500 CHORISTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 193, 17 August 1939, Page 7

500 CHORISTERS.

SCHOOLS' FESTIVAL

AN INSPIRING OCCASION

?? . -if > J Five hundred eager-faced and neatlyuniformed boys and girls, each with eyes intent upon tlie compelling beat of a magnetic "conductor, filled the choir seats in the Town Hall last evening. It was an inspiring sight. Behind them gleamed the silvery pipes of the grand organ. Before them an enthusiastic audience thronged the auditorium from the platform up, to the top gallery.

This was the annual music festival of the secondary schools of Auckland, a movement which, started nine years ago, has drawn" at each succeeding concert larger and larger attendances, culminating in last night s huge house, booked out days before. Altogether, it was a thrilling occasion. The two greatest thrills of the evening came, undoubtedly, when the vast audience joined in with the choir in singing that grand old hymn, "O God, Our Help in Ages Past," and again when the massed choirs, accompanied by the grand organ, sang the stirring festal song, "Let,, All the World in Every Corner Sing, this making a telling climax to a memorable concert.

Other massed numbers "Joe's Gone" and "The Keeper," in both of which Mr. James Leighton sang the solo part with great success; "In Praise of Neptune" (German), "Now is the Month of Maying," an Elizebethan four-part madrigal; "The Joy of Life," a mosrt interesting four-part canon in five-four tune; the rhythmic "George, the Blacksmith" (Brahms), "Go Forth with God" (Shaw). "Whence is that Goodly Fragrance?" a beautiful old French carol, with descant. All these were sung with fine effect, several having to be repeated to satisfy the demands of the enthusiastic audience. That they had been thoroughly rehearsed was obvious, and great praise is due to all those who so capably trained the choirs at each school, also to Prof. H. Hollinrake, whose forceful personality and inspirited conducting welded the various units into one harmonious and responsive whole so successfully. To this should be added that Mr. H. C. Luscombe's accompanying at the piano and grand organ was most effective.

Besides the massed numbers, items also were given by choirs from individual schools. A party from the Epsom Girls' Grammar School, conducted by Mrs Miller, sang very sweetly a three-part madrigal, "O Happy Fair." Miss C. M. Herbert conducted the St. Cuthbert's College Choir in three part songs, "Lul■any of the Moon-Mist," "Butterfly" fSchuma,nn-.Taeobson). and "Haste Thee, Nymph." A fine quality of tone was displayed by a choir of boys from King's College, conducted by Mr. L. C. M. Saunders. in "On a Time" (John Atley. 1022) and the Welsh air, "The Bells of Aberdovey "

Among the most popular items of the evening were the Maori songs, hakas and poi dances. The boys from St. Stephen's School, conducted by Mr. W. C. Morris, gave "The Song of the Locust" (a "Maori Rhythmic Shouting Song") and "Karu, Karu." an old Maori fishing song. Their school haka, given in three movements, "brought the house down." Most faseinating were the "Waka Poi" and the action song "Ko Wai Tene." given by the girls from the Queen Victoria School, the beauty of their true and soft-toned voices, heard in harmony, together with the grace and precision of their rhythmic dances, providing one of the most appealing presentations * of*the evening.

A string orchestra, with piano, conducted Ijy Miss Lois Walls, played with fine expression and really excellent intonation two numbers bv Bach, and Schubert's "Roaamunde," Entr'acte No. 2.

The following schools were represented: Auckland Girls' Grammar School, Diocesan High School. Auckland Grammar School, Dilworth School, Epsom Girls' Grammar School, Hill Top School, King's College,' Oueen Victoria School, St. Cuthbert's College, Sacred Heart College, St. Stephen's School, Takapuna Grammar School.

Mr. Gerald Lee was a most efficient atage manager.