CHOIR FESTIVAL

Evening Star, Issue 22774, 8 October 1937, Page 15

CHOIR FESTIVAL

SUCCESSFUL FUNCTIUN A choir festival was held in the Jubilee Hall last night, at which Choirs from the Congregational Churches in the city and suburbs competed. The programme included competitions for choirs, duets, trios, and quartets, in addition to impromptu speeches. _ There was a good attendance, over which Mr E. E. Wilkinson presided. Mr John Ash was the judge for the impromptu speeches, and the vocal competitions were judged by Mr G. E. Wilkinson, who at the conclusion of the evening gave the competitors a few ideas on the selection of songs for future competitions. In his opening remarks the Chairman said that it was the first occasion such a competition had been held in the Congregational Church, and that it was hoped to make it an annual affair. Few people realised -what an important place music occupied in church affairs, while singing also played a big part in everyday life. They should all bo thankful to the men and women who provided the music in the churches. IMPROMPTU SPEECH. Judge: Mr John Ash. Moray Place (Mr W. Lother)- ... 1 United (Mr W. R. Sinclair) 2 Also competed: Ravensboume (Mr A. Wheeler and Mr A. Connor, jun.). Moray Place (Mr J. H. Oliver). The two placed competitors embodied good argument, logic, clarity of thought, and humour in their work, only on© mark separating them. _ The , other competitors also gave creditable performances. CHOIRS. , Judge: Mr G. E. Wilkinson. Hymn, ‘ Fierce Raged the Tempest ’; anthem, ‘ The Radiant Morn.’ United (Mr W. R. Sinclair, conductor), 73, 77—150 points 1 Moray Place (Mrs H. C. Campbell, conductor), 72, 76 —148 points ... 2 Also competed: Port Chalmers and Ravensboume. The judge remarked that the standard was very creditable, particularly the efforts of'the two suburban choirs, which were handicapped by a lack of members and of experienced singers. He stressed the importance of tonal quality, clarity of enuneiation } and a more direct contrast of expression, and, recommended that the choice of songs for future occasions he less hackneyed. DUETS. Judge: Mr G. E. Wilkinson. Moray Place (Miss Agnes Guy and Mr J. D. M'Kechnie—‘ Still As the Night ’), 78 points ... 1 Moray Place (Mrs F. T. Anderson and Mr J. D. M'Kechnie—‘Love’s Domain’), United (Messrs W. R. Sinclair and G. Dyer— ‘ Watchman, What of the Night’)i 77 points (equal) 2 Also competed: United (Miss Jean Calder and Mr L. J. Smith), llavensbourne (Misses W. Facer and D. Facer), Moray Place (Misses Hale and Rae), United (Mr Dove and Miss M. Dryden), Moray Place (Miss Alice Guy and Mr V. Smith), Ravensboume (Misses D. and J. Connor), Moray Place (Misses A. Guy and E. Thorn). The duets were of quite a fair standard on the whole, said the judge, while there were some very expressive renderings. He stressed the importance of balance and blend in the renderings. TRIOS. United (Mrs L. J. Smith, Mrs T. J Dove, and Miss M. Dryden) and Moray Place (Mrs F. T. Anderson. Misses_ D. Hale and M. Jarvis), 74 points (equal) 1 Also competed: Moray Place (Misses Thorn, Green, and A. Guy). In the course of his remarks the judge said that two trios had chosen the difficult ‘ Lift Thine Eyes,’ from ‘ Elijah,’ and both gave a very fair interpretation. What one lacked in faulty intonation was counteracted by expressiveness. QUARTETTES. United (Miss J. Calder, Mrs L. J. Smith, Messrs W. R. and Murray Sinclair—‘ Remember Me, 0 Mighty One’), 78 points 1 Moray Place (Mrs J. W. Smith, Miss Alice Guy, Messrs M'Kinlay and Oliver—‘ The Old Rustic Bridge ’), 75 points 2 Also competed: Ravensboume (Misses Facer and Connor, Messrs Facer and Connor), Moray Place (Misses Agnes Guy and Green, Messrs V. Smith and J. D. M'Kechnie), United (Mrs Dobe, Miss M. Dryden, Messrs C. G. Scott and W. Johnstone). Tho winning quartette gave a very creditable and expressive performance of a somewhat trite selection, ‘ Remember Me, 0 Mighty One,’ which was marked by good tonal effect.