STAINER’S “CRUCIFIXION”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21599, 21 March 1932, Page 8

STAINER’S “CRUCIFIXION”

The United Congregational Church Choir gave a very devotional rendering of Stainer’s “ Crucifixion ” last evening in the Albany Street Church, under the baton of Mr W. R. Sinclair. There was a very large congregation. The principal soloists were Messrs C. S. Hawes, John Kennedy, and G. Dyer. The soloists were in sympathy with the spirit of the composition, and their interpretations left little to be desired all through. Mr Kennedy’s light tenor voice was specially suitable to the appealing passages, in which he was heard to good effect, and his singing was balanced and restrained. In such portions as “ The Majesty- of the Divine Humiliation,” ending with the words “Thou art the King, he was .it his best. Mr C. S. Hawes, although entrusted with reeitatives_ with dramatic compass needing in a high degree sympathetic treatment, never transgressed the bounds set by the theme, and in the recitative preceding the hymn, “ The Mystery of the Divine Humiliation,” and later in the recitative “ And as Moses Lifted Up the Serpent,” his singing was most pleasing and commendable. The choir deserves great praise for combined singing.that was very thoroughly in harmony with the spirit of the oratorio and was unmistakably well done. The accenting was admirable, and in the great choruses, “ Fling Wide the Gates ” and “ The Appeal of the Crucified,” there was a fine dramatic effect that showed a careful study of the combined parts. In a work of this kind there is, doubtless, a temptation to lay stress upon the more difficult and intricate choral work to_ the neglect of the more simple and straightforward portions, but the choir produced some most worthy effects in such choruses as “ God so Loved the World.” Mr George Dyer has a bass' voice well adapted to devotional music, and ho gave a pleasing rendering in his portion of the recitative, “ And One of the Malefactors. The ducts for bass and tenor were very sympathetically rendered, and the unaccompanied choral parts were worthy of special mention for the rich blending and the tuneful effect produced. Throughout, the organist, Mr Ron, Abernethy, paid careful attention to his work, and his playing was of a high order. The conductor, in the careful attention to light and shade on which he insisted, contributed in the highest degree to a very pleasing and devotionally correct performance.