The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-04-25 00:00:00

AMATEUR CONCERT.

An amateur concert in aid of the fund for building St.
Marl's Church Vicarage, at Stamber Mill, was given in
the Corn Exchange, on Thursday evening last. The at-
tendauce was bath numerous and fashionable, as will be
shown by the fact that at least two-thirds of the building
were taken up by reserved seats. The concert, too,
musically speaking, was in every way worthy of the dis-
tinguished company who were present to listen to its
The pieces were for the most part of a thoroughly class
Bleat description, 'being selections from Mortrt. Beet.
haven, Mendel ssolin, Weber, Rubinstein. Pinsati, and
other eminent composers ; and when we any that their
exponents were such instrumentalists as Mrs. l'arkes
Miss Ibbotson, and Messrs. J. Mathews, King, and Owen ;
and such vocalists as Fraulein I'f oil, Miss lbbotsou, and
Rev. A.. Robinson, d:c., those also have had the pleasure
of listening to the above ladies and gentlemen will readily
understand that the works of the above great masters were
worthily rendered. The following was the programme
gone through .
PROOR !
Trio —Pianoforte and twoli utes. Kammer.
Miss Ibbotsoo, and Messrs. J. Mathews, and H King.
Vocal duet.— Sond the trumpet boldly."
. .„ . _. • _ •

The Rev. A. Itobinaon, sneMr. Joe. Avery.
Song.—" Part°. ma t 1, bm mio." Mozart.
Fr/Mein Pfaff.
Serenade.— Flute and piano. Beethoven.
Mr. J. Mathews, and Mrs. Parkes.
Song.— " The lights far out at are. Gatty.
Mies Mason.
Vocal trio. " Queen of the night." &natl.
Franlein Pfaff, Mes I bbotson, and Mr. Jos. Avery.
Solo pianoforte.— 'Rondo alla Tures. ' Mozart
Mr& Parkes.

Song , with.violoncello obbligato.—
.-." The Serenade-

The Rev. A. RobuLon arid Mr. Owen.
Voerd quartet. "Good night." Pinsuti.
Plaff, Mies Ibbotson, Rey. A.. Robinson, and Mr.

,
Jos. Avery.
Duet pianoforte.— Overture, " The Isles of Fingal."
Mrs. Parkes, and Miss Ibbotson. Mendelaskon.
Song.— "True to the last."
Mr. Jos. Avery.
Vocal duet.— " The Angel.' Rubinstein.
Fraulein Pfaff, and Miss Ibbotson. . .
"

Sonata pianoforte.— Adagio, Allegro Seherao, & Allegro
Asia. No. 3, Op. 2. Beethoven.
Miss Ihbotson.
Song.— " Who, lovely charmer.- Sydenham.
The Rev. A. Robinson.
_ _

Song, with gate olit;igS-ti;:-::' The -R-C-1;O Song" Bishop.
FrAulein Pfaff, and Mr. J. Mathews.
Song.— •• Cleansing Fires." Gabriel.
The Rev. A. Wiight.
Duet Pianoforte.—" The Wedding March."Mende/sskon.
Miss Ibbotson, and Mrs. Parkes.

The concert, as will bee seen from the above, opened
with a trio for two flutes and pianoforte, the perform•
era being Miss Ibbotson, and Messrs. J. Mathews, and
H. King, and as each of these are well known to Stour'
bridge audiences, it will be unnecessary for us to ay more
than that the niece was rendered with all that care and
brilliancy which usually characterises their instrumen•
Wien. Mrs. Parkes, who is • lady rather new to Stour-
bridge, displayed instrumental ability.of a high order in
her performances on the pianoforte. Her rendering of
" Mozart's Rondo alla Turco.," was distinguished by
lightness and precision of touch and great brilliancy 01
execution, and aroused the audience to such a pitch of
enthusiasm that she was compelled to respond to the
encore which was loudly demanded. Miss I bbuteun also
gave a magnificient ;rendering of one of Beethoven's
Sonata's (No 3, Op. '2.) It consisted of three more.
meats, an Adagio, an Allegro Scherzo, and an Allegro
Aasai, end although the piece was, of course, somewhat
lengthy, it was listened to with rapt attention through•
out ; and the fair performer was long and loudly ap•
plawded at its termination. Mr. Owen's violoncello
playing wis quite on a par with that of the °ills r per-
formers, and his playing of the trio between pianoforte
flute, and violoncello (Miss Ibbotaon, Mr. J. Mathews,
and Mr. Owen) was marked by considerable core and
skill. Amongst the vocalists, Friulein Pfaff and the
Rev. A. Robinson are the least known to concert vis-
itors in this town, and we will therefore, speak of
them first. Although the first of these is • lady corn.
paratively unknown in this town, we believe that she
has frequently sung at concerts given at Hawley. Her
voice is • nice sympathetic soprano, and her rendering
of the various pieces allotted to her showed that it
had been eubjset to careful training. Her singing of
Bishop's well known •• Echo Song," was given with
great accuracy and skill, and accompanied as it was by
flate obligate performed by Mr. J. Mathews, it formed
one of the most attractive vocal efforts of the evening
The Rev, A. Robinson possesses an exceptionally good
tenor voice—clear and sweet, and yet sufficiently
powerful. He received a hearty encore, for his excel-
lent singing of Sy denham's song' Why, lovely charmer."
this being the only other occasion on which • piece was
re.demanded during the entire evening. Midi Ibbotson
(cont alto), sod Mr. J. Avery (baritone), sang their
respective pieces in that • ffective manner which char.
acterizes all their vocal efforts, and their singing waa
highly appreciated by all present. The entire concert,
was, as • whole, ore of the most successful—both
musically and financially—that we have had the pleasure
of listening to in Stoutbridge ; and great credit is due
to Mr. James Mathews, upon whom, we are informed,
lay th• responsibility of getting up the whole affair.