The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-04-20 00:00:00

DORCHESTER VOCAL ASSOCIATION.

The concluding concert of the fifth season of this
association took place at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester,
Met Thursday evening, and the general opinion seemed to
be that it was the best of the series, and, indeed the best
the association has given. The professionals engaged were
Miss Marion IYAlmaine, soprano, and Mr. J. Lander, boas,
and their services afforded the greatest satisfaction. The
pianoforte accompanist was Mr. J. Robinson, junr., who
had filled that position at the practices throughout the
hall-season: Miss M. Parmiter also took part as maniste in
a symphony ; and Mr. W. Gregory as hon. aceoulPefiitli
again supported the vocalists on the harmonium. All filled
their parts admirably. Mr. Boyton Smith was the conduc-
tor, as usual, and had • more pliant chorus than at any
preceding concert. Ills efforts in connection with the
association have been most successful, and nothing could
be more gratifying than this concert taken altogether or
in detail. The chorus appeared to consist of El soprano,
10 contralto, 10 tenor, and 16 bass. Subscribers and
friends very fairly filled the rootn, and on no former
occasion have we heard more enthusiastic applause. At
10 minutes past eWit the concert began with "The
heavens are billing the well-known chorus from Haydn's
" Creation." The most noticeable feature was the im-
proved quality of toile in the vocalisation, and the effective
gradatims of light and shade under the guidance of the
conductor's baton. The grand chorus went admirably:
the verse parts were taken with great nicety, and when
the whole body of voices returned to the subject the
acceleration of the time was followed with singular
unanimity, and the peculiar chromatic phrasing of the con-
cluding movement had new force and beauty from the
tunefulness with which it was sung. At the close there
was • general burst of applause, although it is not usual
to make such demonstrations after sacred music. A
selection from" Elijah" followed, Miss IrAlmaine opening
with the air "Hear ye 'treat' Her rich and powerful
soprano voice was heard to great advantage, and the
passionate pleading recalled the thought of the ancient
prophetesses. She sang in the most chaste and finished
style, delighting all who heard ; and the Vocal Association
undoubtedly does immense service in the interests of
music as an art by bringing before Dorchester audiences
professional singers of her calibre. The recitative and air
"Be not afraid was a rare specimen of mingled declama-
tory and *oedema° singing. The fair artiste took the
upper A sharp with wonderful ease and incisiveness,
and in tender passages sang with exquisite taste. The
chorus followed with the same subject, and its
force and beauty received pleasing expression. The
male voices sang out vigorously and well, and the ladies
took their parts with the greatest auroras. Mr. Lander,
who has a good welltrained voice, and sings the music
appointed with rare fidelity and judgment, followed with
the air "It is enough." It was the despondent cry of •
man disappointed of his countrymen, and willing to
depart, and list none of its natural effect in Mr. Lander's
rendering. The favourite trio for female voices. " Lift thine
eyes," was sung with trebled parts by Miss Keats, Miss
Loader. Miss Pouncy, Mrs. Hodges,Miss Hodge., Mist
Howell, Mrs. Pattem Miss Parmiter, and Mrs. Gregory.
Being unaccompanied, the effect was novel, and it formed
quite a feature in the programme. "Ile watching over
Israel," chorus, which completed the selection, was an
excelllent performance. There is a good deal of dramatic
colouring in the music, and the members reproduced it
with gratifying success. This was followed by the inter-
mezzo movement from Mendelmohn's " Hymn of Praise -
symphony. Miss M. Yarmiter and Mr. Boyton Smith,
piano, and Mr. W. Gregory, harmonium. It was a charm-
ing display of delicate manipulation. Some of the phrasing
is very novel, and has a graceful lilt that was particularly
Octane. It was well received and, certainly_ the able
manner in which Mills U. Pulliam and Mr. W. Gregory
acquitted themselves, reflects great credit on their
preceptor, Mr. Boyton Smith, as well as on the
executante themselves. A selection from "St. Paul,"
by the same compieer, followed, commencing. with
the chorus "How lovely are the messengers. The
contraltos led off very sweetly, and, indeed, in all the
chorused, sang remarkably well although they were
relatively few in number. The grand chorus "To all
nations was given with immense effect; and it was
one of the most picturesque and taking selections of
the evening. bliss D'Almaine sang with sweet plaintive-
-11016 the lament "Jerusalem, thou that killed the
prophets," and Mr. Lander followed worthily with Saure
pies for mercy after he had been stricken. The recitative
There was a disciple" by Miss D'Almaine, displayed •
fine specimen of that peculiar phrasing. The solo and
' chorus" The Lord he is good," richly expressed joy and
, confidence; and both Mr. Lander and the 'mediation
elicited deserved plaudits. The soprano recitative, relating
the restoration of Saurs sight followed, and then came the
chorus " U great is the depths." The biases took their
lead with steadiness and good voice, and the tenors
gallantly got threw& a difficult part with great sumac
In the Intricate passages of the closing movement there
I was no fault or unsteadiness, The sopranos attacked the
, upper A with • boldness and success that are astonishing
when considered in regard to the feeble efforts of only
two or throe voices in the earlier concerts. This con-
cluded the sacred portion, and there was an interval
during which the singers got refreshments, The pro-
gramme was resumed, by Miss D'Almaine who gave • see na
from Iler Friseektits, Mr. Boyton Smith accompanying. It
afforded ample scope for the display of her high ability,
and she seemed able to do anything with her voice that
she pleaded. The eloquent description of eventide, alarm
for the safety of her lover, joy at his appearing, passionate
I banishment of anxiety, and tramoort of happiness in the
prospect of" wishes fondly blest„ were all depicted with
marvellous skill, and evoked a torrent of applause, which
would brook no denial, and the fair songstress repeated
part of the estna. Mr. Lauder sang Handers song
" Revenge," from "Alexander's Feast," with great vigour
and power. In the intricate runs each note was piehed
out with faultless skill; and there was a touch of the
grotesque in the sketch of • thistly band, each torch in
WiW. of Grecian ghosts, unburied, inglorious. We know
that the ancients, f ron. Egyptian nines. had • great
horror of being unsepultured, and Handers quaint fitful
music, was expressive enough. His rendering of the
music was warmly applauded, and would inevitably have
arisen to an es. re had not the conductor called up the
chorus, and proceeded with Pinsutrs "Fair land we greet
thee," • piece profanely known as "Sweet Jenny Jones!"
However, its setting is effective, and they mat it admir-
ably. Miss D.Almaine followed with "Bird of the
wilderness," music by Hr. Boyton Smirk the composer
accompanying. Itis a charming melody, with • telling ac-
companiment, and wassplendidly sung. The blithesomeness
and freedom of the skylark were gracefully pourtrayed and
there was intense passion concentrated in the concluding
phrase—"O to abide in the desert with thee." Singer and
composer were re-called by unmistakeable plaudits, and
the second verse was repeated. The chorus then gave a
sprightly little part-song of Macfarren's, "The cuckoo,"
with telling vivacity and lightness, and there was a spice
of humour given to it by the refrain of the sopranos
Imitating the cuckoo's monotonous note. It pleased
immensely, and was vociferously encored, and repeated
with equal spirit Mr. Lander sang Shield's famous old
song "The wolf "as well A. we have ever heard it, and, in
response to an moon, gave "I'm • forester," affording
great satisfaction to all. The tipsy chorus from "Predicant
completed the programme, and "God save the Queen
closed an admirable concert at half-past ten.
From all we hear there is great unanimity of opinion as
to the excellence of the concert . In regard to the associa-
tion, we may notice that important and effective results
were obtained from the combination of pianoforte and
harmonium as accompanying instruments to the choruses.
The hanuonium whim. was an addition, gave body to the
volume of sound, and probably contributed to the steadi-
ME/ which was so marked • feature of the choruees. A piano-
forte alone, however, well Played—and Mr. J. Robinson,
jun. ouerits the warmest praise—is but thin in such massive
coin paitions,and the harmoni urn was • decided acquisition.
The youthful amateur Master W. Gregory improveson each
succooding appearance in public, and renders good service
to the association. Recent experience in Dorchester
does not inspire us with much hope of • stringed band
which would be of any value being maintained, if
even one were formed: and, although we have often
desired to see such an addition to the association,
we have well nigh come to the conclusion that it
Is incapable of realisation, and that bk. Boyton
Smith has had wisdom and experience on his side in
keeling the society clear of such • difficoltlrmanaged
body. We must also remember it is • Vocal Association,
and that inetrumentataou is only essential to it by way of
accompaniment. Piano and harmonium supply almost