Primary Schools Music Festival

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31805, 9 October 1968, Page 18

Primary Schools Music Festival

The primary schools music festival began in the Civic Theatre last evening with Mr Keith Newson conducting the massed choir of pupils from Bamford, Central New Brighton, Chisnallwood Intermediate, Middleton Grange, Oaklands, Russley, St Martins, and Spreydon schools. The first two massed choir items, “I Vow to Thee My Country.” by Gustav Holst, and “Fa-da-ra-ha,” a Swedish folk-song, made an immediately favourable impression and were sung with bright and easily flowing tone and splendid clarity of words. The first has a massive dignity and the second a vivacious lilt, and the childlren took advantage of their musical worth. Mr Gordon Mathieson conducted the massed choir in the English folk-song, “The Chesapeake and the Shannon” and the French carol, “Ding Dong Merrily On High.” He kept firm control and drew from the children bright performances with good balance in the part singing. Mr Mathieson played some accompaniments for massed choir items on the organ, giving excellent support and choosing tasteful registration. The massed choir ended the first part of the programme with “The Tinkling Guitar,” by Dr Arne, and “Let Us Sing” (the words written by D. J. Martin and the music written by Charles L. Martin). It had an infectious gaiety. Rowley's “Let Us Dance and Sing” was sung with lighthearted joy and freedom and “Olympic Flame,” by Paul W. Gregory, was timely and had bright appeal. The programme ended with the hymn “Christ the Lord is Risen.” Mr Newson’s conducting was admirable. He chose excellent tempi and gave the children complete sense of security. Mr Charles Martin played the piano accompaniments with imaginative expression. Choir items were given by

various individual schools and some of these were outstandingly good and a joy to hear. Various schools also gave items on differing combinations of instruments and the best of them were pleasant —C.F.B.