Carol concert pleases

Press, 7 December 1976, Page 29

Carol concert pleases

A Christmas concert, a little early but pleasing and [well received, was given beJfore a big audience in ,the iTown Hall on Saturday evenling by the Christchurch Harmonic Society and Chorale, iassisted by the Cathedral Society of Bellringers, and [by St Mark's Boys’ Choir. I It began in a darkened hall 'with a candle-lit procession of the choirs singing “Silent I Night.” This was dignified and effective.

From then on, with Bryan Allpress as a smooth and accomplished compere, the varous choirs sang groups of carols, well-known for the most part, and did so very well. The audience found them acceptable, and they were enthusiastically received, as they fully deserved to be. Dobbs Franks showed his most happy knack of establishing strong rapport with an .audience and brought poised artistry and sincerity to every performance, doing so with apparent absence of effort. Yet there

was no point missed nor any I thing left to chance.

' The Harmonic Society', bedsides its well-known carols. Isang two very charming and 'effective ones — “Shepherds [Come” and "A Boy was [Born.” These had lovely atmosphere and were, sung I with delicate attention to delta) 1.

I St Mark’s Boys’ Choir, directed and trained by LenInox Willett, sang with confi|dent security of memory and I with care for points of artistic performance. The Har|monic Chorale, a small and I well-balanced group chosen from the big choir, sang with highly developed expertise. Deliberately vulgar timbre and vowel mis-pronunciation in “A Cowboy Carol” threw into welcome relief the excellent control of these aspects of choral singing in other items.

Descants, unless written so that they do not detract from the main melody and are performed by ' small groups, are usually a bore. Accompaniments, on both piano and on the charming little portativ organ, were most effectively played by Nan Anderson. The bellringers gave interesting displays of their art which requires the closest concentration. Their performance showed great skill. —C Foster Browne

—C. Foster Browne