PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ MUSIC FESTIVAL

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31501, 16 October 1967, Page 14

PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ MUSIC FESTIVAL

Clear and bright singing, rhythmical, expressive, and precise was heard in Saturday evening’s concert of the Primary Schools' Music Festival under Mr Keith Newson’s direction. Mr Gordon Mathieson conducted part of the programme and played the organ accompaniments, and Mr Charles Martin was the pianist All three showed their long and expert experience of this type of work, and saw to it that the children sang well and enjoyed doing so. The audience certainly thought so and gave the massed choir items and the work of individual schools warm reception.

The massed choir was formed from pupils of Briggston. Casewood Intermediate, Cheviot Chisnallwood, Freeville, Central New Brighton, Mount Pleasant, North New Brighton, Redcliffs, West Lyttelton, and Templeton Schools.

Miss R. M. McConnell, Miss M. E. Smith, Mrs G. J. Best, and Messrs R. J. Crichton, G. Price, M. H. Blow, B. D. Bridges, T. A. Judkins, and L. D. Hayward and T. G. Crewe conducted choral or instrumental items from individual schools and Mrs G. J. Best Mr G. Exeter, Mrs R. Smith, Mrs C. M. Hetherton, Mr H. Gillbanks, and Miss J. Bews played their accompaniments.

At some of the concerts intermediate schools are appearing more than once, to strengthen the massed items and to keep an even standard at each performance. Efficient part singing with

well-balanced ensemble effect is heard in a round and in a canon, and at the end of Britten’s setting of “Abram Brown.” Atmosphere was skilfully created in this last song. Pleasant and easily produced tone was heard in “O Waly Waly” and Mr C. L Martin’s descant to this fine tune was sung with praiseworthy intonation.

Mr P. Gregory's setting of his own words in the songcycle, “The Coming of the Maori,” has made strong appeal to the children and they sing it very well indeed. Although there has been an Improvement in intonation in

the individual choirs, some groups fell a little at this concert The trouble usually occurred when the singers were insecure in their tuning of the leading-note. Care in tuning this note, particularly when learning a new song, will help to prevent flattening. —C.F.B.