Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-13
ENGLISH SONG.
Augusta Delighted With West
minister Abbey Singers.
Most Enjoyable Evening Of Songs,
Billiards and GIees,
Inc Two Remarkable Male Quartet:
and Madame Hooton.

zens Course which Augusta is enioyinC.
TINS winter, was the concert, last even
ing. at City hall by the Westminster
Appey Glee and Concert party. and the
people OF the city and vicinity enjoyed
one of the richest musical treats of
their lives. 1t was nothing in the grand
opera line; nor was it classical musi-
cal entertainment, except as the simple.
the familiar, the sweet and the ever
popular in music are classics. 1t was
an evening of English song; an Eng
lish program from first to last; Eng
llSn In words, music and manner. in
authors, composers and singers.
POSSIBLY most of the audience had
expected something different, since the
singers were those who had sung in
the great Abbey at the coronation of
Edward VII and his Queen. But there
was nothing on the program suggestive
of Westminsters stately arches and
solemn aisles. 1t was an evening of
old ballads, love songs and merry gIecs,
and that everybody was thoroughly
pleased is to express it mildly. There
have been individual stars of greater
Drllllancy in our city than any menu
bers of the party, but no such a male
quartet. no such boy sopranos, and no
such musical humOrist as Mr.. Canston.
And Madame Marie Hooton, the con-
tralto soloist. with a voice of most
pleasing qualities. sustained the high
reputation she has won in many lands.
1t was a rare aggregation of artists,
and none of the large audience which
greeted them will soon forget the even
ing. The audience was most enthusi-
astic in receiving and rewarding the
singers from over the seas, and they
responding to encores.
Following is the program as rendered:
PART l..
Horn Sir Henry Bishop
The Gentlemen of the Westminster Abbey
Glee Party.
Glee-"Hail. Smiling Morn"
Reginald Spofforth
The Westminster Abbey Glee Party
Duet Know a Bank G. L. Horn
Masters Harold Shemmonds and Reginald
Male Alto Song-"An Evening Song"
Blumenthal
Mr.. Percy Coward.
SOnS-"A Russian Love Song"
Won Stutzmann
Madame Marie Hooton
Old German Folk Song-''rhe Ring and
Solo. Mr.. Edward Branscombe.
Song with refrainl-'King Hcnry's
Song" Sir Arthur Sullivan
Mr.. Herbert Hilton.
Clee-rhe Bells OF st. Michasis Towar;.,
Newly arranged by Sir Robert Stewart
The Westminster Abbey Glee Party.
PART II.
Eallad-'Now Is the Month of Msying,'
Thomas Morley
The Westminster Abbey Glee Party.
Old Sea Song-"The Lowland Sea-,
Arr. by L. EranscOmbe
Mr.. Edward BranScOmbe.
Old English Ballad-"Come L.asses and
Lads Arr. by f. Branscombe
Song" Swallows" f. H. Cowen
Master Harold Shemmcns
Catch-"Poor Thomas Day."
Harrington
Messrs Percy Coward, George Pownal II
and Herbert Hilton.
Two Part SonG-"Gentlc Spring"
Lane Wilson
The Boys Of the Westminster Abbey Glee
Party.
Humorous Musical Sketch-"rhe Musical
Village" Dudley CauSton
Mr.. Dudley Causton
Vocal Waltz-"Come Join in the Dance.
G. Vincent
w
The encores were frequent, and were
in every instance songs familiar and
dear to all, as Annie Laurie" by Ma
dame HootOn, Rocked in the Cradle
of the Deep" by Mr.. Hilton. and the
beautiful lullaby Sweet and Low by
the gIce party of four men and four
bows. Not a word for the evening was
sung in Italian, French, German or
any other language than the good old
mother tongue. And another point
most thoroughly appreciated by all was
the wonderfully clear and distinct
of every singer. so that
every word was understood. If this is
characteristic of English singers, then
most of those in this country are far
behind them in one of the essentials of
the vocal music that people like to
hear.
Far be it from the Journal repre-
sentative to attempt u criticism or an
alysis of the work of these artists. He
can only say that the whole evening
was a musical treat which all could
enjoy and appreciate. The wonder
fully clear and sweet soprano voice of
Master Harold Shemmonds, with al
most the range and strength of "a grand
opera artist; the marvellously rich
cOntraltO Of Mr.. Coward; the ballad
singing of Mr.. Branscombe; the humor-
Gus musical sketch by Mr.. Causton,
who sent the audience into shrieks of
laughter with his limitations; the Tilt
and swing Of the spright1y glees by
the double quartet; and the charming
grace of Madame Hootons rendition of
the old songs:-all these were features
worthy of special mention.