MUSIC FESTIVAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 November 1924, Page 5

MUSIC FESTIVAL.

CHORUS OF 4000. LONDON, Sept. 15. A musical festival typical of a movement which will make the Britain of the generation hence a more musical land is to be given on September 26 at Bryn Tanat, Llansaintffraid Montgomery, N. Wales. Nine villages are contributing towards a festival chorus of between 4000 end 5000. The total population of each village rarely exceeds 500. These singers have for months past’ been practising such music as Bach’s “God’s Time is the Best.” and “Blessing, Glory and Wisdom,” Mendelssohn’s “Judge Me. 0 God,” and works by the Welsh composer, Mr. E. T. Davies. Last year they sang Perry’s “Blest Pair of Sirens.”

r phe festival is held in a big barn, built for the festival in 1919. Here 'the village choirs meet for two rehearsals, and then give two concerts which attract all the countryside. Local orchestral players are reinforced from Liverpool for the occasion. This year the conductors will be Mr. E. T. Davies, Mr. Arthur Faggc (of the London Choral Society), and Mr. Geoffrey (of the D’Oylv Carte Company). \ feature of the festival is the participation by choirs of children from the village schools—B or 10 singers from each—and these youngsters thus grow up with the habit of choral singing in their natures.