Choir Festival.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4862, 29 November 1883, Page 3

Choir Festival.

•> Tbe firat attempt at a Choral Festival by the united strength of Ohuroh of England ohoirs in Chrittchurch and the surrounding diatriota took plaoe this morning, when representatives from the following pariah ohoirs joined foroes to the total of 325, viz: — Cathedral, St Miohael's, St Luke's, St John the Baptist, Avonaide, Biocarton, Opawa, Pbillipeto wb, 8t Matthews (St Albana), Merivale, Lyttelton, Bangiora, Prebbleton, Kirwee and Linooln. The following is a tabular summary of the ohoirs and the numbers of Voices i— SUBTLIOBD OHOIBB.

Grand total— 32s. It will be aeen from this that the altos were somewhat weak, a fact which, howevor, only became apparent where a solo part was allotted thero, bb in Smart's Te Deum. The Festival opened with early Communion in the Cathedral' at 8 a.m. thia morning, the ohoral portion commencing at 11 o'olook. Shortly before that hour all the ohoirs taking part in the singing mustered near the Cathodral and fchoao who wore surplices donned them. At eleven o'olock they entered the building, and, preceded by a band of aix cornets and the Cathedral choir, advanced up the aiale, singing Langran's " Hark, the Sound of Holy Voices," as a proceeaional hymn. Several of the ohoirs dißplayed banners, that of Biccarton with ita cross keys being the most conspicuous amongst them. In the rear of the choriatera came the Primate, the Dean and Ohapter, and many of the clergy of the Provinoe, the Bey Walter Harper bearing the croaier before the Bishop. The Cathedral ohoir and moat of those in surplices from the town ohurches took their seats in the choir stalls and other temporary seats in front of them, while tbe I rest were accommodated on a raiaed platform before the screen. Members of ohoirs uncurpliced, many, of them being ladiea, sat in ] front of these again, a portion of the seats 1 baring been reserved for their use* Ac may

be supposed, the seating spaoe of tho building was by this means somewhat circumscribed, and it was filled. The Committee had wisely avoided making a selection of diffioult musio for this experimental attempt to establish a festival of united ohoirs, and though dignified with that title the musio wob confined for the moßtpart to well-known settings of the oantiolßS, psalm?, and hymns by some of our worthiest, ohuroh composers— suoh as ooour in the ordinary ohoral serrioeß of tho Churoh of England. As the various ohoirs had been thoroughly drilled beforehand by Mr H. Wells, the Cathedral organist, and the musio presented no extraordinary difficulties, tho effect attained was very gocd, and the rioh volume of sound produoed at times a great advance on anything of the kind that we have yet had in Ohristohuroh. Time was well kept, and the different marks of expression marked in the service book of the musio, issued by the Committee, scrupulously attended to. Indeed, such smoothness and acouraoy must give great encouragement for a repetition of tho festival at some future date. The following is the musio used this morning. The Venite was sung to a ohant by Turle ; Psalm 128 to one by T. Walmisley | Psalm 132 to Dr Woodward's in D; Psalm 144 to that of Dr Orotoh. 'A'he He Deum was Henry Smart's, and the Benedictus was sung to another Ohant by Walmisley. No anthem was sung, but the well* known hymn, "The Strain Upraise," by A. H. D. Troyte, was made to do service instead. To this the large body of voices did full justice, the verses aung in unison and thore by the men only, also in unison, were given with marked effect. Hymns by Barnby and Westlake were also used, and that by the Eav W. H. Havergall, "O Saviour, Precious Saviour,", sung recesßionally, ooh'oluded the musical portion of themorning'e service. Mr Tendall, organist of St Michael's, took Mr Wells' placo at the organ, tho latter filling tho position of choir-master. The precee were intoned by the Ber W. H. Elton, Precentor of the Cathedral, and the lessons were read by the Revs Townsond and Crosdaile Bowen. A spooial offertory was made, the Bey Mr Elton announoing that it was upon this alone that the Committee depended to recoup themselves for the heavy liabilities they had incurred.

Treble Alto Tenor Bass St Matthews 7 10 9, 9. Bt Albans )"' 1Z "" * z Ayonside 10 — 2 2 Lyttelton 14 — 2 4 StLuke'o, ") 3 3 8 Ohrietchuroh ) *** St John's, I 15 4 1 Ohriatchuroh ) '" Bangiora — 2 3 6 Bicoarton 14 — 2 6 Merivale .'6—2 4 St Miohael's, "> 1(1 » OhrUtohurch j •" 14 ' The Cathedral ... 20 3 4 7 113 5 24 42 WSTSPBPI.IOBD. St Mathews > a _ __ _ StAlbans J "' Avongide ... ... 1 — — — St. John's I 2 — — — Ohristohuroh j "* Bangiora 18 — — — Prebbleton 21 — 3 4 Kirwee 6 4 2 3 ©pawa 16 2 2 Phillipatown ... 3 — 2 Biooarfon 12 — — — Merivale 18 2 — — StMiohael's "> 9 _ __ __ Ohrietchurch ) '" Lincoln 4 1 1 1 108 9 10 14 Total ...221 14 34 58