CHOIR SINGING

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21315, 7 November 1934, Page 17

CHOIR SINGING

TO THE EDITOR OF TUB PKBSS. Sir, —In "The Press" of Friday, whilst scanning the correspondence column, my attention was arrested by a letter signed by H. R. Wilkinson, concerning choir singing. The writer was critical of the singing rendered by some of our church choirs and suggested that as a notable authority on church music, in the person of Dr. Sydney H. Nicholson, was in our midst, opportunity should be taken to learn from him what choirs should sing and what they should avoid. Your correspondent suggested an invitation to Dr. Nicholson to address our choir leaders, choirs, and those interested, during his stay in the city, on the subject. He maintains that there is a lack of "harmony and blend," something which evidently had not been learnt, and implied that the opportunity now offered for them to do so if arrangements could be made, and a hall secured in which to be addressed. It would appear from reading his letter that he is one of those who attend church at home (not perhaps from choice but from compulsion). If from the latter, I am sorry for him; if from the former, then he should most certainly note tne remarks made by Dr. Nicholson when he says that "the choir is not there to perform to the congregation, but to offer their best to God in the beauty of holiness as their personal sacrifice; that they should be prepared to give even such mundane things as money"; and that in worshipping God one was to be ready to make a sacrifice to give and not to get. That was the main principal to be aimed at. This you cannot do if you sit at home and listen to a broadcast service. If your correspondent were to attend church in person he might find his complaint about the sopranos merely due to the placing of the microphone and not to any attempt on the choir's part to "out blast all the rest of the congregation. A church choir is a quiet and peculiar thing." I see he quotes from an address of Dr.. Nicholson, and so might I add are people who fail to recognise that we have in our midst a man whose musical ability is equal to any, come who may, and who would be safely relied upon for guidance in the matter suggested by your correspondent. So I do not see that the need to trouble a visitor, particularly as he has already made himself clear on the subject. I wonder if Mr Williamson was in the Cathedral to hear Dr. Nicholson's address there, which was preceded by an example of the very finest choral singing obtainable. Its excellent standard was remarked upon by Dr. Nicholson himself during his address, when he stated, after saying that he never paid compliments, that he would like to say something atyout the Cathedral choir, that the standard of music in the Christchurch Cathedral was as good as that in England (and that is saying a good deal). He declared further that an incalculable amount of good would be done if each of the Christchurch choirs paid a visit to the Cathedral at least once a quarter, so herein lies the remedy for those who wish to learn. For those of us who are acquainted with Dr. Bradshaw, whose brilliance as an organist and choirmaster cannot be denied, we feel that with a man of his wonderful ability in the city we need have no fear while his example is present. Perhaps Dr. Nicholson's remarks will serve to stimulate new interest in those unacquainted with the real beauty of the services held in the very heart of our city, the excellence of which is only gained by the unstinted sacrifice and tireless efforts of those responsible for their performance, which for years now have made almost daily a very real offering praise to God. I

In conclusion, I must say that as I come from England, I have heard the foremost organists and choirs at Home, and on leaving there some years ago had many regrets as I thought that I had left everything approaching the beauty of such services far behind. But on arrival in Christchurch I found that this indeed was not the case. I had found something equal to the best I had left behind. I was overjoyed in coming to Christchurch to find the best traditions in respect to cathedral services as I knew them at Home so ably upheld. It would be impossible to speak too highly of the splendid work being done here by Dr. Bradshaw and his choir in this far-off land, year in and year out, rendering service to God in the most beautiful form.— Yours, etc., F. T. CLARK. November 6, 1934.