Festival of Music

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 19, 9 October 1946, Page 3

Festival of Music

—.——- —- HUTT TECHNICAL COLLEGE GREAT WORK ACCOMPLISHED Even before the concerts opened at the Wellington Town Hall last week it was an inspiring sight to see the hundreds of pupils of the Hutt Valley Memorial Technical School—-bright-faced girls and hoys—gathered for the annual music festival, lacing an audience that Tilled the hall. It was good to know that the school, by fostering a taste for good music, lias opened up a new cultural world for the pupils, and is doing much to counteract the effect of the “cheap” music that floods the world today. The audience was in the mood for Something good, and it was not disapjDinted, for the programme presented was a great delight. The part singing by the massed choir was something of a revelation; good tohd, splendid balance, artistic light and shade, precision of attack and release, all were there. The items covered a wide range, from the rhythmic sea shanties “High Barbary” and “Bay of Biscay” to the inspiring and particularly well rendered “Lift Up Your Heads” ' and Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s “The Messiah,” and including “Turn Back, 0 Marn,” “Ye Holy Angels Bright,” “Laus Deo,” “O God, Our Help,” “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” and Bach's lovely air, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” They were all very enjoyable and were applauded enthusiastically by the audience. Satisfying Items. The orchestral items were equally satisfying. The massed orchestra opened the programme with a wellcontrasted group —“School Captain,” “Follow My Leader,” and the miniature overture “Spring-Tide.” The small orchestra played the Scherzo from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2, “Sheep May Safely Graze” from Bach’s Birthday Cantata (the clarinet parts in the latter being very well played by Arthur Davies and Milton Futter) and two delightful Mozart selections. The String Orchestra was heard in a Handel Suite, while the senior orchestra gave a Keltic Lament by Foulds and a Choral Song by Wesley. The senior orchestra aroused great enthusiasm by its artistic rendering of the Finale from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C Minor. The Military Band, conducted by Mr. G. A. Booth, played a selection of Schubert airs. Dr. Vernon Griffiths and Mr. Laurence Haggitt gave great assistance at the organ. Mr, Rudolph E. McLay, the school's director of music, is doing wonderful work, and must have been a very proud man at the success of the festival.