 'Mr. and
Mrs. H. B. Middleton. Mrs. H. Williams, Mrs.
Boyt omith, Mrs. Marcia Look, Mr. and Mrs. W.
Good, Colonel Oldfield, Mrs. Bennett. Kr. Hogg, Rev.
A. A. Leonard, Miss S. Maned, Mrs. Andrews, hirs.
Jeffery, Mr. Case, Dr. Phase, Kr. E. Pope, Mr. H.
Hawkins, lira H. Hawkins, Mrs. Hayes, Miss
Pardon, Mr. and Mrs. Petard Jillerd, Mr. R. Davis,
Mrs. Dymond, Mr. A. Look, Mr' A. Pope, Mr. R.
Williams, jun., Mr. and Mrs. R. Thornton, Mrs. G.
Symonds, Mr. H. Symonds. Ma) in-General Henning,
GB., Mr. Eiensford, Mr. H. Hodges, Mr. Lush, Mr.
Patten, hire. Dunn. Miss Symonds, Mr. Foster, Mr.
and Mrs. Jacob, Miss Hew. Mr. T. Pouncy, Mies
Symonds, Mr. Evans, Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Hill, Mrs.
Dross, Mr. Biggs Mrs. Ot011•11, Mrs. Plummer, Miss
Robinson. Mr. Riggs,
Mrs. Young, Dr. Hawking,
Mn. Eliot, Mr. R. C as. Mrs. Norman. Mr. C.
Foster. Mr. Wilson, Mr. Silicate:my Mr. P. Smith,
and Mr. Sliergold.
The following were the soloists :—Miss Nally
hioZwen (sopreno), Mrs. Stedman (contralto), Kr.
George Cox (tenor), and Mr. Sass.. Hopkins (ba-s).
Instrumentalists :—Pianoforte, Mr. J. Robinson. jun.,
and Miss Align How • organ, Mr. W. Stone,
Sterndale Bennett's melodious and ever favourite
cantata, "The May Queen," formed the vino pal
feature of the concert, the latter part, as is the general
custom, being comp sod of • miscellaneous selection.
association, not boasting of • band (an oft-
remarked on desileratom), the opening overture,
which displays masterly orche.tral writing, was
omitted. The opening chorus, " Wake with • Smile,"
with its exqoiaite melody, went with • swing which
at once stamped the success ot the cantata. Miss
Nelly McKwera then made her debut in the molt
" Now that the Tree is Drest," succeeded by
the tract resit. " Why mn.t I Linger here Alone,"
sod air, "0 Meadow Clad." The rare beauty of this
number was well displayed by Mr. C ,x, being rendered
with great refinement of feeling. It must be almitted
Mr. Cox who, when last at Dorchester, won such warm
approval by his well-remembered rendering of the
(among tenor air from Salaam "Total Z 'lip..," and
the wog " Mignonette " ha, certainly not improve
during the two years that have elapsed since then.
He slogs with all tips tete he thee exhibited, but hie
Tokio apparently was neither so clear or so powerful on
the present raced az. The admirably descriptive
chorus, "0 Melescholy Plight," wail given with a
solidity and body that o ,uld warmly be expected from
such a limited body of singers. There was not the
slightest bitch in this somewhat difficult number. In
pleasing (mitred t its mournful ch argot& came the
succeeiing ohoru., "With • Laugh as We go It mod,"
which was repaired with • orispness and • vigour that
won the first hearty applause of the evening. The
solo parts for the May Q seen, which intersperse
this chorus were effectively snug by Miss McEwen.
This lady possesses a voloe of unusually extensive
oompeas, with greet purity of tone, more particularly
in the upper register. In these small solo parts
alluded t , she well displayed her powers, and in the
latter pert of the number when the chorus le singing
se • vocal socompaniumnt, the lady well metaled the
cresosodo on the top A with a bell.like °lear-
ns= and power, which was greeted with hearty
applause Tile favourite duet "Can I not Find" was
fairly well rendered by Mies Mal well and Mr. Cox.
In the jovial and characteristic air, " Tia Jolly to
Hunt," Mr. Hopkins (bass) crested • favourable
impression. This gentleman, who has • well
cultivated biarit me voice, and one admirably suited to
the made, has appeared in Dorchester and other
parts of the county on several oceaslons, and has won
general appr ,val. In the exquisite trio " The Haw-
thorn in the Glade," the 'oleo of Miss Kamm,
Mr. Cox, and Mr. Hopkins blended admirably, and
It was without doubt the gem of the a 'newt. We
have nothing bat unqualified praise for the
catchy ant diflierdt chorus ' 111-fated Boy
Bone." The graceful pageant music, descriptive
Ike
of the entrance of the Queen ( Mm aden) was yid
with marked ability by Mr. J. Robinson so Miss
Evans (pianoforte), Mias Alice How, and Miss Last
(pianoforte), and Mr. W. Stone (organ.) This was
followed by the pretty chores, "Hark I their Noise,"
width again served to display the remarkable efficiency
of the ohorus. Mrs. S'ednath, rising to sing the music
allotted to the somewhat minor part of the Queen was
warmly applauded, testifying to the genuine site=
In which this favourite local contralto is hold. Mrs.
Steiman discharged her duty, se she always dose,
with that care and ability which characterizes all
her Aorta The impassioned sppeal of the May
Q seen, " 0 My Liege Lady," was one of
Mies Melt wen's beet efforts, the remarkable
chromatic dement learn the high B again serv-
ing to display her unusual raoge of voice. This wan
exhibited with even more emphasis in the final
chorus with solos, the difficulties of the soprano part
of which are known to all who are aequeint-el with
the 'core. The cantata was thus brought to
a very snooss.fal finish, and from first to last
there were very few details with which the
most faitirlions need complain. Unqualified praise
must be worried to the accompanists, who performed
their very difficult and important task in • manner
which did such well-known artistes great credit.
The esoond pert of the programme commenced
with the part song, "Th. Skylark" (Mendelssohn.)
Sullivan'. pretty song, "Th. Distant Shore," by Mr.
Cox, followed, and was well received. Miss MeR wen
next gave a brilliant rendering of the famous °avails'
from %Veber's opera Dc' IreviseAuta, and was greeted
with • hearty enoor.., but owing to the exacting
nature of the piece she contented herself by bowing her
acknowledgment. Pinsuti's pretty, but scarcely
appropriate, Pert song, "In April Time," was
excellently rendered by the thorns, and received
with warm approval. Ths popular Torhador's song
from Bigot's opera " Curare " was next sung
by Mr. Hopkins with much ability. though he scarcely
has the range of voice to do the long full justice. A
very enjoyable item in the concert was • gong which
he• gained an extra ,rdinary popularity throughout
the country, viz., "Dream Faces," by that well.
sompwriter, Hutchinson. Thle style of song
has made great strides in popular favour during the
past year or two, and there is now scarcely • concert at
which are not found the name, of Hatchings. and Mil-
ton Weill nag, wh Ile companies of the calibre of Sullivan,
Blumenthal and the tibias, shelvel. In this instance.
"Dream Fame," which has a delightful refrain, was sting
In such • manner by Misi McEwein as to win an uudeni-
able encore, and in response she gave the belled
"The Miller and the Maid," which wee again greeted
with uproarious applause Mr. C most stioceasful
effort was his rendering of the Doug "Sweet Heloise,"
(Cotaford Dick), and, being encorei, he gave the song
"Some Day" (Wallin'.). Smut's lovely trio "Queen
of the Night" was sung by Mies Mateyo, Mrs. Sled.
into, and Mr. Hopkins, and th, wellicoosna nightin-
gale chorus, " May no Raab Intruder (Soloman),
brought the concert tu a clogs. Mr. Boyton Smith
conducted in his tumidly paiartaking and able man-

nor.
la conclusion we must reiterate an earnest hops
that the amosiation will not be allowed to lapse, but
that it will have beton, it. under the energetic gold.
ince of Mr. Herbert Hodges, a successful and useful
career.