The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1884-05-06 00:00:00

DORCHESTER VOCAL ABBOCIATION.

Our local musical society, which apparently g dam
streacth with incoming year., achieved mother grand
mixer oa Tuesday sight, and mos more it is our
pleasure t be this to congratulate right heartily all
concerned. It will &chilese be fresh in the memory
of the mosioal portion of our 11011111141 that the septa
meet was tried at the last concoct of subetrusuag a
small but efficient band for the piano mad harmonium
as a means of accompaniment. How sue earful the
venture proved needs no repetitiou. Following up
this progressive ttop, the executive decided on the per.
formica of • portion of the I,l,jsk with full band. It
wee at first proposed to peclorm Saga& Mkt',
but alter Ister othaileratiou it was armor I to asloot
the first part of the Ei,jok for this chain, sod the
thread for the Christmas performance, lo the mean-
time we hope Staball Miler is wider the committee's
coseideration, and that we shall have an opportuoity
of bearing Rolleille• great work. The pro-
gress of the Vocal Association IS coated with
the Menai interest and pleasure by all lovers at music
he Dorchester; it has, we trues and believe,
Clirthrough the fire, and there is sow no reason
oubt that a kfighlneel al and successful career
Iles Whim it. To judge by the crowded, mad we
iaight slmost *num *tic, autism* that 1e5em.,..1
in the Corn 1i :change bet Tuesday, there I. ids
ground for assuming that the effort' of the associattore
sire held in the highest apprthietion by the majority
of the inhabiteate of this town, who, we believe, have
th=mlii7 and taste to eajoy good and even
o magic, wino it is their rare *sinus to hear
it, se much as my other community. It most have
been siabjeot for just • peening shade of regret to some
that the Elijah in its eatizeth could not ue given.
" 0 rest in the Lord," " Thee shall the klighteons,"
aid other PUN which we are all so apt, unoonecdowily
alma*, and normectuably sometimes, perhaps, to
Identify with the oratorio, were sadly mimed, but
there realm the pleasure in dors. It was found
impossible to work up the whole thing, which would
have entailed an immense amount of labour and
application, mid it was deemed advisable to give the
two pert. separately in their entirety lather than give
from the •Itola A careful sued judicious
selection of soloists for the occasion had been
made. Madame Eva Soorey (of Southampton),
who gave such unqualified satisfaction in the Creation,
was remgaged to sing the soprano music; Mfg.
Stedman (contralto), of Weymouth, an old sod ad-
mired friend; Mr. John I& Hayden (first tenor of
Salisbury_ Cathedral), who is always • web me visitor
in Dorchester, Weymouth, and other towns in the
pert of the comrty ; and Mr. Bingley Shaw (base).
Of those, Mr. Shaw is the oaly stranger. This gentle-
man halls from Soathwell Minster, and proved him'
self a painetaking and efildent singer. The following
composed the orchestra —Violins, Mr. W. Stone. Mr.
F. Stone, Mr. Perkinao, and Mr. Blake ; viola, Mr. E.
Moon; violonoellos, Mr. Abode hat Mr. S. B.
Smith c otrabas.o, Mr. Sharp; flute, Mr. H. Smith;
clarinette, lierr K. Dascherer and Herr Becker has.
soon, Mr. K. Diemen ; trumpets, Mr. Stevens and Mr.
Moore. Mr. J. Robinson, jun., fulfilled the post of
pianist, with his accustomed ability. The IttijaA
I. • work of such magoitu le that to attempt any.
thing approaching • description of it lo detail in a
brief cruising would be impartible. It opens with •
brief introduction, the Mee recitative prophesying the
approaching drought • this ebort movement is
succeeded by die overture, fell of technical diffi-
coition, and requiring the utmod care to give it a
duo interpretation. A roagnifieent chorus by the
People, and then follows in succession • sublime
description of the various tragic details of the Prophet's
life, the first 'part which is all we have DOW to deal
with, ending with the difficult but most effective
chorus—' Thaake be to Gcl." The overture was ad-
mirably played, and the succeeding chorne—" Help,
Lord "—wan given with a defiree of effectivenesa and
precision which created a most favourable impremion ;
an impressioo that was maintained throughout the
whole evening. The exqoisits phrase, "Will then
the Lord," was beautifully taken up. After the bold
recitative chorus "The deeps afford" came the
soprano and contralto doett, with chorus, "L ,rd.
bow thine ear." The duett, "Zion Spreadeth,"
was sung by Madame Scorey and Mrs.
Stedman with great expression. The chorus
was pleasingly effective. The most, importaat of the
whole team music in the work follow. here, namely
the fine recitative, "V. People Rend Your Hearts,'
and the air "If with All Your Hearts." Mr. Hayden
mug the air in such • manner as to render it worthy
to be naked among his beet off q.t.- He palisade a
IS. tenor voice, and • highly finished executioo. He
gave the recitative most superbly, sod the air with
Am effect, the upper notes being brought out with
line effect. Mr. Hayden was greeted with warm
applause at the conclusion. The trying thorns, " Yet
doth the Lord," and "For he the Lord," with
its exquisite harmonies, were well sung, and
we could not fail remarking the unusually excellent
quality of the eoprance, particularly in this chorus.
Ma. Stedman next sang the recitative, "Elijah I G. t
Thee Hence," with Mr accustomed care. This was
followed by the beautiful double quartett, "For Ho
Shall Give Hi, Angels," by Madams Soots, and Mrs.
Thomas ; Mrs. Stedman and Mra. J. Robinson; Mr.
Hayden and Ur. W. J. Durden ; and Mr. Bingley
Shaw and Mr. F. B. Fisher. It was given with
excellent effect. Madame Pc,rey thangar. the recita-
tive for the widow, "What Have I Do With Thee,"
the first of a series of magnificent numbers descriptive
of the weill.known incidents of the Scriptural narrative.
Madame& my was in splendid voice. She pommies
• Yoke of rare quality and extensive compass, and
the eloquence of the theme, no lees than the power
of the music, curled the audience with her. The
mask and words of this part of the work are of the
most dramatic character, the instrumentation being
woedrouslydescriptive. Of Mr. flitaw's performance,as
• rule, we may say it was remarkably good. He is
the fortunate poeseesor of • good orgao,but it is some-
what marred by a defective and forced enunciation.
He is, however, • careful and effirdeat singer,
and sang the music allotted to the Prophet
to the general satisfaction of the sadism*.
The declamatory recitatives, which require so much
Isla and " doing " (a most expressive word), were
given with great vigour, and yet with the religious
expression required by the character of the music.
Madame &prey achieved a groat emcees in the lovely
air, Now, by this I Know," which was given with •
chastener of expression and deep feeling which
created a marked effect (We cannot bare resist nom-
Mr. H. Smith on his effective rendering of
=euelltrfliate pecemes. which are to be found up mid
down the oratorio.) The chortle, " Blamed are the
Men." was well sung, the forte pert. being given with
greed effect; • similar remark also applies to the most
effective number, "And Then We Shall See" The
chorus, however, reserved their energies for the
Immortal Baal chorus, and we can faithfully esy Its
famed one of the most brilliant features of
thrldeserht coroert It was taken at rather a faster
nem than cost 'wary, we believe, but we use do the
charm the credit of saying they followed Mr. Boyton
Smith's Woo with answervieg fidelity, and the
&Wide* at the clam bordered
_y 00
moors. The prophet's taunting d=o'ilj ILO
all
Loader," were well declaimed by Mr. Shaw,
although one is inclined, perhaps unfairly, to
Dompare his rendering of them remarkable recite
Piths with that of Mr. Smiley, the best Interpreter
of the music who has ever lived. Mr. Shaw woe more
socosedul in the recitative and air "Draw Near, All
Ye people," whish leads up to the exquisite quartett
" Clad Thy Burden." The four voices blended
superbly, the beautiful composition losing nothing at
the hairdo of four such artiste.. The catchy chorus,
."re• Fire Diacenda," was capitally sung, and Mr.
Stone's value as a leader of the orchestra wee never
more apnea:laid than in this. Mr. Shaw's next bed
effort was the well-known air "I. Not Hie Word,"
the accompaniment of which was megnificentlr
TM perform smoothly
performance west on to the
reatiores of the fiat part, the soprano music allotted
to the youth beim efficiently taken by Mrs. W.
Thomas, Of the chorus "Thanks Be to God," we
ma soak in terms of high commendation. Sneakieg
of the performance as • whole, it would be difficult to
award too lavish praise; the soloists did their work
in • manner that did theca an infinite amount of
credit; the choruses were not marred by • single
mishap; the band was above reproach; and Mr.
Boyton Smith, as the trainer as well as conductor,
is to be congratulated most warmly on the therm;
which has attended his indefatigable exertions.
After • brief interval the second part of the pro-
gramme opined with what was in the opinion of
7:vas greatest treat of the evechig, viz., the
" Sendramide " overture of Rossini. It Is
=seldom at concerts of this description that an
Doe in in the mood to encore an overture, •
mopeetrjou which, popularly sodeistood, be the
ssabodlsoase of all that I. tiresome and uulntellfgibf..
when therefore, we say the overture in question was
encored with irresistible enthusiasm. it speaks
volumes for the efficiency and admirable composi-
tion of the band. It would scarcely be fair
to compliment one member of the band above the
ether, but we may say the flute and piccolo peewee
were deliciously played by Mr. 11. Smith- The whole
of the overture was taken with • 'marines of attack
sad a degree of fisisb seldom beard. bir. Stases led
admirsbly, end every member of the bend did his
week wen, Madame &arm next gave with great
ailed Gonnod's pathetic song, "Oh that We Two
were Maytag," which was followed by Mr.
Hayden's fine !performance of Michael Watson's
"Anchored," Both of these songs were !hilly
applauded. Mr. H. Smith followed with • fist. solo,
beaded on the familiar Scotch air. " Comin' Theo'
the RT..- Idr. Smith is • remarkably good flautist
gad gave the difficult runs with a skill which evoked
=•dmiratioa, sad at the doss be received a
emote, which, however, was not responded to.
Madams Storey's greatest emcees was Bache spleadid
asap, "When the Heart Is Young," Villa was most
liestefully sung, Mr. Bingley Shaw gained an encore for
She mast hhOe, " The Little Hero' (Adams), and, In
be sari, the gabled and " smiths* '
Tas pretty thorns, "May 42'14,
with sesoispashasat la TWA tho solo was Samar

fully sung by Mn. W. Thomas, hrousht one of the
most sucamsful commie ever gives Is Dorchester to •
termination. We cannot close without • hearty word
of 00,41ratulatto. to Mr. Herbert Hodges for all his
efforts in WWI a the saeociatim.