CHRISTCHURCH HARMONIC SOCIETY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21146, 23 April 1934, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH HARMONIC SOCIETY

The Christchurch Harmonic Society announces its programme of new music for the 1934 season. In spite of the expense of procuring new works the society proposes to adhere to its policy of giving the public something definitely new to Christchurch at each of its three concerts. For the first concert on May 17 and 19 the outstanding work will be Constant Lambert's remarkable setting of the poem by Sacheverell Sitwell, "The Rio Grande," a work for solo piano, chorus and orchestra, in which the solo piano part will be taken by Mr Frederick Page. "The Rio Grande" may be described as the last word in modern composition and was first performed in London only a short time ago, where it created a musical sensation. Bach's bright "Peasant Cantata" will also be sung. At the second concert in August the society will give the new work by Claude Williams, the Christchurch musician, entitled "The Blind Obedient Dead," the words by Mr M. C Keane. Mr Williams' work has received high praise from English musical critics, and its first performance should be of outstanding interest. The choir will also render Vaughan Williams' brilliant modern work "Bcnedicite." For the third concert in November, a programme "of Christmas music is proposed, including parts 1 and 2 of Bach's Christmas Oratorio. selected carols, and choruses from Bach's B Minor Mass. The society hopes to enlist the supoort of the musical public in its efforts to provide good music.