New choir aims at church music

Press, 18 March 1987, Page 22

New choir aims at church music

The title Harry Abbenhuis has chosen for his new choir gives a clue to the sort of music he intends performing.

The former choirmaster of St Thomas’ in Utrecht, the Netherlands, plans to call the choir Schola Cantorum.

The name is that which was given to small groups singing in monasteries, particularly' those per-

forming Gregorian chants. It is traditional church music that Mr Abbenhuis wants his choir to sing. He is looking for 20 people to form the choir. It is a kind of music that he knows and enjoys performing. A kind of music, he says sadly, which is not often performed now. His choir is aimed at

preserving the tradition of medieval church music. As a member of the choir of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, he conducts the choir when it sings plainsong.

He says he is not looking to set up a rival choir to the Cathedral’s group, simply to get together a group interested in performing traditional church music.

Mr Abbenhuis is no stranger to conducting choirs. As a music teacher in the Netherlands he worked with school choirs as well as St Thomas’ Choir. He and his wife came to New Zealand two years ago when they decided on a change of lifestyle.

No longer interested in teaching music in a school

setting, Mr Abbenhuis tried to establish himself as a private music teacher of piano and singing in North Canterbury.

He recently moved into Christchurch and is now working as a private teacher in the city, teaching singing, piano, organ and theory.

Christchurch has many choirs, he admits. The

Schola Cantorum is intended to fill a gap in performing a specialised music. Those interested in singing in the dew choir, which Mr Abbenhuis hopes to have rehearsing this month, can contact him at 554-851. Eventually the choir will present public performances and may take part in Cathedral services, he says.