Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal 21 April 1893

SHIRLEY

A large and appreciative audience assembled in Shirley school room, on Wednesday evening in last week, on the occasion of a micellaneous concert, given by the Shirley choir and various friends. An interesting feature in the programme was the accompaniment on the auto harp of the song "Jeannette and Jeanot", sung by Miss F. B. Sheldon, who also played on the same instrument some well-known favourite airs with modification, and gave with piano accompaniment, "The Devoted Apple." The first of these was vigorously encored, and "The Old Folks at Home" given in response. Amongst the solos Mr. Ruston distinguished himself by his singing of the Derbyshire hunting song "Old Smiler" (F. Cotton) in character as a countryman, and "Nancy Lee." He also took part with Mrs. Hort (to whom much credit is due for accompanying , and indeed, training the choir) in the well known "A B C Duet." An enthusiastic encore was given to the Rev. W. R. Linton for the "Well of St. Kenye," which convulsed the audience. They were sarcely less amused by his second song, "My Boy Tammie." A gallop was played in each part as a pianoforte duet, which had the merit of being lively and not too long for the audience, by Miss Dixon (who very ably accompanied most of the solo songs) and Miss E. B. Sheldon. Three bass songs given by the Rev E. F. Linton were well received, together with a quartette and a trio, and a homely song sug by Mrs.Hort, "The Old Cottage Clock." No less than eight part-songs were contributed most creditably by the Shirley Church Choir; "The Maiden of Fleur de Lys" (Sydenham) and the "Carnovale" (Rossini), and "Moonlight and Music" (Pinsuti), a soft, pretty piece into which feeling was thrown, being specially worthy of mention. The proceeds of the concert are to be given to the Shirley School Enlargement Fund.