Community choirs' concert

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33063, 2 November 1972, Page 16

Community choirs' concert

The Christchurch Civic Music Council presented its twenty-fourth annual community choirs’ concert in the James Hay Theatre last evening. Six choirs and one orchestra took part, giving 34 choral items and six orchestral ones. Much hard work had been put into preparation and care was taken in presentation. This contributed to the happy atmosphere of the concert, for all concerned were obviously enjoying themselves.

The programme began with the Junior Choral Society, conducted by George Martin, and accompanied by Glenys Drummond, singing a wellconstructed programme with freely produced tone of pleasant quality. These young performers had memorised their programme and paid exemplary attention to their conductor’s wishes in phrasing, expression, and clarity of words.

This is an important choir, for here are future recruits for senior choral groups already being introduced to the niceties of choral technique.

The North Townswomen’s Guild Choir, conducted by Patricia Walker, and accompanied by Mavis Best, sang a programme which began with

Purcell and degenerated to Hugh Roberton. The singing was clear and rhythmical with careful phrasing. A three-part unaccompanied work, "The Deaf Old Women,” by Dr Arnold was particularly attractive and was well presented. The Risingholme Choir, conducted by A. N. Wilson and accompanied by Aileen Cant, had a programme consisting mainly of German folk songs with one from Mexico. The first two songs were soggy in character—as many of these German folk songs can be—but were sung with meticulous attention to expression. There was more liveliness in the two following songs. The singing was well balanced but at times the intonation fell. The Mexican folk song was lively and attractive.

The Christchurch Orchestral Society, conducted by T. Brown and led by Andrew Dale, was the guest on the programme. Its main work was the overture to “The Magic Flute,” in which there were many pleasing moments. The quality of tone was highly commendable and so was the cohesion. This gave a pleasing texture to the ensemble. Careful attention to detail was rewarded by success in the

“Windsor Melody,” by Noel Gay. The Aeolian Choir was conducted by Eric Voyce and accompanied by Sue Lennon in a varied programme which showed off its restrained style of singing very well, but did not have good design. The voices blended well and the singing was expressive and precise. There should be some protection for great arias against persons who “arrange” them for partsinging. What happened to Mozart’s “Alleluia” amounted to grievous bodily harm. The Addington Workshops’ W.E.A. Male Voice Choir always makes a welcome appearance at the community choirs’ concert. Conducted by A. N. Graham and accompanied by Diane ?tunro, it sang music well suited to its voices, most of it very well arranged, and did so with strongly vital rhythm and with carefully produced tone which blended very pleasingly. The last group to perform was the Canterbury Singers, conducted by Grahaeme Johnson and accompanied by Alison Edgar. Some folk songs and songs from the shows were presented, with effective expression and good phrasing and intonation. Their performances had atmosphere. —C.F.B,