GREYMOUTH VICTOR OUS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 May 1910, Page 3

GREYMOUTH VICTOR OUS.

METHODIST CHOIR WINS,

AT CHRISTCHURCH COMTETI-

TIONS

[BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL TO THE STAR.]

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day

At the Christchurch Competition's on Thursday evening, the Greymouth' Methodist Choir, under Mr A. G. Lather, scared a signal succss. The competition was between the Sydenham and Greymouth Choirs and before the competitions began Mr P. L. Hallenstein said that the Committee had decided to’ give two prizes as- a mark of appreciation of the pluck of the Grey-* mouth .people in coming to meet local competitors. The numbers chosen were “As the Hart pants” and "Hail bright abode,” the technically difficult march song from Wagner’s “Tannhauser.” The competing choirs were received with prolong 1 applause and the decision ,was s • signal for hearty cheers for Gr ymouth from an audience of close on 2000 people. Both choirs sang the music with deep feeling and their efforts were received by the audience in a most enthusiastic manner. The wearing of mourning for the dead king by the members of the Greymouth Choir made a deep impression mi all present. - In giving his decision, Mi’ Eaeyortz (the Judge) said that in the Mendelssohn item “As phuts the Hart” the ''Greymouth Choir paid more attention to light and shade than Sydenham and the voices were a little better balanced. Altogether it was a slightly more artistic reading. The Greymouth choir had secured first prize with 149 marks out of 200 (loud applause) and Sydenham scored 137 marks. .Both performances wove very good and indeed quite worthy of much larger choirs. As to the “Tauuhouscr” number “Hail Bright abode,” Greymouth again won (great applause) with 133 marks, Sydenham scoring 122. The piece was enormously difficult for any small choir to attempt and both choirs to attempt and both choirs deserved the very highest encomiums for their pluck in undertaking it. On the part of the choirs it was a very line achievement.

The Greymouth Choir and Mr Lather received an ovation after the performance and loud cheers were given for tho \ isitors by the assemblage. _ The compotitiors are creating a great deal of public interest and the 750 odd competitors draw crowded houses. The members of the Greymouth Choir have made themselves very popular sines they came to Christchurch to compete in competitions of Society’s Choral contest and they have received many warm congratulations on Thursday evening’s - .success. They have consented to sing at the service, in tho Opawa Methodist Church on Sunday and by special request they will sing one of the test selections and Mendelssohn’s “As the hart pants” at the evening service.