CHRISTMAS MUSIC

Southland Times, Issue 21275, 22 December 1930, Page 3

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

CHURCH SERVICES. In most of the churches yesterday special services were held at which Christmas carols and solos and choruses from "The Messiah” were sung. At First'Presbyterian Church carols were sung in the morning and in the evening in place of the usual sermon, the choir, assisted by St. Paul’s Choir, and by Miss Dorothy Sligo, Miss Mary Pratt, Mr Ernest Drake and Mr Wilfred Kershaw from Dunedin) rendered “The Messiah,” under the leadership of the choirmaster, Mr L. E. Dailey, with Miss Hay at the organ. The church was crowded and both solos and choruses were sung with feeling and reverence. At the Central Methodist Church evening service the following carols were sung: “Deck the Hall,” “Silent Night” (Old German), “The First Nowell,” “I hear along our street,” “Good King Wenceslas,” “Silent Night” (Gruber), “Three Kings of Orient,” “Sleep, Holy Babe,” “Joy to the World.” There was some sweet singing by the boys, including a fifteenth century carol by Master Rutherford Brown. At the Salvation Army Citadel there was Christmas music and song by the citadel band and songsters. Ensign Allan Montgomery was assisted by Captain Kingsley Mortimer and Envoy Bowater, of Wellington. At the Esk street Baptist Church the services both morning and evening were of a special nature, with special singing by the choir from “The Messiah.” At St. Peter’s Methodist Church morning service there was a Boy Scout and Cub parade. In the evening Christmas hymns and carols were sung. At St. Paul’s -Presbyterian Church there were Christmas services both morning and evening, with carols at the latter service by the Girls’ Choir. At the evening service at St. Andrew’s the choir sang special anthems,- and at Knox Christmas services were held. At North Invercargill in addition to special addresses by the Rev. W. Tanner the choir sang the following carols: ’’Hymn for Christmas Day,” “God Rest You Merry Gentlemen,” “Good King Wenceslas,” “The First Noel.” Mr P. Tait was the soloist.