CHURCH CHOIR FESTIVAL

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1929, Page 11

CHURCH CHOIR FESTIVAL

COMBINED SERVICE AT ST. MARY’S

The annual choir festival of churches in the Taranaki archdeaconry was held at St. Mary’s Church, New Plymouth, last night. The service was evensong, the preacher bring Canon Strong, vicar of St. Mary’s. The lessons were read by Canon Gavin (Waitara) and the Rev. G. T. Beale (Stratford). The service -was sung by the Rev. J. H. Thompson (Inglewood) and the congregational singing was led by a combined choir from various parishes in the archdeaconry. The festival commenced with a processional hymn, and during the service two new. settings for hymns were rendered. The first was Miles Byrkett Foster’s, music for the hymn “Thou Who Sentest Thine Apostles,” and the second to a new ‘hymn composed by tho Rev. C. J. Stone, “There Is an Ancient River,” set to music by Sir George Martin. Stanford's setting in C Major was used for the first chant, and for the Magnificat the Nunc Dimittis music by Dr. Wood that was also new to Taranaki congregations. The anthem chosen was “Praise the Lord, Oh My Soul,’ ’the music being by Goss and a fair representation of the older Victorian type of cathedral anthem.

Considering the limited opportunity for combined practices the work of the choir was very commendable. As was emphaised Jby Canon Strong in his address, the festival was not a performance staged for the delectation of an audience, but a demonstration of how the reverent use of music can be an aid to public worship. Judged from that standpoint the festival was a success, the work of the organist (Mr, R. N. Renaud) contributing very considerably. To organise such festivals means a considerable amount of trouble to the various choirs, but full appreciation of their efforts was very evident last night. Speaking from words taken from Psalm 96, “Oh Worship the Lord in (he Beauty of Holiness,” Canon Strong stressed the need of remembering that the value of the musical portion of church services depended entirely upon its sincerity of purpose. It was the dedication of beautiful music to the glory of God and as an aid to his worship. No matter whether tho service of song were a dignified and beautiful one in a stately cathedral or one simple, and possibly quite out of tune, in some up-country schoolroom where a few devout souls had gathered, so long as there was a sincere desire to aid in t‘he worship of God. He was glad to welcome other choirs to the beautiful church of St. Mary’s. To keep the festivals an annual event meant that they must have music, and jt was not easy to find music that suited all choirs or that would please everyone. He knew the difficulties of some choirs in regard to practices, and he appealed to those who found the music chosen was hard to master to do their best and learn thoroughly at least a portion. If they would make this effort he was sure it would lead to the elevation of church music which all desired.

That evening’s congregation had heard tw.o new hymns. He appealed to congregations not to condemn music because it was new. Ho yielded to no one in. his affection for some of the old hymns and music, but tho Church of England was rather inclined to get into a rut in regard to its music. The old music was good, but the church might thank God that it had a long line of Christian musicians whose works deserved recognition and use. The work of such men as Bird, Orlando Gibbons, Elgar and Dr. Wood would benefit their services, and he would suggest to congregations that they should not condemn as dull music which was simply unfamiliar. Let them try it a few times and its beauty would become apparent. It was tho care taken in apparently little things that made the difference. It was not easy, for instance, for congregations to make the General Confession or to repeat, the Lord’s Prayer reverently. It was worthwhile taking the time and trouble to learn how such details should be handled.

His remarks were not intended as fault-finding or picking holes. They were meant as warnings only. It was not necessary to have elaborate services, and it would bo wise .for choirs that desired to improve their services to learn one part at a time and to learn it thoroughly, always remembering their function was to lead tho singing of the congregation. Ho would ask them to remember the “people in the pews” and not choose music in which only the choir could share. If they all, choir and congregation, would remember that the whole object of church music within a consecrated building was tho worship of God, to bring thoughts of God nearer devout minds, they would be less likely to make mistakes. If Church music were merely . garish it could not lift the thoughts of men to thoughts of God, but if it were chosen in the right proportion and regarded with reveren.-e it should be. possible to make it the mainspring of that worship of God “in tho beauty of holiness” of which the Psalmist wrote.