A MUSICAL SERVICE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 248, 19 October 1908, Page 8

A MUSICAL SERVICE.

A service of a unique character, will be held, at the Church of the Nativity to-morrow evening, and it will no doubt attract a, large oongrefation. For come time past the choir as had in, preparation , NichOl'a sacred cantata? *'Day and Night," .and this will be produced upon the occasion. The "argument" of the work shows its intensely ■ religions ■ character. The cantata opens with an instrumental movement descriptive oi sunrise, followed by a chorus setting forth the glory of the maker of the sun. The Wanderer (tenor) -troubled in his , 'heart about many things, has been watching the dawft; and impressed with its beauty, breaks into song, the closing words of his utterance being taken up by the ohours. A duet for soprano and contralto sets forth the loveliness of childhood, suggested by children running to school. The wanderer,' passing on his way, comes across the reapers and gleaners at work in the harvest field. After a .short double <iho.rus, a soiig is sung by one of the reapers having reference to death; then follows a quartette, "0 Blessed by God.'* The opening movement of part''2 depicts tile wanderer reclining beside a brook, whose murmur;moves him to inward worship. The beautiful words of the 23rd Psalm, occur to ■him, and are set as a soprano solo, followed by a well-known hymn having reference, to the "Living Water" and the "Light of the World." Sunset now approaches, .and the song of the reaper returning from his wOrlo is heard. As darkness closes in "The radiant ■moon, has passed away" is sung. The wanderer troubled in mind chances to pass near the village^ church whilst a well-known hymn is' being sung, and this leads him to enter the church with a prayer for peace, and he finally returns to his home with-a sense of inward blessedness. .

The cantata will be rendered by the choir under the condiictorship. of the organist, Mr H. Wells. The offertory will be in aid of the choir funds.