THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1078, 17 March 1911, Page 8

THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR

TESTING Till) VOICES. Dulward and audible signs of Hie approach of the Sheffield Choir are noticeable among thc.-e uncased in choral work in iVdliiifrlon. The ureal choir is due lice al Iho end of Juno, and one of the I'.o evening performance.-; will bo "Elijah," in which the visitors arc to be assisted by a local commando of picked voices. These are being selected at the present time, and no risk is being laken that any but competent singers shall be eluiscn. To this end Messrs. Maughan Harnett and Itaberl Parker were engaged in lusting ladies' voices al I lie Dresden Rooms; on Wednesday evening, an,! Mors. Lawrence W'alkins and Iloraro Hunt undertook a similar task last evening. Next week the male voices will bo te.-tcd. INTERESTING STATEMENT BY A CIIIUSTCnURCH CONDUCTOR. (By Telegrapli.-Spccia! Correspondent.) Christchurch, March 16. At a recent meeting held to discuss matters in connection with the approaching visit of the Sheffield Choir, Dr. Bradsliaw, the Cathedral organist and -conductor ot'thc Musical Union, dissented froin the proposal that a local choir should iVrr- 1 i"';? vis ' ,Drs i" Hie production of . b"]™: . In conserjiience of the manner m which his remarks were reported in one of the papers, Dr. Br.ulshaw fullv explained his attitude at a rehearsal of the ; M f! , Unio ' n - He " ifl when he left England some nine years ago the Leeds .Musical Union, or 'Choral Union was considered the fi„ e? |- n ]>oir in England, and the finest- in the world. Since that time the Sheffield organisation had com? lo (he front, and was at present considered even better than Leeds. Ho asked his hearers to suppose that the*e two choirs, the finest in the world of their kind, had been trained bv separate choirmasters m "Elijah," and that it was proposed to have a combined performance with only one rehearsal together Did they think that the effect of that combination, under only one of the conductors, of course, would lie equal to either of those choirs heard alone? If his hearers' shored his opinion on. this matter they would agree with him also in his action in expressing rogrft to Dr. Harriss that a combination with a local choir should form part of the Sheffield Choir's programme. Dr. Harriss informal him in Christchurch some mouths ago that hi- wanted these two combined performances, and he (Dr. Bradshaw) said then that it was a pity.- Dr. Harriss was keen on the reciprocity part of lha scheme, and stated that- he wanted the speaker to train the local chorus, receiving an assurance that he. would do his best to make the thing a success. Ho felt Hint the whole thing was a mistake,musically. The time wt.s so ridiculously short, that it was impossible for tlieui to do themselves justice. It was not a question of preparing "Elijah" only, but they had to take part in the Empire concert, the music of which, with the exception of "The Golden Legend." was entirely ■new i« them. To attempt to prepare "Elijah as they would like to do it in view ot the people" who wero coming here, and to prepare for a concert consisting of music thev were absolutely unacquainted with save for one nart, was pretty ridiculous. If, however, it were decided that both concerts were to bo done, he would sink any feeling he had in the matter, and would do his best to make the thine a success whatever his views might be. It had been said that his remarks wore an insult to every member of the chorus, and that he practically said they could not do "Elijah." Ho said they could not do it end the new music in three month's, and do themselves justice. Choral work here was restricted in many wavs, and the work 7 of the Sheffield chorus would bo ah object lesson such as thev might never hive again. The Sheffield Choir would sing a work like Elgar's "Dream of Gcro'ntiu's" in a, manner which would amaze his hearers. Effects were achieved in such numbers as. the "Demons' Chorus," which would make them almost shudder. In conclusion, Dr.. Bradshaw suggested that in order..to.-pro-, pare for the festival the Musical Union rehearsal should be taken from 8 to !) p.m. on Tucsdavs, and the festival rehearsal from 9 "to 10 u.m. If that was done thev could prepare the Empire music nuiio satisfactorily in three months. Doing "Elijah" as well, however, would mean a separate night's rehearsal each week, and they would have to put their best into it.