RANGIORA MUSIC FESTIVAL

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29317, 23 September 1960, Page 17

RANGIORA MUSIC FESTIVAL

Outstanding Concert Organised by the Christchurch Civic Music Council in collaboration with the Rangiora Festival Committee, and sponsored by the Borough and County Councils of the area, the Ashley County Council and the Internal Affairs Department, the Rangiora Music Festival was held in toe Town Hall on Wednesday. The Mayor (Mr C. W. Tyler) opened the festival and gave an official welcome to all present, expressing regret at the unavoidable absence of the Civic Music Council’s chairman, Mr J. L. Hay. Conducted by Mr L. R. Grenfell, the Rangiora Brass Band played a march, a hymn,. and a selection: the first two confidently and in very good style. With a long record of service in Canterbury, this band appropriately includes a good proportion of young players to provide for its future development The policy of the Christchurch ; Civic Music Festival in fostering these festivals received further justification by the presence and ! performance of the Hinds District Choir, a well-balanced group of 1 16 singers conducted by Mr R. Argyle. Each of the five items selected was well within the 1 capabilities of this choir, which I has an unusually good alto sec- ! tion. Victor Galway’s “A psalm ■ of seafarers” and an arrangement for women’s voices of some music by Handel were amongst the most successful items. The Addington Workshops W.E.A. Male Voice Choir is kept alive by the loyalty Of a group of singers, a high proportion of whom have been members since the choir’s inception. There is here a promising opportunity for W.E.A organisers in the Workshops to attract more singers to this praiseworthy grdup .which , (conducted by Mr Quentin Gan- . naway) gave its best . perform- : ances in J A. Ritchie’s arrange* ment of American folk songs and Norman Gilbert’s “Kentish Sir ! Byng.” Steady Progress In an eminently suitable selection of five old English Songs; the Rangiora Musical Society gave evidence of its steady pro- ’ gross under the conductorship of ’ Mr Victor A. Ellena and set an ! example in its choice of these 1 items which were sung with I bright tone, lively rhythm, and very good blend and balance. The 1 men’s singing in particular show- I ed much improvement .It is 1 good that this society is maintain- > ing its unbroken record of musi- 1 cal activity in Rangiora. < The Christchurch Orpheus Choir i was in fine form under its con- 1 ductor, Mr Frank Shields, pre- i seating all its items in most pleasing style. It was well balanced: 1 the tonal quality throughout was 1 very good and well blended,' the J singing alive rhythmically, and each item presented effectively The best performances were Of 1 two hymns, two items by Edward 1 German, and Elgar’s “Challenge ! of Thor.” It was easy to remember that, under its founder, Mr F. C. Penfold, this was. a prizewinning choir; easy to anticipate 1 also that Mr Shields will place it _ in that category again. I A feature of the whole concert 1 was the playing of the various ; accompanists, Mrs Shaw, Mrs J * Burke, Mrs Jocelyn Stokes,' and * Mrs A. T. Beere. } At the concluding function, Mr 1 L F. de Berry, secretary of the 4 Christchurch Civic Musie Coun- * cil, thanked all those whb had " contributed to the festival's sue- J cess, including toe Women’s Divi- * sion of Federated Farmers, the I Federation of Women’s Institutes, < the Plunket Mothers’ Club, and ' the Garden Club. . To assist te 1 promoting such co-operation was I one of the privileges and' duties < of the Music Council . 1 —V£. i