CHILDREN IN SONG

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2503, 2 July 1915, Page 3

CHILDREN IN SONG

GREAT CONCERT AT TOWN HALL. IVie great patriotic Carnival now in progress in Wellington has been responsible for somo remarkable eltorts on the part oi tho organisers and the army of enthusiastic assistants whose willing services they have been able to secure for tne mere asking. '"Die cause" is inspiration of the splendid work that is being done —raising a hind for tlie wounded defenders of our hearths and homes. it was the school-children's turn last evenuig, and right worthily did they do their part. .With the cooperation of tne Headmasters' Association, tho best singers m each oi tlie city, and suburban schools were brought together, and under the direction of Air. itobart Parker a choir of SOU ol' them have been trained in the singing of national hymns and patriotic songs during the past month. To hear tne children a vast audience, too large for the Town Hall, attended last evening, and were rewarded with a splendid concert and an exhilarating spectacle. The children were selected iroin the iol- ' lowing twenty-three sc'hois:—Brooklyn, Clyde Quay, H.utt District High Schooi, Eastern Hutt, Island Bay, Johusonvills,' Kaiwarra, liarori,, Jiilbirnie, ■ Alaranui, Mount Cook Boys' and Girls', Newtowu, Normal, Northland, I'etone District High School, l J etone West, fioseneath, To Aro, Terrace, Wadestown, Wellington South, and WorseT Bay. Eac'ti section of girls and fcoys wore sashes illuminated with the colours of England and her various Allies in the great struggle now raging—the boys wearing tho white, blue, aud red of Russia, and tho blazing sun of Japan, and the girls the flags of France, Italy, and the Union Jack of Old England. When, as they rose for the first time at the wave of Mr. Parker's baton, and lights representing some 20,000 candle-power were switched on at the same moment, the great choir of little ones looked like a' swarm of bees seen through a rainbow, and the applause they received was good to hear.

The programme opened with the singing of the solemn>and stately Russian National Hymn, "God, the All-Terrible," which was sung in a somewhat subdued manner, dignity being lent' the great chorale by .an organ accompaniment. Requested to join in the last verse, the audience did so, and the ensemble-effect was thrilling. The children were at their best, however, in the fiory emotional "Marseillaise," in which they were allowed ,to exercise the limit of their lung-poii'er, and in which an appropriate military touch was added by the. performance of a quartet of Territorial drummers. With the organ, the roll of drum, and 800 voices singing at the: top of <their powers, the'effect was one that would have made a Frenchman weep with joy. Another popular item was the unaccompanied,three-part round, "The Five Bells of Osney," which was most admirably sung. In "The British Grenadiers," the drum-, mars failed to'pick up the tempo at the opening, but the old lilt was caught at the third verse, and from that out the performance was a spirited one. Other choruses sung were: "The Alinstrel Boy," ''The Blue Bells of Scotland," "Here's a Health Unto His Alajesty," "A Hymn to. Belgium" (a fine chorus, composed by Sir Frederick Cowen to the ■ verses of - Mr. • John Galsworthy), "Alen of Harlech,"' and "Rule, Britannia," with solo by Aliss Phoebe Parsons; ■ In this liumbor an effect positively electrical was created by, the sudden appearance of a miniature Union •Jack held up by each of the children, and waved right and left to the rhythm of the bellicose refrain. Finally came our own National Anthem, sung throughout by choir and audience with fine fervour. . : Air. John Prouse showed, fine artistry in a declamatory rendering of "Arm, Arm, Ye Brave," from Handel's "Judas. Maeoabaeus," and was also heard with pleasure in Charles Santley's noble song "Son of the Ocean Isle." Aliss Phoebe Parsons sang the florid'"l will Extol Thee" (Costa), and "When the Heart is Young," and Air.; Norman Collie played the overture to "William Tell" (Rossini) and the "Serenade" and "Alarche Militaire" of Schubert as organ soli. Tlie. ■ accompanists were Arrs. E. C. Cachemaille, Miss Dorothy Mills, and Airs. (Dr.) Hector. Among' those present were: Lady Liverpool, who was seated in-company with- Aliss Myers, the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken (chairman of the Wellington Education - Board),' and Mr. W. G. Grundy,'chairman of the Headmasters' Executive. Tlie concert is to be repeated this evening. By special request- Mr. -Norman Collie will repeat the overture tc "William Tell." . A special notice to patrons who could not gain admittance last night is published in our advertising columns.