MUSICAL FESTIVAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21456, 1 April 1933, Page 10 (Supplement)

MUSICAL FESTIVAL

INTEREST AMONG SCHOOLS FINE PROGRAMMES SELECTED Preparations are now well advanced for the Schools' Musical Festival, which will bo held in the Town Hall on August 15 and 16. Tho great success of this musical event in the past will probably be eclipsed this year, judging from tho interest that :is already being displayed in it. Tho primary schools, under tho baton of Mr. E. Varley Hudson, will provide the first- evening's programme. Already applications from schools to ' enter a greater number of scholars than last year have been received, but as full seating accommodation on the stago was occupied at the last festival, it may not be con-

sidered advisable to station children on the wings of the dress circle. This was done two years ago but the difficulty of keeping such a large choir under the baton was great.

Tho unison songs to be sung by tho massed choirs will include tho " Pilgrim s Chorus " from Wagner's " Tannhauserj' a recently composed song, " There is a Spirit Singing," by Geoffrey Shaw; " Shadow March," George Rathbone s setting of R. L. Stevenson's words; and " The Brave Old Duke of York " (T. F. Dunhill). Two interesting songs with descants will be Brahm's " Cradle Song " and " Tho Banks of Allan Water," while the two-part canon, "A Shepherd Kept Sheep" (Thyman), will be another delightful number. Two rounds, "Wind, Gentle Evergreen," in three parts, and " Let's Have a Peal," in nine parts, will also be sung, and individual schools taking part will contribute) items. Equally keen interest is being taken among the secondary schools providing the programme tho following evening. These will be the Epsom Girls' Grammar School, the Diocesan Girls' High School, St. Cutlibert's College, " Hill Top " School, Queen Victoria Maori Girls' School, the Auckland Boys' Grammar School, the Seddon Memorial Technical College, King's College and Dilworth School. Mr. 11. Hollinrake will again conduct and Mr. 11. Luscombo will be at tho organ. ' Unison songs to be given by the massed choirs will include " The Vagabond " (Dunhill), " Dashing Away With the Smoothing Iron " and a round which has not yet been finalised. In three-part arrangements, the massed choirs will sing " The Flower of the Forest," " Eglamore," "Pipe, Shepherd, Pipe," Handel's " Where'er You Walk " and the Irish air, " Quick, We Have But a Second." The festal songs, " PilgrimSong " (Dunhill), "We Thank Thee, 0 God" (Bach) and "I Vow to Thee, My Country" (Hoist), will also be sung by the' massed choirs.

The boys' voices alone will be heard in the unison song, " Boot, Saddle, to Horse," " Down Among the Dead Men " and " Blow, Blow, Thou Wintry Wind," the last-named being accompanied by the combined orchestra. The girls' voices will be heard in " Pastoral " (Carey) and Brahms' "We Wander." Individual schools will also give items, and a chorus of selected boys will render " Battlel Hymn (Martin Shaw).