SCHOOLS’ MUSIC FESTIVAL

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27427, 13 August 1954, Page 12

SCHOOLS’ MUSIC FESTIVAL

SECOND CONCERT OF SERIES The second concert of the primary schools’ music festival was given last evening in the Civic Theatre by the pupils of the Belfast, Hornby, New Brighton District High, Papanui, Phillipstown, Richmond, Shirley Intermediate, and Waimairi schools. Once again some very interesting and efficient singing was heard. The items by individual schools gave considerable variety to the programme and, if none reached great heights of performance, there was none that failed to reach a reasonable standard. A recorder band from the Papanui School gave a good account of itself, and a verse-speaking choir from the Richmond School performed with a most pleasing clarity and understanding. The massed choir items have been, for the most part, well chosen, and last evening’s choir sang them very well. “Hey-Ho-Hey,” by Arthur Richards, is a delightful song, and was most expressively sung. Boyce’s “Heart of Oak,” though some massive effects were heard, really needs some tenor and bass tone to give it effective atmosphere. “Tom’s Gone to Hilo” is a shanty which requires a rather more tender interpretation than it received, but the singing of “Hope the Hermit” was bright and clear. Both the Austrian folk song, “Twilight Shadows,” .with its flowing melody, and Arthur Banyon’s very catchy tune, “The Spanish Main,” were splendidly sung. The wistful atmosphere of Geoffrey Shaw’s “How Far is it to Bethlehem,” was lost through too bright a tone being used, but the traditional song “The Old Woman.” was cheerilv successful.

That wonderful and embracing tune “In Derrv Vale,” is not improved at all by Mr Geoffrev Shaw’s descants. It is painting the lily like a barber’s pole to treat it in this way. The Alsatian folk song, “Pancakes.” was deservedly popular both with the children and with the audience, and it came off with grand eclat. Quilter’s “Non Nobis Domine” is an ideal song for such a group, and for such ah occasion. The Christchurch Recorder Ensemble—Mr Arthur Hart. Mr L. Browne. Miss Adrienne Prime, and Mrs Flora Monnikendam—greatly pleased the children on the stage and also all in the auditorium with delightful playing on these fascinating instruments. —C.F.B.