Buntingford & District Musical Society
Present "The Pied Piper of Hamelin"
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"Rats! They fought the dogs and killed the cats, And bit the babies in their cradles"
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On Wednesday evening of last week Buntingford and District Musical Society preseted Parry's "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" at the Benson Hall, Buntingford. This is one of the most difficult works the Society has yet dealt with, and their production is worthy of the highest praise.
There was a well-balanced orchestra, the members of which came from Hertford, Letchworth, and Hitchin, while the soloists were Mr Ralph Williams, L.R.A.M. (tenor) and Mr Rintoul Johnson (baritone). These two soloists were heard at their best, their style of singing being charming and arresting.
The story goes that after the Pied Piper had cleared the town of the rats the Mayor and Corporation tried to evade payment of the thousand guilders previously offered him, and then the Piper stepped into the street,
"And to his lips again, Laid his long pipe of smooth, straight cane, And out came the children running."
Then they were led away by the Pipe to a hill, in which a caverna was suddenly hollowed. And when they were all in the door in the mountain-side shut fast,
"And Piper and dancers were gone for ever."
Although the piece had been so effectively set to music by C. Hubert Parry, the words are, of course, by Robert Browning, and if it is one of the most difficult works the Society has touched it is remarkably short, lasting little more than half-an-hour.
It was therefore necessary to fill up the programme with other items, and Mr E.E. Dennis , the conductor to the Society, git on a novel idea when he introduced Community Singing into the programme. The second part of the programme was therefore taken up with Community Singing, and after a little instruction from the conductor, the whole audience were joining heartily in the singing of such well-known songs as "John Peel," "Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag," and "Tipperary."
"Buntingford's Burning" was a special favourite, with "Shenandoah" a close second.
Mr E.E. Dennis, who has worked so assiduously for the Society, conducted the whole programme. Mention must also be made of the valuable services rendered by the pianist, Miss Macklin; Mrs Fell, Mrs Butler and Mrs H. Feasey were in charge of the catering arrangements; while Messrs H. Clarke, F.W. Butler, E.C. Clarke, and E. Martin kindly acted as stewards.