LEVIN METHODIST CHURCH.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 July 1937, Page 5

LEVIN METHODIST CHURCH.

ANNIVERSARY SERVICES

SACRED CANTATA PRESENTED.

The services at St. John’s Methodist Church were attended by large congregations yesterday on the occasion of the celebration of the 42nd anniversary of the establishment of the church in Levin.

The morning service was conducted by Rev. A. .Bla.kem.ore, of the Cuba Street Church, Palmerston North, who spoke upon the theme of “The Church Against the World,” while the anthem, “King of Kings,” was sung by the choir. In the evening Rev. J. Dennis was the presiding minister, and based his remarks upon the subject of “Christ’s Commission to the Church.” “lading Now” was sung as a duet by Mrs. Sawtell and Mr. A. Mottershead with the choir accompanying. “Day and Night.” Considerable interest was attached to the rendition of the sacred cantata “Day and Night,” composed by K. Ernest Nicholl, Mus. Bac., at the close of the evening service. This presentation, which was heard by a large audience, was given under the direction of Mr. Gordon Sorensen, with Mr. H. L. Jenkins at the organ, and for the occasion the choir was augmented to a strength of some forty voices by helpers from the sister churches. The cantata is not unknown to-Levin music lovers, having been presented previously by the same choir. The work commences with an instrumental movement descriptive of the sunrise, after which follows the opening chorus, “Lord of All Being,” a full and vigorous number setting- forth the glory of the sunrise and its Maker. The Wanderer has been watching the dawn and breaks into the tenor aria. “The Morn is Breaking,” sung, by Mr. A. Mottershead. His concluding words form the the motive for the next chorus, “Speed Forth on Thy Way.” The children on their way to school suggest the duet for_alto (Mrs. Sawtell) and soprano (Miss Jean Sorensen) ‘ 4 Come to Me, O Ye Children, ” a charming number redolent of the loveliness of childhood. Continuing his .way, the Wariderer passes the reapers and gleaners in the harvest fields singing at their’work. The chorus of the reapers is first heard by the male voices in “Out in the Golden Cornfields,” the ladies taking up the air of the gleaners, “Praise Ye the Lord.” These two are then heard together in the concluding movement of the chorus, the mode of presentation making it perhaps the outstanding number of the cantata, a delightful example of part-singing and a gem of both conception and arrangement. One of the reapers is heard in the bass solo ‘ ‘ There is a Reaper, ’ ’ rendered by Mr. Frank Baumber, whence follows the unaccompanied chorus “O Blessed, is that Land” and the first part concludes with the full chorus, “O Worship the King,” in which the composer has taken full advantage of Sir Robert Grant’s poem to create a number rich in harmonic and vocal effect.

After a descriptive instrumental interlude, “The Brook/' beside which it is suggested the Wanderer is reclining, the words of the 23rd Psalm are heard in the • soprano .solo (Miss Sorensen) ‘ ‘ The Lord is My Shepherd. ’' A wellknown hymn, “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say, ’ ’ is set as an unaccompanied chorus! The Wanderer's return to his home is depicted in the alto solo (Mrs. Sawtell) “The Shadows Lengthen,” and the bass air by Mr. Baumber, “Now the Toil of Day is Ended." This is followed by an evening hymn sung in chorus, “Hail Gladening Light,” to which the. alto solo, sung by Mrs. Devine, “The Radiant Morn Hath P’assed Away." The Wanderer chances to pass near the village church as the congregation is singing. He is moved to worship, and his prayer is heard in solo against the next verse of the chorus number. As he enters the church the words of the hymn, ‘‘ In the Cross of Christ I Glorify ’ ’ peal out from the whole congregation in full chorus. The evening collect, “Lighten Our'Darkness’ is heard as a trio for female voices. Returned to his home, the Wanderer sings his final number ‘‘l Will Lay Me Down in Peace," (Mr. Mottershead) and as above the glories of the night are spread the thoughts passing through his mind supply the theme for tire concluding chorus, “The Spacious Firmament on High," a magnificent piece providing - a fitting finale to a musical composition of exceptional merit.

The choir had devoted some weeks of training- to the cantata, and their efforts were rewarded by a wellbalanced and expressive rendition which brought forth the most favourable comments of the hearers.