Agnostic’s music in Cathedral

Press, 18 April 1978, Page 23

Agnostic ’s music in Cathedral

The Christchurch Harmonic Society's first subscription concert for 1978 will be conducted by David Childs, the new conductor who will take over some of the duties of Dobbs Franks, the musical director.

David Childs graduated from Victoria University in 1964 with an honours degree in music and languages. Assisted by a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council bursary, he studied at Oxford University from

1964 to 1966 and graduated with an honours degree in music. After returning to New Zealand in 1969 he taught at Waitaki Boys High School. Since 1977 hi has been organist and master of the choristers at th' Christchurch Cathedral. H' is a fellow of the Roya’ College of Organists. In the Harmonic Society concert, in the Chirstchurch Cathedral on Sunday afternoon, works by .1 S. Bach. Gabriel Faure, and Cesar Franck will be presented. Cesar Franck will be represented by an organ i work, the Chorale No. 2 in p Miwnr. hv

Graham Holloban. who is a lecture at the University of Canterbury. He will also iccompany the two choral vorks.

J. S. Bach's five-part lotet, “Jesu meine •Teude," will also be heard, t is probably the earliest >f the six Bach motets that survive. It ranges from a relatively straight-forward treatment of Johann Cruger's well-known chorale melody to ■ elaborate contrapuntal writing, with a fugue in the central section. The six verses of the hymn alternate with verses from the eighth chapter of St Paul's letter to the Tj-ip r nnice of text

bears out the fact that the motet was intended for funeral use, although the mood is by no means continuously funereal. Gabriel Faure’s Requiem Mass, completed in 1887, and composed in memory of his father’s death, has become a frequently-sung work in the choral repertoire. Faure’s agnosticism did not prevent him from writing the tenderest and most compassionate of requiems, quite different from those of Mozart, Brahms, and Verdi. The soloists will be Michael Tatchell (baritone) and Patricia Middleton (soprano).

Since he came to Christchurch in 1976, Michael Tatchell has become known as a leading soloist, particularly in the presentation of contemporary New Zealand music. He began his singing career as a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral, England. Patricia Middleton comes from Invercargill. Both her parents were professional musicians—her father, Leslie E. Dailey, sang as tenor soloist in 1944 and 1946 performances of "Messiah” with the choir. She has long been involved in music, as a performer and teacher.