CONCERT AT UNIVERSITY

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30555, 25 September 1964, Page 16

CONCERT AT UNIVERSITY

Cashmere H.S. Pupils Pupils of the Cashmere High School, under the direction of Mr Francis Dennis, performed at. Canterbury University yesterday afternoon, the programme beginning with the fifth-form choir singing “O God Our Help” to Dr. Griffiths’s excellent arrangement. This was followed by the Gloria from what is erroneously thought to be Mozart’s Twelfth Mass. The singing was very good in tonal quality and phrasing, and admirable in its clarity. The part-singing was clear in its lines and held with exemplary intonation.

A four-part choir sang Psalm 66 to a setting by Mr W. R. Hawkey, Elgar’s “As Torrents in Summer,” and a Jubilate by Stanford. AH these were sung with experienced confidence and with bright and excellently controlled voice production which gave life and expressive variety to the tone. It was a pleasure to hear such securely-trained singing.

The orchestra played “March of the Bowmen” by Curzon and “Farandole” by Bizet with well-directed drive. The orchestra is large, and was very cramped on the stage. However, this did not seem to interfere with the flow of the music. The orchestra does not yet produce quite the same clear texture of sound as the choirs do. Nevertheless there were many good features in the playing. i The brass band, conducted by Mr R. N. Hughes, played “Victorian Rifles” by Roche with precision, bright tone, and good balance. Conducted by Mr Dennis, the band ended the programme with “Deep Harmony.” Again there was a large number of players, suggesting that a big percentage of the pupils at this school are taking part in some form of musical activity. Thisshort concert showed that they are doing so. with valuable effect. A brass quintet and a vocal sextet both made interesting and skilful additions to the programme.