GRAMOPHONE IN CHURCH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 649, 29 April 1929, Page 10

GRAMOPHONE IN CHURCH

SACRED RECITAL AT ST. MARY’S APPRECIATIVE CONGREGATION A recital of sacred music from a gramophone was given in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Parnell, yesterday afternoon. The programme, which was appreciated by a large congregation and which was broadcast by IYA, was arranged by Mr. Karl Atkinson. The recital, believed to be the first of its kind in New Zealand, was intended as an illustration of church and other sacred music by well-known choirs and soloists in England. Mr. Atkinson made explanatory remarks, item by item, as the programme proceeded. The opening number was the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (Bach), played by the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. “A famous organ solo arranged for a symphony orchestra may seem a strange opening for a sacred recital, but as Bach was to the organ what Beethoven was to the orchestra, and to this day reigns supreme, there is more appropriateness in the selection than appears at first sight.” said Mr. Atkinson. "Such a transcription is permissible on the grounds that every recital organist draws largely upon orchestral music.” The next record was "If With All Your Hearts,” from "Elijah” (.Mendelssohn), sung by Dan Beddoe, a Welsh tenor. Other numbers were "Panis Angelicus” (“O Lord, Most Holy,” Cesar Franck), sung by Gota Ljungberg, soprano, with piano and ’cello, and an organ accompaniment by Stanley Roper; soprano solo and chorus, "Hear My Prayer” (Mendelssohn), sung by Master Ernest Lough and choir, recorded in the Temple Church, London; choral. "Jerusalem” (Parry), by H.M. Chapels Royal Choir, London; choral, "Nunc Dimittis" (Brewer), recorded in the Hereford Cathedral and sung by the Three Choirs Festival, for whom it was written expressly in 1927, with an accompaniment by the London Symphony Orchestra; choral, “King of Glory” and “O Sons and Daughters” (arranged by Walford Davies), sung by the Temple Church Choir. Perhaps the most interesting record was “My God, My Father, Make Me Strong,” and “Ye Watchers and Holy Ones” (Easter Hymn), from a service broadcast from St. Martins-in-the-Fields Church, London, sung by a congregation of 2,000 worshippers. This famous church, said Mr. Atkinson, was the centre of a vigorous parish life, and its one-time vicar, the Rev. R. L. Sheppard, who was reecntly compelled to retire owing to a physical breakdown, made the church more famous by being the first vicar to broadcast his services. At the conclusion Canon P. E. James said the recital should have been helpful to all. One of the reasons for music in the church was that it was an offering to God and they should always offer to Him what was best. He hoped they would regard the offering of music in the church as of the greatest importance.