THE BIG “SING"

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11250, 30 June 1922, Page 9

THE BIG “SING"

A FINE MOVEMENT. COMMUNITY ENTHUSIASM AWAKENED. TOWN HALL KAST NIGHT. ‘‘Carry on, Charlie,U was the cheerful order given last might by ATr Albert Russell, when start in.-g the first session of the "sing" under the leadership of Mr Charles I',. Webb. One verse of the National Anthem, am-l they were off, those three thousand people as they "packed up their trombles in their old kit-bags, and smiled, smiled, smiled/'’ It was a revelation in community movements; and to see the it immense Town Hall auditorium packed with the gladsome, willing victims of the "cheer germ" was a sight tka t; thrilled one to the core with real optimism. Worked up to a high pitch of smiling enthusiasm; with the jtiiiyfu'l blood flowing through them in the ecstasy of melodic, comradeship a;rid showing in their flushed cheeks and \ sparkling eyes, how they waded into tlue musical flood with "The long, long tra 11" and the tender pathos of "Mother i'ltackree." THRRIEI SiEISSI DNS. Divided into three sessawns, under the leadership of Messrs Clu-tries E. Webb, Albert Itussell and W. Ta.aipLe "White respectively, and with Miss* Dorothy Mills* Mrs Albert Russell am i Mtss Gladys Watkins as their respective accom-painls-tes, last night saw the first big evening "community sing*..?* The programme consisted of tliirt.y-two separate Kong-nunvbers, in 'which thi»» whole gathering joined enthusiastically; there were some comedy stunts and- & few, heartfelt, community "sneezes" organised and led off by the. irrepressible ‘‘Charlie" and "Albert." The event was an enormoi*® success in every way—numerically <as to. audience, financially as to the collet-tions at the door, emotionally os to -tSAe- enjoyment plainly evident on every fa ce.

HISTORY OF SO NG. “I will sing unto the , Lord a new 6ong,” eaid the old Feabni.it: and all through the pages of Holy* 'Writ do vre see it recorded, times witiu.mt number, that song to ,the ancients uras the one natural medium for the depression of joy. Not Biblical alone, h owever, are the references to song. Hii jtory right through from the beginning* of things records always the song of th e untutor d savage and the expression of joy in the uplifted voice of mountaineer .jfcnd plainsman, rustic and the town-dweller alike. And so, when one comes to think the thing over, there was something more back of this “cheer germ” idea than just the impulsive ebullition - of a sudden whim. It was something? almost of the nature of a divine inapt cation for the doing of just the right thii ig at just the right time. The war is o\ *er. Scattered all over the world are t he homes of the stricken and the vacant : seats of the In the hearts of i hose left sorrowing for the departed yet. .rejoicing for the coming of peace, there was a yearning to do something for a motional relief A Teaming to lift up tbe voice in a song mat, mingled with t> ie> voices of other thousands, should go up» to the high heavens as the expression of emotional unity. It was the old call of the free and the elemental in m unkind. Let us forget our troubles nn fl sing, and .let's all sing together. Tb tat was the unworded feeling hack of th; Is community sinuging. That's what • evolved the "cheer germ/' There is notl ling in the world so contagious as a n ntural, free-for-all sing-song. It open 6 o fut the lungs, makes the taking of deep t ireaths necessary, and blows away into t he air with every note another care, ai uother i worry 4 another little burden. EPIDEMIC SPREADING. That this “cheer germ” has caug ht on and has inoculated the whole court try is seen by the way the epidemic is n\ >read- J iug. Ridiculed at first, the movt unent \ has more than justified itself ix t the j gusto and the gladness with 'which multitudes are being affected. And, • while able to extract pleasure and a. com liderabl© measure of comfortable feymj lathy from the voice-comradeship all r< mnd, each singer can have the added i jatisfaction of knowing that he or eb i© is contributing a big measure of “’cheer itis” to those whose days are passed in d kirkness, and whose eyes are forever cj osed to all visible glories. FOR THE BLEND. The proceeds of the big “commui city sing” at the Town Hall last night v rere ilevotod to the Sir Arthur Pearson i Me-

morial Fund for the Blind: and the amounts taken during the last two* or three midday “sings" are ample ta etimony that the movement inauguiai ted here is going U> be a permanent instil tution, built solidly upon the affections of the people. Organised by Mrs Phillips Turner, the loyal and enthusiastic bai ad of lady-collcctors coaxed and urged ti he stream of silver coins out of the thou is* ands of pockets. How ' successful tin By were may be gathered from the fa ct that tho takings amounted bo’ «£56 18 te, which constitutes a record for the D ominion. The previous record was th te .£SO taken at Auckland last week. Prior to the evening’s “sing," Mr CU »- ment Howe entertained the gathering % audience with <a vary fine organ reeita l of half-an-hour’s duration. The soloists of the evening Mere Messn i W. Howard Foster end C* E Brydon, , gentlemen whose fine vocal efforts were much appreciated. To them and to nil tho officials connected with the move- • ment very great praise is 'due for their public-spirited enterprise and devotion to the cause of inspiring cheerful optimism. and a feeling of general gladness. LOCAL OFFICIALS. As an indication of tho great amount of interest this new community movement has awakened, it is only necessary to cite the list of local persona who rank as officials. These are:—President, Ilis Worship the Mayor (Mr R. A. Wright, ALP.); chairman, Mr O. E. Webb; hon.. seeretai-y, Mr Albert E. Russell; hon assistant secretary and treasurer, Mr W. H. Long; committee, Mrs A. B. Russell, Misses' Mabelle Eequilant, Eileen. Driscoll, Helen Gard’ncr, Gladys Watkins. Teresa McEnroe, Messrs V. R. Bennett, It. C. W. Blick, R. G. Blow, M. J. Brookes, W. 13. Oaldow, ,T. F. Carr, W Goudio, E. ,T, Hill, G. W. W. B. Hughes, Horace Hunt, M. King, G. Magnus. A. 1 W. Newton, Bernard F. Page, E. Palliser, R. Parker, H. Pliminer, J. R. i Samson, G. M. Silver, Frank Thomas, E. B. Vance, J. E. Perry, A. Varney, F. Goldberg, L. F. Watkins, it. Temple White, A. L. Wilson, Hugh Wright, H. F. Wood. COURTENAY PLACE. SING AT PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Organised by the secretary of the Courtenay Place Area Association a community “sing" was held at the Paramount Theatre yesterday morning, and was a most successful event, the singing being very enthusiastic. Dr. Townsend presided, ancl welcomed the audience in a few words. Mr A. Saunders acted as leader, supported by Messrs F. Crowther, A. Williams and Phipps. All were so pleased that another sing is to be held next 1 Thursday.