, 1879-03-30
AT HOME.


gave its second concert of the season at the FRS
Methodist Church on Friday evening, to houst
full OF its friends and members The programme
was an attractive one, though none OF the mum
bcrs for chorus we're at all ambitious It in
cluded the ss Capstan Chorus" BY Smart; 1t II
Silly Night,'' by Lachner; 1.-THE Equinox ~ bs
Kreutzcr; t'The Village Blacksmith by Hat
ton; "A Fresh Song in the Forest" By abb
{can Abt write anything fresh 3; "Descrt Foun
tain," By Gade; "Absence,' By Abt; "Oh
Wiuter,'' by Gade; anu liking Witlaf's Drink
ing Horn,'' py Hatton, whose fancy leads him
so often among the drinking bouts OF the monks
Tie Society turned out in full ranks, and Mr.
Loesch held the baton. Atthe first concert Of this
Society the auditorium was not adapted to this
style Of singing, that 1t was difficult to form
clear estimate Of their real strength and ability
but in their new quarters there was less ground
for complaint on this score. The same weak spots
were apparent at the second concert tllat in the
first We thought might BIZ attributed ia part tC
their surround ings. Taking the Society In parts,
the secoud basses giVc solid foundation OF tone
of superb quality upon which to build, and sing
with remarkable steadines5 and apparent
absence OF effort. The first tenors are alto.
getller too prominent. Two or three voices
dominate the rest, and by continual forcing
sacrifice the quality Of tone. Between the hcayi-
ness Of the one, and tile shouting, almost scream
ing, of the o.her as it they singing obligato
solos, the middle parts are covered up, and
thus the balance is wanting. If two or three OF
the foremost tenors would restrain their impetu-
osity somewhat, and not make themselves
quite so prominent, there would be much bet
ter effect Of blending and certainly greatly
improved quality Of tone. Much depends upon
the conductor in this respect. In society
made up almost exclusively of excellent indi-
yidual singers. nearly all OF whom, in fact, are
solo singers, there is even more Ieed Of severe
discipline than in society made up Of the, ,musi-
cal rank and file. He must subortlinat. them.
They must sing as parts Of the whole, not as iu-
diyiduals, and the heavy men on either end
must give those in the middle some show
With such fine voices as there are in this Society.
and with such an aggregate of musical know-
edge and skill, We have right to expect unus~
ual results, and they themselves must expect
that seyerer tests will be applied to them. NO
one doubts the capabilities Of these singers, but
those capabilities will never be fully developed
except under the most rigid discipline. The
solo numbers Of the programme were nd
lnirable. Mrs. Farwell appeared in more
tloriu work than usuE!+ an aria OF ecu
temeri's, 'sCupa fntal moestria," which she
sang in a very artistic way: and IN beautnnl
smoothly played bv .ar. Loesch) Marguerite's
Three Bouquets which she delivered with her
customary smoothncss OF finish as well as m,l-
steal intelligence aud correctness. Miss Neatly
Stevens, who ean hardly YET be called pro-
fcssional player, was the pianist OF tue evening"
and acquitted herself In a very creditable mall
ncr. Her two principal numbers, the - March !"
from the Weber Il 'Conccrt-Stueck' ~ and Liszt's