“A DELIGHTSOME LAND”

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 226, 19 June 1940, Page 5

“A DELIGHTSOME LAND”

Original Musical Work Composed in commemoration of the hundredth birthday of New Zealand by Mr. Stanley Oliver, 'Wellington, and dedicated to the Royal .Wellington Uhoral Union, “A Delightsome Land” (written and published in 1938) will be heard in public for the first time at the Wellington Town Hall next Saturday night, when it will be given by the choir of the choral union and a small orchestra under the baton of the composer. The words of "A Delightsome Land” are taken from the Scriptures. The opening section is a vigorously scored passage in majestic mood, set to the words of divine praise from the Psalms, full chorus and orchestra being employed. This is a rather sharp contrast to the succeeding movement, which consists largely of unaccompanied choral passages for male and female voices alternately, broken judiciously with brief interludes for muted strings. The words that flow through this passage form an exhortation to “Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. . . And all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a delightsome land.” The music then modulates back to the opening themes, played by various sections of the orchestra in combination, while the chorus sings the exalting lines, “Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet. Praise Him with stringed instruments and organs. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.” On June 28, the penultimate night of the Centennial Music Festival, the programme will be largely supplied by the Schola Cantorum, under Mr. Stanley Oliver. It will open with the presentation for the first time in Wellington of Artur Bliss’s choral work. “Lie Strewn the White Flocks,” for chorus, strings, solo flute, and tympani. The fourth movement of this work consists of the soprano solo, "Pigeon Song,” which will be sung by Miss Merle Gamble. The Schola Cantorum will also present the middle movement of the choral symphony, “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” by Gustave Holst, and Entire's “Requiem.” The latter number was sung in 'Wellington last, year, when it created a deep impression.