THE HARMONIC SOCIETY

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24749, 14 December 1945, Page 4

THE HARMONIC SOCIETY

SUCCESSFUL CONCERT In the Christchurch Harmonic Society, Mr Victor Peters has created a choir fine in its own performances and having a vitalising effect on the progress of choral singing, not only in Christchurch, but in other centres also. The standards of technique which good choralism demands,are all observable in this choir's work; and, above all, there is a vigour and an alertness which make it quite outstanding. The society’s contribution to last evening’s programme consisted chiefly of carols. All were well -selected and some were of special merit, notably Parry’s “Welcome Yule,” Elgar’s "I Sing- the Birth” (in which three members of the choir sang the solo parts), Lang's “Remember, O.Thou Man,” and Woodgate’s arrangement of “In the Bleak Mid-winter,” for male voices (again with the solo being sung by a choir member): but, in its quality and, its performance, the most outstanding item was the ■ chorus, "Christians, be Joyful," from Bach’s Christmas oratorio. Two chorales from the same work, "Ah, Dearest Jesus, 1 ’ and “Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light,” were very well sung, and Fletcher’s effective “Ring Out, Wild Bells,” fittingly concluded the choir’s section of the programme. A movement to encourage choral singing amongst the staffs of business organisations was successfully inaugurated by the staff and junior choirs of Hay’s, Ltd., which at this concert “■d audience in the singing of The First Nowell.” In other carols also, an invitation for co-operation from the audience met with a ready response.

The combined choirs of the Girls’ High School, Avonside Girls’ High School, and the Boys' High School gave remarkable performances of three choruses from “The Messiah"— And the Glory of the Lord," “Lift Up Your Heads,” and the Hallelujah Lnorus—all arranged for six-part singing by massed choirs of this type. Conducted in these items by Mr Clifton t OO j’ v e choirs reached a very high standard, the tone in all sections being very good, except for an occasional and understandable tendency on the part of the first sopranos to force it th „ e higher register. This was confident, attractive singing, and the- future of choralism in this city demands that such work should continue to be encouraged in the schools concerned and initiated in others. Under the conductorship of Mr Vicgirls °f this group sang ™- Ty „ attractively “The First Christ- “ The Flowering Man/P- C- BociG. . and "Christmas Blessing (Anderson); and they were joined by the boys in Markham Lee’s ‘ln Excelsis Gloria.” Mr G. M. Martin played four organ solos. Fantasia in Adeste Fideles (G. ,rt ho V ale Prelude on In Dulci ”£ bd ° ,l Bach ]- Pastoral Symphony ( Handel), and Alleluia (Slater), in addition to the organ accompaniments i H£,, out the Programme. Mr Maurn'janJ'r W fu accompanist at the piano for the Harmonic Society, and Miss Nahcy Fordyce for the combined school choirs All of this instrumental playing contributed its full share to tns success of the concert, shrluJ nevi^ at) ) e such a concert tKo U *r . c?PP ha , E) se the inadequacy, of the building m which it was given, the music-makers of Christchurch deserve something.very much better th3t e n?°f, e f hablt ’ and is t0 be hoped that in future concerts the- Harmonic S 3!LS"<£ ,oh " r 0 ”" >y ' mont f ” V.G.