“THE CRUCIFIXION”

Hawera Star, Volume L, 17 April 1930, Page 11

“THE CRUCIFIXION”

ST. MARY’S CHURCH CANTATA. A FINE RENDITION. The choir of St. Mary’s Church, Hawera, sang, last evening in the church Sir John Stainer’s fine, cantata, “The Crucifixion,” one of the best known oJthe works arranged for Passion Week. With Mr Herbert Webb at the organ, the choral numbers that are a marked feature of the work were sung with a Jeep appreciation of the spirit of the words and music and they displayed a very good blend and balance in every number. All are to he sincerely com : mended for their consistently good work. There was a large congregation ana, alt -followed with much interest the music and the words as they unfolded the “Meditation on the Sacred Passion of the Holy Redeemer,” as the work if described by the author. The lovely chorales that occur in the progress of the cantata were .reverently sung by choir and congregation. The recitatives that form the narrative of the story are very beautiful and effective and these were well sung by Rev. J. R. young and Messrs H. L. Chadwick, F. G. Hancock, J. O. Smith, and A. El. Morris. They all showed a nice appreciation of the ideas of the composer and of the writer of the words. The fine tenor solos, “King evei Glorious and “How Sweet is the Grace,” two which demand much from a singer, were sung by Mr A. E. Morris very effectively. In all Ids work lit showed that he had studied the meaning and significance of the words and music. Ho gave a distinctly good interpretation of the numbers allotted tc. him. He and Mr Young sang with a really mutual understanding, the love ly duet “So Thou Liftest Thy Divine Petition.” The voices blended splendid I v and it was an excellent number. The choir showed a good balance and a. fine, volume of tone and paid close attention to light and shade. The result was that their numbers were sung with capital expression and were most successful in every way. In the chorus. “Fling wide the gates,” there was a slight tendency' to hurry the march and it thus rather lost its spirit ol majesty and l dignity. The final chorus,l the appeal of the crucified, “Is it nothing to- You?” was sung with real fervour and marked attention to expression. Tho unaccompanied c-horns “God so Loved the World” showed the choii perhaps at its best. It was a most in- 1 foresting and effective number. Mr Webb played the opening section for organ and the “Processional to Calvary” and the very beautiful accompaniments to solos and choruses with care and taste, and very effectively used Iris stop registrations throughout.

Generally, the work was very successful and reflected great credit on choirmaster and members of the choir, all of whom gave of their best and showed the results of the capable and careful training given bv their leader. The singing of the “None Dimitris” as a recessional made a fitting finale to the service.