AN APPRECIATION: MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSIC.

Southland Times, Issue 21581, 19 December 1931, Page 7

AN APPRECIATION: MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSIC.

To the Editor. Sir, —Attracted by the excellent and well chosen programme, I attended the second performance of the school concert, and speaking of the work of the senior choir more particularly, I found much to commend. Mr G. Griffiths, the headmaster, is to be congratulated on his sympathetic attitude towards singing and the success of his long and continuous efforts to produce throughout the school an artistic result. I was particularly struck with the skill displayed in the part singing, only possible with the resources of a large school and ample opportunity for practice. The light and flexible tone in “A Madrigal of Spring” (Fletcher) and “Nymphs and Shepherds” (Purcell) was the exact thing and enabled the pupils to execute the rapid passages with ease and good intonation. Mr Deacon’s work betokened the same design—quality before quantity. Lest these admirable features of the children’s training should be overlooked by the general public I write these few lines. The pleasure I derived from this concert made me wish I had had the opportunity of visiting other schools where perhaps similar good work was being done. In any case Mr Griffiths should receive the support and encouragement he so fully deserves from parents, ;[ the committee and the music-loving public.—l am, etc., CHARLES GRAY.