VARIED CONCERT PROGRAMME

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27116, 12 August 1953, Page 11

VARIED CONCERT PROGRAMME

PAPANUI TECHNICAL COLLEGE The Papanui Technical College gave its annual concert before a big audience in the Repertory Theatre last evening. The programme consisted of musical items, with choirs and orchestras; a boys’ gymnastic display; folk dancing, a brief sketch, and a one-act play. To open the programme, a massed choir sang “God Defend New Zealand,” arranged with a descant by Dr. Vernon Griffiths. The same choir later sang “I Vow to Thee, mv Country.” by Gustav Holst, “England,” by C. H. H. Parry, and “Non Nobis. Domine,” by Roger Quilter. The conductor of all the choral items, and all but one of the orchestral numbers, was Mr L. S. White. Pianoforte accompaniments were played by Mr C. Cross, a member of the college music staff, and by Miss Dale Mancer. The senior orchestra played melodies from Haydn arranged by Woodhouse, a march by W. Mackay, a dance by Woodhouse, and a festival march by Adam Carse. A combined orchestra played three nursery tunes by Carse, and three other short pieces. A four-part choir sang two traditional songs—“ You Gentlemen of England” and “There is a Tavern in the Town.”

The second part of the programme opened with a demonstration of boys’ physical education. Head springs, hand springs, overswings, dive rolls, and forward and backward somersaults—all done in groups—were followed by heaving and agility exercises on a balance beam.

The folk dancing by small groups of third-form boys and girls was all too brief. They did the Durham Reel, the girls dressed in attractive, gaily-col-oured skirts and the boys wearing coloured sashes. The dancing was followed by a sketch. “The Charladies Chat,” presented by B. Wells. J. Harrison and B. Keetley. Effective costumes were worn by those taking part in an amusing oneact Play, “Wayside War,” by Margaret Napier. The cast comprised Gail Bennett. J. Russ. Zelle Douglas. G. Arthur and J. Harris.

The concert will be repeated this evening.