SCHOOL CONCERT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 31, 5 August 1930, Page 10

SCHOOL CONCERT

THE FIRST OF THREE

' In' the Musical .Festival now in progress in Wellington under the popular title of "Music Week," the children have beeu given a. conspicuous part, for of late years the influence of good music on-the growing child has been, if not .fully, at least more widely recognised, and in consequence music has found a firmer footing in) the schools. Yesterday afternoon, in the Town HaLl, the first of throe music, week1 concerts by school pupils of Wellington was given, and apart from the individual school concerts given from time to time throughout the year (the programmes of which are seldom completely musical) this was probably the first occasion when the public have had a chance to judge by results the value of the musical tuition given in the local schools. That more citizens did not take advantage of the opportunity may have been due to the dreary weather, to a general apathy regarding education which it is the confessed business of so many educational bodies to rectify, or, again, to lack of that particular interest in things music-ill which it is the main' hope of Music Week to increase. No complaints, however, can be levelled at the performers, whose efficiency (if one may use so soulless a weird in

relation to music) and happy naturalness upon the stage must have been most pleasing to Mr. E. Douglas Tay« ler, Supervisor of School Music, wht has taken mueJi care in the arrangements for the three concerts. The items, too, were excellently chosen, being well within tho capabilities and comprehension of the young people who interpreted them, and yet of a nature likely to increase their appreciation of music and. stimulate any enthusiasm they may have for further musical knowledge. Also the programme lasted for tho sensible period of an hour and a half, which was neither too trying for the youngsters nor wearisome to the audience. Evidently .the rehearsals had been thoroughly carried out, for the children knew what to do and when to do it, which is not always the case with youthful artists.

■Without in any way disparaging the work of the soloists, which was in every case well done, it may be said that the chorus items were the most attractive part of the afternoon's entertainment. There is something sweetly free and irnoeent in young voices raised together, and their appeal almost amounts to novelty in these days when so many children are pushed on to the stage to ape their elders in song and dance. This latter criticism does not, of course, apply to yesterday's solo performers, who in every case played and sang very delightfully pieces admirably chosen to meet their musical capacities. Indeed, in several instances the work of these performers showed ability much above tho average. And yet the singing of the small choirs remains most in the mind.

The next school concert will be on Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock, when pupils from St. Mary's Convent, Marsden School, the Hutt Valley High School, ■ Chilton House, and Wellington Girls' College will take part. The third and final school concert will be given on Friday evening at 7 o'clock, when special features will be Mrs. E. Douglas Tayler's "singing of songs composed by New Zealand school children, choir singing, and the playing of the combined school orchestras. Mr. Harison Cook, Mr. E. Douglas Tayler, and Mr. Claude Tanner will also assist, and Mr. Ernest Jenner and Mr. Trevor Fisher will be heard at the piano.

The detailed programme of yester day's concert is as follows:

Piano duel, "Le Touvbillon"' (Maltci), B. .and G. Forgie (Wellington College); song, "0 to Be a Gipsy," H. Shield (Wellington College); violin solos, "Introduction and Polonaise" (Bohm), '"Meditation" ("Thais"), Graham Ayson (Rougotai Boys' College); choruses, "I Would That My Love," "0 AVert Tliou in the Cauld Blast," Guildfbrd Terrace Convent. School;' piano solo, "The Dwarfs of the Mist" (Walter Carroll), Jocelyn Walker (St. Mark's School); 'cello solos, "Bourree" (Handel), "Priere" (Squire), air by Matheson, Josie Bertie (Wadestown School); song "Spring's a-Coming to Town," Jack Martin (St. Mark 's School); French songs, '' Auelair de la Lune," "Hymne dcs Temps Futurs," Kongotai Boys' College; Piano solos, "Nocturne in D Minor" (Chopin), "En Automme" (Moszkowski), Christine Brown (Wellington East Girls' College); song, "Snowflakes," Eunice Scott (St. Mark's School); chorus, "Flow On, Thou Shining Elver," St. Mark's School; piano, "Prelude" (Eachmaninofl:), G. Forgie (Wellington College); song, "Piper June," H. A. Heynolds (Wellington College); instrumental quartet, "Slavonic Dance" (Dvorak), violins, G. Ayson and M. Currin, 'cello J. L. Arcus, piano J..C. Parkin (Kongotai Boys' College); Maori songs, Bongotai Boys' College.