WORLD OF MUSIC

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 24 December 1925, Page 8

WORLD OF MUSIC

A unique honour has been conferred upon Miss Joan 'Claridge, 17-year-old daughter of Mr J. H. Claridge, of den Eden, Auckland, in the official adoption by the Auckland Girls’ Grammar School of a school song "written by her. The words have been set to music by Mr Maughan Barnett, city organist in Auckland, and the song is to be sung by the whole school at all break-ing-up gatherings. It was sung by some 700 girls at last week’s ceremony. Miss Claridge’s father was formerly on the staff of the Hawera Star as foreman of the news room, but he left the district before the close of last century.

Mr. .John Prouse, of Wellington some years ago celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of his first appearance an "Elijah,” under Mr. Robert Parker's conductorship. Last week he took the part of the Prophet in Christchurch, and is reported by the city papers to be as good as ever, and "the success of the performance was due largely to his magnificent efforts.”

The "Messiah” gave the lead as it were to the music of this season of the year and the style appropriate to Christmas and turned the thoughts cr people to the' great festival of the year. The wonderful oratorio is performed in hundreds of musical centres year by year, and still it never stales or grows old. Despite the hundreds, nay thousands, of performances, given since the historic occasion on which it was first performed under the conductorship of the composer himself in Dublin, fresh beauties of expression or musical effect or interpretation are always being disclosed. These two outstanding features form the most wonderful tribute to tlie genius and inspiration of the master musician composer.

The music of the churches —the immortal masses, the glorious hymn tunes, the melody and harmonies of the carols and the anthems written for this season of the year —all have a wonderful appeal, even though many appear to have fallen away from religious bodies. At this time of the year the minds of the large majority of the people unconsciously revert to the great event celebrated this week. And thus is the striking power of good music again proved, for it is this music that sways so many and sways them for good. Especially is the influence on the children good, and it is therefore a mosr valuable work being done by those who control choirs and other musical organ • isations connected with churches or schools, secular or religious, in this training of the young to a love of good busic. The influence is very widespread.