Country Town Concert at Buntingford
Arranged by the Herts Rural Community Council
By the direction of the Herts Rural Community Council, a grand variety concert was given in the Women's Institute Hall on Wednesday evening.
A good number of persons seized the advantage of listening to the professional artistes who have so often been heard in broadcast concerts. The artistes taking part were Miss Margaret Stephen (soprano and accompanist), Miss Phyllis Nash (violinist), Miss Rita Sharpe (cellist) and Mr David Hutchinson (tenor), who took the part, owing to indisposition, of Mr Owen Bryngwyn.
The object of this and similar concerts to be held in Hertfordshire is for the purpose of keeping the various musical and choral societies in touch with one another, arranging tours of the village, country town and school concert parties, and generally helping to promote musical enterprise in the country towns and villages of the county. Any surplus money which is left in hand after paying the expenses involved will be expended by arranging for concerts to be held in hospitals and similar institutions where circumstanes do not allow for charging any fees.
The programme opened with two delightful trios by the Misses Nash, Stephen and Sharpe, which were followed by two songs by Mr Hutchinson, who fine voice was greatly admired; his song "Sigh no more, lady" was exceptionally well sung. The "Hungarian Rhapsody," the cello solo which commences with a mournfully and rhythm gradually changing to a wild composition, too, was well rendered by Miss Sharpe.
Then followed Miss Stephen's three soprano songs (1) "My true love day," (2) "By and by," said to have been sung by people of the Hebrides when they were thinking of the joys of Heaven, and (3) "The route of the isles," the words of which are supposed to have been uttered by an old native journeying back to his land of Scotland, all of which were extremely charming. Equally charming were the two violin solos "Minuet" and "Air and Variations" by Miss Nash, and Miss Stephen and Mr Hutchinson sang as a blosing item to the first part of the programme the familiar duet "Oh no, John," for which they were loudly encored.
Following a brief interval, during which a representative of the Herts Rural Community Council explained what the scheme is and how it is worked, Miss Sharpe illuminated the commencement of part 2 by two other praiseworthy cello solos "Drink to me only with thine eyes" and an oriental dance tune; Miss Sharpe was clamourously encored, and she replied with "Le Cygne." Mr Hutchinson was also vociferously applauded, and as an encore he sang "My love, she's but a laddie," which was very amusing.
Miss Nash's two violin solos of her own composition, "Miniature in G" and "African Dance" were well received, as also were the humourous duets "Keep away, my Johnny" and "My boy, Billy" so excellently sung by Miss Stephen and Mr Hutchinson. Two other trios, preceded by a cello solo, was followed by community singing, when all the audience joined in the singing of "John Brown's body" and songs of a similar character. The accompaniments of Miss Stephen at the piano deserve special mention.
Various explanatory notes on music were given by the artistes during the evening, and Mr Hutchinson laid emphasis on the importance of sounding the consonants as well as the vowels in singing, and not relying upon the audience as always having a book of words before them. It was articulation and interpretation that were most essential.
Special thanks are due to Mr E.E. Dennis who made the necessary arrangements for the concert; to Mr H. Fry who sold tickets; to Misses M. Wornham and M. Coxall who sold programmes; and Mr F.W. Butler and others who kindly acted as stewards.