MALE VOICE CHOIR

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24096, 4 November 1943, Page 3

MALE VOICE CHOIR

A SCHUBERT CANTATA The Christchurch Male Voice Choir gave one of its agreeable programmes of music in the Radiant Hall last evening. Many of their favourite partsongs and choruses were sung, Elgar s “Land of Hope and Glory,” Balfour Gardiner’s “Cargoes” and “The Lincolnshire Poacher” among them. These were given in good style. Still, the choir is able, in these times, to bring to our hearing some first performances. Samuel Webbe’s “Come, Live With Me” and Bishop’s “Mynheer Vandunck,” were brought down, from the society’s shelf, presumably, and given an airing. They both date from the days when glees were glees, that is, when smooth writing for voices and fine craftsmanship were joined to pleasant music. Both were finely sung, particularly the second, which called forth some splendid tone. Another first performance was that of ‘‘Three Sailor Shanties” arranged by Maurice Jacobson. The soloist, Claude Burrows, and the choir gave a brilliant performance of these. -They sang happily and with gusto.

But the society sprang a surprise with its first performance of a cantata by Schubert, “Song of the Spirits Over the Water,” opus. 167. This is a most remarkable work, in Schubert’s deepest vein. The words, by Goethe, narrate the course of a river, over placid and rough ways. Naturally this gives Schubert his chance. With voices, in eight parts, and an accompaniment that in the first bar announces one of his favourite rhythms, he is soon launched into deep waters. The depth, and beauty, of sound in this work is quite extraordinary. The choir gave a good rendering of this difficult music, perhaps the most important choral work heard in Christchurch this year. A further hearing will be welcome. Mr Len Barnes directed this, and the other works, ably. Miss Beatrice Hall sang an aria by Handel, “Where Art Thou,” Elgar’s “Where Corals Lie,” Bairstow’s “The Sea Hath Its Pearls,” and Liszt’s “Thou Art Like A Lovely Flower.” Miss Hall has some fine notes in her contralto voice, particularly in a low register; she can deliver an opening phrase beautifully, too, as in the Liszt song. Mr Maitland McCutcheon played several violin solos, among them an attractive little waltz by J. B. Cramer. Mr A. Hollingum sang simply, and touchingly, a heavenly air from Haydn’s “The Seasons.” Mr T. G. Rogers sang an ingratiating air by Goring Thomas; the Lyric Four, Messrs R. Mac Gibbon, E. Douglas, C. Burrows, and A.'Hollingum, sang a comic'partsong, “The Presbyterian Cat” and Hatton’s “Absence.” Mr -Noel Newson has rarely played more poetically than he did in the Schubert. Tribute was paid to Mr W. J. Richards, for 25 years a member of the choir. In memory of Bishop Brodie, a vicepresident of the choir since 1926, Sullivan’s “The Long Day Closes” was sung. F.J.P.