FESTIVAL OF BRITISH MUSIC.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 8 September 1923, Page 5

FESTIVAL OF BRITISH MUSIC.

ElTorts are being made from time to time—and they are worthy of the keenest support—to make • people better acquainted' with the music of their own land. Much good work has been done by British, composers, of which few comparatively knew little, if anything. The Musical Times gives an interesting description of a Cambridge Festival held in June. At this a series of _ demonstrations of British music in its most characteristic forms was given. The sefi<*6 included (ay a programme of Tudor Church music by the ' united choirs oi King's, St. John's, and Trinity Colleges; (b) a lecture on the

Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, that unique J repertory, of keyboard music of the \ -middle centuries j. a conceit of Madrigals, than which, nothing is more attractive vocally; a recital of organ music from Byr& to Bairstow.; chamber music by Boyee and Elgar j a Masque of 1701 and comic opera of 1764; folk dances and a modern ballet; and the ! concluding part was an orchestral and choral concert supplied by the fine ;ivifflg Cambridge musicians. The whole festival must have been full of interest and valuable in a way that can hardly be overestimated as showing what has been done and what is being done in the musical world of Eaagland.