Denaby Choral Society Concert

On Tuesday evening in the spacious new schools, which have been erected at Denaby, the Denaby Main Choral Society held their annual concert and gave a large and enthusiastic audience a rich musical treat. The success of their efforts must undoubtedly be most encouraging to the society, and considering the failures which have lately been experienced at Denaby in the musical direction, the concern on this occasion was a decided success.

The programme was divided into two parts, the first consisting of T. Mee Pattison’s charming and difficult work “The Ancient Mariner,” and the second of a selection of songs and other music. It would be difficult to say which of the two parts was most successful, for although the individual efforts of Miss Frith, Mr. Sharp, and the excellent chorus rendered by the choir appeared sure to be popular, there was no lack of appreciation in the finer touches of “The Ancient Mariner,” and the conductor, Mr. Moses Soar, must have felt highly gratified at the success of his efforts.

The society supplied the choruses, while the solo artistes were Miss Emmie Frith (Sheffield), soprano; Miss Clara Soar (Denaby), contralto; Mr. Royle (Doncaster), tenor; and Mr. J. Sharpe (Alfreton), bass. The programme commenced with the overture to “The Ancient Mariner” by the band, and the choruses “It is an ancient mariner” and “The ship was cheered” were most efficiently rendered, the members of the chorus attacking their first effort with much spirit and precision.

Mr. Soar early gained applause for the manner in which he handled the choir and the evidence of the careful training which they displayed. The recit., “The wedding guest here beat his breast,” was well received by Mr. Sharp, who showed his excellent powers by his rendition. Miss Frith scored her first success by singing “The bride hath paced the hall,” in a manner which simply carried away her hearers. Mr. Sharp then came again with “And now the storm blast came,” the beautiful music of which he most efficiently and successfully rendered.

The choruses then gave “And now there came both mist and snow,” a pretty piece of music, which was tastefully rendered. Mr. Royle followed with “And a good south wind sprung up behind,” and this gentleman’s fine rendering was most enthusiastically cheered. In the duet, “God save thee, Ancient Mariner,” Miss Frith and Mr. Royle were really a treat, their voices being well balanced, the result being a perfect conception of the music.

Miss Soar was heard to distinct advantage in “The fair breeze blew.” Mr. Sharp was loudly applauded for his rendition of “There passed a weary time,” the music admirably suiting his fine bass voice. Miss Frith again made her appearance, and was greeted with loud applause. At the conclusion of “Beyond the shadow of the ship” the talented vocalist was loudly applauded, her splendid range and the power of voice highly delighting the audience.

“O happy living things” was musically treated, and the soprano air and chorus, “O sleep, it is a gentle thing,” by Miss Frith and the choir, was a happy blending of delightful harmony. Mr. Sharp gave a most realistic interpretation of “And soon I heard a roaring wind,” after which the chorus sweetly rendered “The coming wind did roar.” Mr. Royle followed with “The sails at noon left their tune,” which was well received. The duet, “Swiftly, swiftly flew the ship,” was harmoniously rendered by Miss Frith and Miss Soar, and the conclusion of the concert was loudly demanded and they were compelled to supplement their first effort.

The second part was commenced with a part song “Annie Laurie,” which was sung with much precision, and Mr. Soar was again loudly applauded at the conclusion. The good old favourite ballad “I fear no foe,” was artistically rendered by Mr. Sharp. A violin trio followed, by Mr. Soar and Messrs. J. and J. Sharpe (Rotherham), the execution of the three instrumentalists being high-class, violinists being fully sustained.

The next song, “Waiting,” by Miss Frith, was undoubtedly the great success of the evening, and she was loudly cheered, and finally compelled to respond to the encore. The band, which had evidently been well trained, then most musically treated “Marche aux Flambeaux,” and Mr. Sharp followed with another good old favourite, “The Diver,” which was well rendered. Miss Frith next sang “I cannot tell what this love may be” (from Patience), and received an encore, but the lady did not respond.

The choir concluded the programme with a part song entitled “A slumber song,” which was most prettily rendered, the loud and soft passages being marked with much precision, and the National Anthem brought a most successful concert to a close.

Mr. Nixon most ably officiated in the capacity as accompanist. Mr. J. Sharpe was leader of the band, which was composed chiefly of gentlemen from the Denaby district, which reflects great credit to the place as well as upon Mr. Soar, who has evidently taken great pains to get the instrumentalists into so perfect a condition.

The following is the programme:—
Overture—The band.
Chorus—“It is an ancient mariner.”
Chorus—“The ship was cheered.”
Recit.—“The wedding guest here beat his breast”—Mr. Sharp.
Song—“The bride hath paced the hall”—Miss Frith.
Recit. and air—“And now the storm blast came”—Mr. Sharp.
Chorus—“And now there came both mist and snow.”
Air—“And a good south wind sprung up behind”—Mr. Royle.
Recit.—“God save thee, Ancient Mariner”—Miss Frith and Mr. Royle.
Air—“The fair breeze blew”—Miss Soar.
Recit. and air—“There passed a weary time”—Mr. Sharp.
Recit.—“Beyond the shadow of the ship”—Miss Frith.
Chorus—“O happy living things.”
Air and soprano chorus—“O sleep, it is a gentle thing”—Miss Frith.
Recit.—“And soon I heard a roaring wind”—Mr. Sharp.
Chorus—“The coming wind did roar.”
Recit.—“The sails at noon left their tune”—Mr. Royle.
Duet—“Swiftly, swiftly flew the ship”—Miss Frith and Miss Soar (encored).
Chorus—“What loud uproar.”
Part song—“Annie Laurie”—The Society.
Song—“I fear no foe”—Mr. Sharp.
Trio—Messrs. J. and J. Sharpe and Mr. Soar (encored).
Song—“Waiting” (encored)—Miss Frith.
Overture—“Marche aux Flambeaux”—The band.
Song—“The Diver”—Mr. Sharp.
Song—“I cannot tell what this love may be” (Patience)—Miss Frith.
Part song—“A slumber song”—The Society.

The following took part in the chorus:—

Sopranos: Misses A. Scott, S. Rose, G. Rose, G. Soar, G. Freggatt, L. Wheelhouse, M. Street, E. Firth, E. Webster, M. Popple, A. Hillerby, A. Harrop, E. Soar, S. Flinders, E. Flinders, May Soar, Mrs. Ambler.

Tenors: Messrs. Bary, Littlewood, J. Soar, Brown, Batlor, Carr, Crossland, Hemsworth, Howarth, Midgley.

Altos: Messrs. T. Soar, T. Flinders, Mawson; Misses L. Scott, Brammer, Wood, Dryden.

Bass: Messrs. Chambers, Witty, Smothurst, Popple, Jones, Howard, Addy, Carr, Ambler, Chadwick, Horsley, Hillerby, M. Jones.

The following comprised the band:—

1st violins: Messrs. Joe Sharpe (principal), J. Hill, H. Sharp.
2nd violins: Messrs. Jas. Sharpe (principal), W. Sanderson; Miss Gerty Soar.
Violas: Messrs. Miller (principal), Engben.
Cello: Mr. H. S. Witty.
Contra bass: Messrs. Crossland and Corbridge.
Trombones: Messrs. A. Midgley and Green.
Cornets: Messrs. W. Haigh and G. Goodwin.
Flute: Mr. Jos. Soar.
Clarionet: Mr. W. H. Chambers.
Piano: Mr. G. A. Nixon.