DIOCESAN CHORAL ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12353, 17 November 1905, Page 4

DIOCESAN CHORAL ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL FESTIVAL,

Tlie Christchurch Diocesan Choral Association's annual festival was held in tM Cathedral yesterday, and was attended by a large number of representatives of the different church choirs in and around Christchurch belonging to the Association. The choristers assembled outside the Cathedral shortly before three o'clock, and entered tho Cathedral in procession through the, west door singing Haydn's processional hymn, "Glorious 'things of Thee are spoken." The ordinary evensong service followed, with the omission of the sermon. The psalms selected and sung were Henry Lawes's 96th, Bishop Turton's 147 th,. and P. Humphreys's 150 th, the Magnificat arid the Nunc,4)imittis being Sir John Goss's setting. The anthem was Bamby's "O Praise the Lord," and was sung by the massed choirs with vigour and accuracy, showing that some pains had been taken in the work of preparing the choristers for the festival. The service concluded with the reoessional hymn, "To the Name of our Salvation." The members of the choirs taking part in tho festival, together with a number of guests, were, at the close of the afternoon service, entertained at "High Tea" at the Royal Cafe, and tho dimensions and facilities of that resort were taxed to the utmost in order to provide for tl}e 600 hungry individuals who swarmed in there. The gathering was presided over by Bishpp Julius, and several toasts were proposed at the close of the tea. ■ - -Tho Bishop, in proposing "The Health and Prosperity of the Christchurch Diocesan Choral Association," said that nineteen choirs had been represented at the festival, and he was very pleased with the success of the Association, and the fact that so many Church choirs belonged to it. The influence of the Association was making itself-felt among the city and country choirs." The Association owed a great deal to.the secretary, Mr H; D. Bellhouse—(applause) —and to Mr A. J. Merton, who had done such excellent service in the training of the choirs. (Applause.) A great deal of the success of the festival was due t<> Dr. Bradsbaw, the organist of tho Cathedral. (Applause.) ■;. Mr A. J. Merton, who responded to the .toast, referred to the small attendances at Borne of the practices,.and Baid that the combined/ choirs could not expect to work well together if; the members would not attend the practices. The members should, in the future,- support the conductor better than they had supported him this year. Mr C. E. Bevan-Brown proposed the health of Bishop Julius, and the gathering broke up. • There was a very large congregation present at the 7 o'clock servioe, and the Cathedral was crowded in all parts. The sermon was preached by. Bishop Julius from the text "As well the singers as the players of instruments shall say all my strings are in thee" (Psalm 87. 7). His 'Lordship said that the Psalm 1 from which tne text was taken had'°4'-special interest for it was written by one of the singers in the I"_mple choir at Jerusalem. Song .was God's sorrowful world, but sinflring,*'no matter how fine it was 1 was worth nothing until, it was the expression of a 'heart that loved.God.'' /,- ' y'S.YX-'-- ?'-y The following choirs were represented at the Festival :• —Surplioed—Cathedral 40. St. Michael's £0, St; ■ Luke's 22? St: John's .18,7 Avonside 26j. Merivale 13," Riooarton 12, Papanui 27, St. Albans 18, Fendalton 20,; Phillinstown. 18^1<yt r telton 10, St. Stephen's ,(Kaiapoi) 20; Opawa 8; . unsurplioed—St. Michael's 12. St. Luke's 14, St. John's 12, Avonside 10, Merivale 14, Riccartcn 8,-.Pa-panui 11, Bt)Y Albans 13, Fendalton 10, Phillipstown 12, Lyttelton 25. St. Stephen's 16, Opawa 46, Haiewell 10, Gor vorhor's* Bay 18, Rangiora 20, Prebbleton 31, Spnngston 15. The total number of voices was 559,,the second largest' number recorded at any': festival of the Association. 1 ' - ■■•■77 •'■• '■""..'...'•