New Britain herald., 1929-12-04
CHORAL SINGERS
 MAKE FINE DEBUT
String Ensemble Shares in
 Concert GIOrieS

Choral club of New Britain took place in Central Junior high school auditorium last night and set high standard of excellence.
 Under the baton of Roy Williams Steele, the conductor who was brought to the city through the knowledge of Frederic J. Macom- Der, president of the club. that he would be the right man 10 guide the club during it's critical formative period, the program was given most painstaking exposition. The club responded to his readings of the scores with unfailing artistry.
 The concert also gave opportunl- ties for others 10 score strongly with the audience. Miss Esther Nelson, soprano, displayed voice Of vibrant clarity, while the Max Barr En- scmble, a quintet of strings, added amazingly to the interest as accom- panists and in their separate con- tributions. This ensemble, indeed, was one of the features Of the con- cert.
 In addition to the ensemble in aCCompaniments, the piano, with Israel Rosenberg at the keyboard, was added. MT. Rosenberg alone ac- companied Miss Nelson in her songs, acquitting himself in his cus- tomary manner.
 The singing of the club started in an ante room. where with the door partly ajar the motto of the club. specially written by Louis k. Dressler and sung from manuscript, was waited to the audience. Follow ing this the members marched to the stage.
 Conductor Steele had selected a program of much variety. A most ap- pealing number, sung without ac- compartment, was Passing By" by Purcell. It was a masterpiece of carly English choral writing and was eXpounded in masterly way, the music floating like a soft breeze on a perfect autumn day. "Grpheus With His Lute,' by Augustus Bar latt. was similarly presented, but with the addition of the strings. Hey Roloin.' which ended the Eng fish group, spirited and possessing intricate rhythms, received much ap- plause.
 The Magic Song,' by Meyer-Itcl- mund, may not be Of heavy sub- stance, but it happened that it con- tains an oblgato part for the so- prano, and thus presented it form cd a stirring climax to the first half of the concert.
 The club sang the profoundly moving choral from the Christmas oratorio by Bach, with piano only. It's majestic phrases could scarcely have been done to better advantage. The "Chrstmas Group" included March of the Wise Men" by liar Ncy Gaul, which was heavily laden with oriental atmosphere.
 Alexander" by Herbert Brewer, was a clever play upon words and extracted a good laugh, as did "Old King Cole,' vocal fantasy by Cecil Forsyth.
 The club closed it's contributions with "Ring Out Wild Bells" by Fletcher, which incidentally ended the program. It was a stirring finish and included the use of bells, manipulated by Howard Y. Stearns.
 One usually expects much of a guest soloist. This reviewer, who participated as d singer in the club vas not in a position 10 judge Miss Nelson's contributions ls well as anyone in the audience, But despite this disadvantage to the critical faculties, her contributions were highly enjoyable even to one sitting hehind her back. She ended eacn of her groups with an elaborate art song, which not only displayed a voice of brilliant capabilities but gained fine responses from the audi ence. These songs were "Chere Mutt" by Bachclet, and Come With Me" by Burleigh, the latter was a plenitude of modernism in the har- nony which MT. Rosenberg extracted with eclat.
 Because the string ensemble i2 treated Of last does not imply 1t was not an important part of the cN2- ning's performance. The reverse Is ,"ue. II ever there was something done at a local concert that mcf with widespread satisfaction it wds the presentation of the string qua. tet. There was a piece of Mozart 10 begin with, done daintily, jauntily and with genuine heart appeal There was Bach air, stately and slow. And then the piece tha; loused a storm of joy, a performance of Grainger's Molly on the Shore that will finger in memory.
 Almost everyone has heard this rollicking composition played dozens of times. The manner in which il