Diocesan Choral Association.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5563, 10 March 1886, Page 4

Diocesan Choral Association.

Last evening a repetition of part of the music performed at the last annual festival of the Diocesan Choral Association, held in November, was given in the Cathedral, in honour of the visit of Bishop Barry. The portion of the festival music used was that chosen at the time for the evening service, the anthem being Stainer's "0, Clap your Hands all ye People/ and the hymn sung during the collection of the offertory Bedhead's beautiful composition, "Holy Offerings." The Cathedral was crowded, a large congregation having been drawn together in anticipation of the music, and still more because it had been previouslyannouncedthatthe Primate of Australia would himself preach the sermon. In spite of the unavoidable absence of Mr Towsey, and the impossibility of holding more than a single practice of the united choirs, the music, with one or two trifling exceptions, was excellently given. Mr Normington filled Mr Towsey's post as conductor most successfully, and his clear, well-defined beat was carefully attended to by some 300 singers — male and female. The way in which the responses were given was certainly an improvement on the November performance, much leas dragging and more precision being noticeable this time. If one part of the music was better performed than another, we fancy it was the chorus portion of the anthem, and the hymn " Holy Offerings." In the former the full body of sound gave Stainer's fine harmonies their full effect, and in the latter the pianissimo occurring at the close of each verse on the words " Christ present them — God receive them," was given by all, showing that the drilling they had received had by no means been thrown away. The usual arrangements were made for seating the choristers of the Cathedral and the different suburban parishes, Mr Mornington conducting from a raised desk placed midway down the central aisle. Mr G. F. Tendall, the organist of the Cathedral, played the andante, Beethoven's C Minor Symphony, as an introductory voluntary, at half-past seven, and the service then went forward as in November, the processional hymn, "Rejoice ye Pure in Heart," being sung by the surplieed choirs, who entered at the western doorway, and went up the aisle to the choir stalls, the Eiccarton and Avonside choirs displaying their banners, and the Eev Walter Harper bearing the crozier before the Primate of New Zealand. Bishop Cowie, of Auckland, was also present, and read the second lesson, the first being taken by Canon Cholmondeley. The whole musical performance being bo similar to that of November, it is needless to refer to more than the general features already noticed. The preces were intoned by the EevW. H. Elton. Bishop Barry took for his text, Somans xv chap. 6 v. : " With one mind and one month glorify Gad." The collection after the sermon was for the benefit of the Choral Association, which was still some J620 in debt. A sum of £16 2s 11 Jd was collected, so that there is still a balance against the Association. Hymn 179, Ancient and Modern, was sung recessionally, and Mr Tendall played Handel's overture to Athalia as the concluding voluntary.