MALE VOICE CHOIRS IN MILITARY CAMPS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23944, 11 May 1943, Page 6

MALE VOICE CHOIRS IN MILITARY CAMPS

Sir,—May I tell you of my experience with British soldiers in Europe in 1919-20? I was stationed first at Charleroi, then at Cologne, and later at Antwerp, presumably to entertain the forces at different camps. At the Charleroi camp I began by asking the soldiers if they would agree to turning the tables. Although they could not read notes, we set to work and very soon they were singing in two, three, and four part harmony popular and traditional songs, and a few classics which I arranged and taught them by ear. Then we would have concerts in large marquees on the boulevard, with a Belgian professor and his daughter playing 'cello and violin, and we sang in the open air on country roadsides when returning from Sunday outings. It is not always necessary for people to hold sheets of music or to keep their eyes on a sheet of paper, and this way of singing needs no music fund behind it.—Yours, etc., M. JENNINGS. May 7, 1943.

Sir,—“ Also Hopeful” has made the point that for the last three years various concert parties have entertained our troops without payment, and suggests that the National Broadcasting Service could follow this precedent, the money thus saved providing finance for our men to - develop their musical talents. It would be interesting to know how much it costs to run one of these concerts. Would £SO be far out? The National Broadcasting Service recently broadcast from the camp where the male voice choir to whom I have referred is. Why was the choir not included in the broadcast? Did the National Broadcasting Service not know of its existence? The Army education welfare scheme did and surely should have been only too eager to have had a soldiers’ choir included, especially one that has established a reputation for successful performance.—Yours, etc., HOPEFUL. May 10, 1943.