The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1885-03-17 00:00:00

DORCHESTER VOCAL ASSOCIATION.

The hon. see., committee, and members of the Dor-
chester Vocal Association, mast have been rather
disootwaged at the small amount of appreciation of an
extra effort whieth they had been at considerable pains
to teaks la order to square &rootlets, and wipe off a
debt of some £l5, owing to an extra outlay
Incurred in au earnest endeavour t render impor-
tant musical works in a manlier more in amordeam
with the Intentions of the compneers. The aesoola-
tion has provided Doraheeter with come rare magical
treats, sad it Is only Moo. the mausgetnent has
launobed oat into extra expense in engaging an effici-
eat orobeetra that they have been amble to make bcth
ends meet. No one would dream of accusing the
oomusittes of exttavaganos, awl • band is infinitely
preferred to the old means of sooomp aimed, but it
is very evident that without. spooled bead fund, the
association manot In the present condition of its
reeourose engage • oom_Oete orohestra without out-
running the mostable. We aro eel to bear • bend
fund le I progress, and we trust lovers of good made
will see their way to give it medial sapport. Ti,.
marred on Thareday night fulfilled • double purpose—
Ite intention vista liqddate the debt, and to celebrate
the hi-oedema, of Bandel's birth. So far as the first
intention Is conoentel, we are informed the receipts
were only a trifle over the mpenese,notwithsteeding the
professional vocaliste kindly sang for • mud lower fee
thee usual. and the m anti ire of We band gave their em
Time, their out-of.pooket expenses may being &sepiolite
the ageociation.M ealcally the concert was an unequirmal
enemas. I:lsadore meaterplece, the Mesed, receiving
• spleadid interpretation, and one in which it would
need s very exacting critic to detect stir serious
blemishes. Thu le all the more creditable, oonelleriog
it was but a very short time since it was &aided to
give the ooncert, and the practices have been com-
paratively very few. It is quite true portions of the
Armed wen well known to most of the members, but
there were °homers whish we believe have never base
performed here, the oratorio being given in its com-
pleteness., with the exception of one or two rout-
',entirely unimportant numbers, Mr. Bolton Smith,
to whom the grub efficanoy of the chorus is eatirely
duet conducted, and Mr. Stacie and Mr. Lamm, first
violins, lead She ogribeetra TM band oomprieed
roam well-known and efficient loeal enusiciam
The overture oonuoseced punctually at • goatee to
eight. bin, Darden mug the tenor reale.. Comfort
Ye," and the accompanying air, "Every Valley,' in
his beet style, and he wee deservedly applauded. We
have rarely heard Mr. Ditrout sing better. The
chortle, "And the Glory," served well to dlplay the
g compositioe of the choir, and it was give.' with
• smartest. of attack and an energy that proved very
effective. Mr. Fowles nag the bees recitative" Thas
mith the Lord,' and the tiva.difol air "But who may
abide?" roma-kohl y irpr, in the declamatory passages
be being pertioulaely dims... Mr. Fowles singing
I. greatly liked here, and his performance on thie
occasion wee superior to anything we have yet heard
from him. The difficult chorus, " And b• shall purify,"
went smoothly and effectively. The contrelto raft.,
"Beholds Virgin." and the " 0 Thou that Tellest,"
WOTO sarntrab,y rum by Mrs. Bir/CIMSII. Mr. &MIAS
again proved himself to be • thorough arid te la the
"Fr Behold," and the tying sir " The
people that walked In darkeess." One of
the grestest MOWN of the china was
the splendid number 'For unto ne." it being given
with telling effect. Madams &au seas lb. remit..
" Them were shepherd.," and following ale sad rade.
splendidly. " Glory to God" was somewhat marred
by • defect in the inetrumentation, but no fault could
be found with It. rendering by the chorus. One of
Madame Soorev's sumeseee was undoubtedly the
spirited air " Blotto@ greatly," and Mrs. &Maim'.
beet effort was the delightful sir "B. shall feed His
gook." The ooncludiag chorea of the Stet part, • His
yoke I. gag." was eves with the requisite spirit and
rimer. "Behold the Lamb et God " tree sung with
great delicacy, and with an attention to detail not
often mat with in much larger choirs. Km Stedman
rendered the air He wee " with due feellax
and expression, sad she was deucedly applauded.
Toe noceeding three choruses went without a hitch.
• Duiden sang " But thou dicta not lee,." with
excellent tate. A noticeable feature in this pert was
the line to:el./made of the majestic choruses, "Th.
Lard rave the word " mid " Their sound la gone out."
Me. Fowles sminsei well domed applause by his
villefeue rendering of the bags air " Why do the
, satins. r Of ammo the " Hisiklajah," the chorus of
the Messiah. produced a splendid effect. It went with
clock-like preasiorit Mr. Boston Saidee decided bed
befog faltlfudy al.meied to. The gem of the evening.
so for ea halleidual sflorte is. eacerod, wee, without
• d..ubt, Madame Sc Weed perfect 'adoring of the air
" I gnaw that my its imsnee !leech." The favour and
feeling which this me ,mplielled auger threw into the
music and the natu-al beauty of her voice produced •
deiloloes rffeer, and the audience were not slow to
testily their approval. Mr. Fowls.' narrowly escaped
In moore In the eue air, "The trumpet shell sound,"
I. which he Well displayed ids seetilent volt" ad his