57 
In Madame Paddon the services of a good singer were secured, 
but on Thursday night she was sadly lacking in energy and 
enunciation. It was obvious that it was her first appearance in 
what is regarded by capable musicians as Dr. Elgar’s master- 
piece. 
Of the principal soloists the least work fell to the lot of Mr. 
Herbert Brown, yet in his two solos he demonstrated that he has 
a promising career before him. He is the happy possessor of a 
fine round bass voice, mellow in a marked degree, and capable of 
plenty of volume. He sang with great care and refinement. 
Coming to the Chorus, which had been carefully selected, 
nothing but praise can be given them, and their duties were far 
from light, in fact the choral work was of the most difficult order 
that has been set a Burnley chorus. The persons of which it 
was composed were amongst the best singers in the town, and 
quite a number of veterans, accustomed to oratorio music were 
seen in the ranks. It gave evidence of having been well drilled, 
its tone was really good, it was evenly balanced, knew the music 
well, and attacked it with good effect, in fact two of the pieces 
they rendered were veritable triumphs of chorus singing. One of 
these was a chorus of demons, ‘* Low-born Clods,’’ in which is 
some novel instrumentation, forcefully suggestive of the infernal 
regions, whilst the other was the double chorus, “ Praise to the 
Holiest,” which also contains some startling colouring, 
Dr. Crump, even in his maiden effort at conductorship in 
public, has established for himself an enviable reputation, for 
he showed himself most zealous, self-possessed, and pains-taking 
in the onerous task which fell to his lot. 

