April 1922: Orpheus Choir in Aberdeen

An article on page five of The Glasgow Herald, on Tuesday the 18th of April, 1922, reads:

 

“ORPHEUS CHOIR IN ABERDEEN

 

The Glasgow Orpheus Choir gave a concert in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, on Saturday

evening last. The programme was lighter than usual, and there were indications of a

tendency to give the public what they wanted.

 

The two madrigals which the choir sang provided the most delightful moments of the

evening. They had all the qualities that such music needs – the utmost sensitiveness

of expression as regards tone and rhythm, and an absolute command of delicate light

and shade and accent. The variety and delicate expression in Morley’s ‘April is My

Mistress’s Face,’ and the continually changing play of delicate vocal colours, were things

to wonder at. Among the most interesting of the new part-songs given were Max Bruch’s

‘Morning Song of Praise,’ Balfour Gardiner’s ‘Cargoes,’ and Elgar’s ‘Feasting I Watch.’

Coleridge-Taylor’s ‘Dead in the Sierras’ and Holst’s ‘Swansea Town’ were also listened to

with the keenest enjoyment. Both renderings were superb. The best of the Scottish song

arrangements were Bantock’s ‘O, Can Ye Sew Cushions’ and Roberton’s ‘Celtic Hymn.’

 

The solo singing was pleasant. The group of Old English songs by Miss Boyd Steven were

of high merit. Mr Gilbert Esplin sang familiar operatic songs, and Mr J. M. Fergusson, a

baritone with a nice flexible voice, sang a Hebridean song and ‘Tullochyorum [sic].’ ”

 

 

George Fairfull-Smith, May 2022.