Diocesan Choral Festival.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 242, 14 October 1886, Page 2

Diocesan Choral Festival.

The CourtconUi annual festival of tho association of Church Choirs was celebrated by a choral service at All Saints' Church, Pousonby,

last evening. There was a vory large attendance, nnd the church was thronged. Tho Bishop and some ISO clergy, together with a surpliced choir of men nnd boys, assembled in tho spacious schoolroom, and marched in procession up the centre aisle of tho church. A book containing tho order of service was

printed for the occasion, nnd enabled jvoryono present to join in tho services.

The processional hymn, " Come forth, O Christian brothers," was set to a striking tune, specially coniposod by Mr N. G. liarnett, conductor of tho festival, ihc prayers were intoned by the Hoy. C. M. Nelson: and therespouses were sung without accompaniment, and, we mayladd, without that steadiness which can only bo acquired by constant practice. The l'salms, 75 9li, and 97, were chanted with much spirit, and were on the wholeeffectivcly rendered; hut the greatest novelty in tho service was the setting of the canticles by Charles Gounod to simnlu and melodious music in four part harmony Avitli occasional unison passages. Tho anthem "0, clap your hands" (Staincr), was

.just what a festival anthem should be—bright, tuneful, dignified, and not too long. It was sung exceedingly well, _ better, in fact

than any anthem on a previous similar occasion. Thu hymn before the sermon ,"How bright those glorious spirits shine," to Dykes'B beautiful tune, was well chosen; but, the succeeding hymn, " Sing praise to God," sung in slow time to a German choralo " Krk," wasstill better suited to

the heavy force of a mixed choir of some 120 voices.

The recessional hymn was another novelty, the tune, by G. A. Macfarrcn, being very bright and uplifting The lessons were read by tho Hoys. I. S. Sinallflold and C. C. Frith, and the prayorß after the third colloct were intoned by the Up.v. (Jr. H. S. Walpolo. An excellent and practical sermon was preached from the text. Psalm c. 1, by the Hoy. \V. Beatty. the newly appointed warden of St. John's College, who pointed out the tendency to individualism retarding the true appreciation of. united worship. A collection was made in aid of tho funds of the Association, which amounted to £'J ll'i Od. The organ accompaniments were well and carefully played by Mr W. H. Hard-wick, and the general musical success of the service was a litrikinir toutimony to the zeal and ability of the conductor. Mr iiarnett, who spared neither time nor pains iv bringing his choir to a state of efficiency, >