New ground broken by cathedral choirs

Press, 23 October 1978, Page 4

New ground broken by cathedral choirs

By

C. FOSTER BROWNE

During the Labour Day; week-end the choirs of Nelson and Dunedin Cathedrals' joined the Christchurch i Cathedral Choir to sing the offices of Mattins and Even-' song; and each choir sang: three items by itself in re-1 cita) form after Evensong on. Sunday. New ground was) broken by these visits, and I it is hoped that such a festi-j val mav become an annual; event. Much hard work was done in rehearsing on Saturday and on Sunday, and very good and pleasurable results were obtained. A new Te Deum and Jubilate by Herber’ Howells was sung on Sunday morning. It is a composition of character and of fresh interest, of strong harmonic progressions and of interesting and rhythmical melodic lines which held fresh appeal; the sonority of tone from the

large choir was inspiring and) gentle tone from a large num-: ber of voices was particularly! appealing and delightful. Ex-1 cellent precision and clarity! of words in responses and ini the pointing of the psalms) were evidence of careful at-1 tention to such searching and important matters, and there was powerful unanimity in the singing of the hymns. The Masters of the Choristers from each Cathedral, Messrs Donald Cullington (Dunedin), Raymond [White (Nelson), and David 'Childs (Christchurch), took 'turns in conducting the various sections of the services and in accompanying on the organ, giving careful and enlivening performances ;in each capacity. At Evensong, the same standard of careful training, of meticulous performance, and of reverent attention, shown so clearly in the : morning, was again clearly I evident. Congratulations

imust be given to all con-j (cerned. Tonally the large) ; choir was very effective,j I giving forth strong quality) lof voice from the men andi '.smoothly expressive and) (clear sound from the hoys.) 'Excellent male alto work! gave characteristic ecclesias-. tical tone to the ensemble. In the recital at the end of the service the combined choirs sang six varied and suitable works requiring, for the most part, the particular colouring and power imparted by massed voices, and each separate cathedral choir sang a few items from its customary repetoire. “This is the record of John," a lovely motet by Gibbons, was sung by the choir of ! Christchurch Cathedral with i the solo part being sung | with great effect by Mr (Geoffrey Coker, of Nelson, I and former member of the i choir of King’s College. ■ Cambridge.