The Bromsgrovian/Volume 2/Number 5/Musical Entertainment
A concert of classical music was given in the big schoolroom on Monday, May 14th, in the afternoon, the performers being Mr. Bradley (piano) and Mr. Crowder (violin). Mrs. Parsons and Mr. Crowder also sang songs. The music was of the highest order, and the greatest praise must be given to all the performers. It was perhaps the first time since Mr. Bradley's arrival amongst us that he has had an opportunity of being heard on an instrument worthy of him, and the result was such as to verify to the utmost the belief that had already been formed of his consummate powers and exquisite grace as a pianist; and even Mr. Crowder's high reputation as a violinist must have rested on a firmer basis than ever after his artistic interpretation of the music entrusted to him. Perhaps the most noticeable of the concerted pieces was the sonata for violin and piano, by J. S. Bach, which won well deserved applause for the accurate way in which it was rendered. Mr. Crowder and Mr. Bradley were also heard to full advantage in Niel Gade's beautiful sonata in D. minor, which was the last piece in a thoroughly well chosen programme. As regards the solos, Mr. Bradley's rendering of Schubert's sonata in B major was quite excellent, but we are inclined to think that his great skill as a pianist was even more fully displayed in Chopin's exquisite nocturne in G. major, which he played throughout with the delicacy and grace so absolutely necessary to a true interpretation of Chopin's music. Mr. Crowder's violin playing is already so well known amongst us, that it is not necessary to say more about his solos than that he played both Spohr's Barcarole in G major, and Molique's melody in A major, with his usual refinement and feeling. The success of the afternoon was reserved for Mrs. Parsons, whose charming singing has never been heard to greater advantage in Bromsgrove. Her first song, Gounod's "Le Nom de Marie," which was most sympathetically sung, received rapturous applause, but the encore which most deservedly greeted her rendering of Schubert's "Who is Silvia?" was too unmistakeable to be ignored. It is most satisfactory to see boys as well as their elders capable of appreciating really good singing. Mr. Crowder's fine voice and perfect vocalisation could scarcely have found better scope than in Handel's wonderful song, "Revenge! Timotheus cries." His singing of "To Anthea," was also thoroughly artistic, although this song is perhaps hardly so well suited to him as the other. We subjoin a programme:—
| 1. | Sonata for Violin and Piano, No. 2 in A major | J. S. Bach. | |
| 2. | Song | "Revenge, Timotheus Cries." | Handel |
| Mr. Crowder. | |||
| 3. | Sonata for Pianoforte Solo in B major, Op. 147 | Schubert. | |
| 4. | Song | "Le Nom de Marie." | Gounod. |
| Mrs. Parsons. | |||
| 5. | Violin Solo | Barcarole in G major, Op. 135 | Spohr. |
| Melody in A major, Op. 47, No. 2 | Molique. | ||
| 6. | Song | "Who is Silvia?" | Schubert. |
| Mrs. Parsons. | |||
| 7. | Pianoforte Solo | Nocturne in G major, Op. 37, No. 2 | Chopin. |
| Novellette in F major, Op. 21, No. 1 | Schumann. | ||
| 8. | Song | "To Anthea." | Hatton. |
| Mr. Crowder. | |||
| 9. | Sonata for Violin and Piano in D minor, Op. 21 | N. W. Gade. | |