Music in Workshop

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 268, 15 November 1934, Page 9

Music in Workshop

DR. NICHOLSON’S SURVEY AUCKLAND, Nov. 13. “The choirs in New Zealand are too big. There are too many women in them, and you uso organ music too much,” said Dr. Sydney H. Nicholson, director of tho School of English Church Music, when summing up his impressions of tho Anglican Church music after touring the Dominion. “You must have boys’ voices in a choir to be any good,” he added. “In England the proportion of women’s to nralo voices is about one in twenty. There is a place for women altos in a choir, but for other female voices tliero is only limited need. ‘‘Another thing I noticed is the enormous size of choirs in this Dominion. Many are double tlie size of that in Westminster Abbey; a far more rigorous selection of voices could be made. There should be far more unaccompanied singing, and tho organ should not be used to pull an inefficient choir through.” ' ' ' The choice of music was often unfor-l tunate, Dr. Nicholson proceded.: .During the .whole of' his tour, . with the single exception of the Christchurch Cathedral, ho had not heard a piece of classical Church music.

He suggested a system of scbolarshipsAo .enable, capable New Zealanders to study in England. ■ Everything depended on the support of the general body of Church-goers and on their being persuaded to explore the treasures of Church music.