MASSED SINGING. MUSIC WEEK PERFORMANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 196, 20 August 1930, Page 9

MASSED SINGING.

MUSIC WEEK PERFORMANCE.

CHILDREN'S TRIUMPH,

PIANO AND CHAMBER MUSIC.

There was a gusto about the singing of tiie combined schools' choirs that

made last night's concert in the Town Hall a great delight. More than 500 youthful voices were heard in the crowded hall. Parents and relatives 'had gathered from all parts of Auckland, and there was an enthusiasm that marked this as one of the big events of "Musk Week."

1 First of all there was the spectacle j of the organ gallery with tier upon tier of youthful choristers, overflowing on ' to the galleries on hoth sides; then ' there was the truly inspiring moment when the hundreds of voices Mended, in ' the opening number from Schubert, 1 "Who is Sylvia?" The freedom of the singing, the powerful volume of tone, and the absolute confidence of the : youngsters, were in evidence throughout. I Tuneful Part Songs. ■ - Part singing in the Maori songs "E Pari Ea" and "Hoea Ea," by the Kowhai Junior High' School choir, was much appreciated, and there was an appealing 'beauty about "Twinkle, Twinkle," and. "Hark! Hark! The, ■ Lark!" by Normal School pupils. No i less attractive were two songs by the i Bayfield School choir, "See Our Oars .are Splashing Lightly'" and "Volga Boatmen." The selection of part songs included "The Last Eose of Summer" and "Isle of Erin," by the Biclimond Eoad School pupils, and "Carrion Crow," by the -Mount Eden choir, all of which were delightful. There was_ a dainty charm about "Spring's Delights," by the Westmere School choir. The lolk dances by little children from Edendale, Bayfiald, Maungawliau, Normal, and Kowhai Junior High, were performed with a simple and natural grace that won .much applause. Besides the schools which ga,ve individual performances, six other schools, Brixton Eoad, Birkenhead, Stanley Bay, Newton West, Epsom, and Eichardson Eoad, were represented in the massed choir. 8 Appeals for Encores. The desqant, a part taken by only one school in each instance, was a feature of the massed choirs performance in "Billy-Boy" and "Shenandoah," in which the high notes soared above the united, singing of 'the other choirs. The audience keenly wished for encores, but these could, not be; given owing to the full programme. The disappointment was, however, partially removed, by an encore in the final part song,' "You 11 Get There," by the massed choirs. Great credit is due to Mr. E, Varlev Hudson, headmaster of the Normal School, who was conductor of the massed singing, and to the teachers and organisers who carried out the ambitious performance. School Choir Association. Mr. Varley Hudson announced during the evening that a schools' choir association had been recently formed in Auckland, and had decided to arrange a music festival for children every year, independent of "Music Week." Primary, secondary, and technical, and also private schools, would, be included .in the movement, and a series of conceits would be arranged. The performance of the Auckland Chamber Music Society in the Lewis Eady Hall last evening was marked by attractive ensemble work, delightful phrasing and variety of tone colour. This was revealed with telling effect in the opening number from Dvorak, _ a quartet played by Mrs» Hayes, Miss Lalla Hemus and Messrs. Long and Munro; and again in the final quintet from the Irish composer, Villiers Stanford, which was given a most sympathetic rendering by Miss Jean Allfeh, Miss Lois Walls, Miss Amy Stevenson, Miss Hemus and Miss/ Dora Judson. Two songs were contributed by Mr. Len Barnes. Piano Students' Recital. Selections from the classical composers were included in the programme given by the Piano Students' Association yesterday afternoon in the Lewis Eady Hall. Chaminade's "Pas des Cymbales" was played by Misses Doris Binns and Mavis Hewson, and was followed by Verdi's "Eri Tu," an operatic selection sung by Mr. W. McMicliael. The piano quartet by Misses Kennedy, Wright, Sinclair and Parker, from "Tannhauser" (Wagner), and the piano duos, from Schubert's third March Militate, by Misses Jagusch and Hawthorn, the andanfS of Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony," by Misses E. Hall and C. Martin, Arensky's "Valse," by Misses J. Parker and E. Kennedy, and "Spinning Song" from "The Flying Dutchman," by Misses E. Clare ancl E. Blackburn, were all most cordially received. Three pleasing songs, "Endearing Love" (Bralims)." "When the Dew is Falling," (Edwin Schneider) and "Nattinata" (Tosti) were contributed by Madame Mary Towsey. The programme concluded with a piano quartet from Beethoven's Country Dances, by Misses Blackburn, Clare Parker and Judge. Mr. Karl Atkinson gave an entertaining address' on "The Indispensable Piano." He said that public taste in music was definitely advancing, and described the piano as the key to all that was grand and glorious in music. To-day's Programme. A secondary schools' concert in the Town Hall this afternoon, a miscellaneous concert this evening, and a piano and violin recital in the Lewis Eady Hall by Miss Jean Allen and Miss Margot Toner this afternoon make up today's programme. To-morrow afternoon the pupils of the Auckland Catholic Schools will give a concert in the Town Hall.