COMMUNITY SINGING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16732, 13 May 1922, Page 7

COMMUNITY SINGING.

BRIGHTENING THE PUBLIC* The American innovation of communitysinging; is to be introduced to Christchurch on Wednesday next. The idea of the movement was outlined at a meeting held in the City Council Chambers yesterday. There were preeent:—Professor J. Shelley (in the chair),, Mrs W. J. Jenkin, the Mayor (Dr Thacker, M.P.), Profeasor J. B. Condlitfe, and Messrs W. J. Hunter, H. Hobbs, H. Blakeley, T. M. Charters, F. E. Baume and K. B. Owen.. The chairman said that it was fairly obvious to those who stayed long in Christchurch that although there was a lot of musical work going on in private homes and little cliques, there needed to be a certain amount of organisation to get the spirit into the city a-s a whole. Although he was practically a newcomer to Christchurch, it seemed to him that there was too great, a tendency to let someone else do the shouting—that the majority needed only to go into the stalls and watch and listen. For a community to be really healthy, the people in it must join in its activities and not merely attend functions arranged for them. Com. ip unity-singing was by no means a new thing. It was inherent in every AngloSaxon breast. Everyone knew the value of music as an art which had a Naming, a disciplinary effect. If a person had been working hard and was rather on the " raw edge," he would be pacified and changed if he joined in a community sing. It was recognised by medical circles that the influence of music was one of the greatest influences for bringing the emotions under an equable temper and disposition. If an organised effort was made by some central body to get the proposal going, even once a week, the spirit of the movement would be carried into all sorts of societies and institutions outside, and probably into the homes of the people who took part. Referring to the student revels that day. the speaker said that there was no reason why such should not be paralleled by a festival of a serious nature—a festival of song. in which the whole of tne communities within and without Christchurch could join. They had an ideal site in Hagley Park. Mr R. B. Owen had suggested the movement which had started so successfully in Wellington.

Dr Thacker said that as Mayor of the city he would give every support he could. At every big function, such as the event that day, the whole bulk of the attendance felt compelled to join in. Mr Owen s»d that a move on the lines indicated was badly needed. Recently in the Gardens Dr Bradshaw, conducting the Royal . Musical Society’s choir. had asked the (crowd of about 7000 to join in the singing of the National Anthem. The response was exceedingly poor. There seemed to be a fogginess over the people, and they were not able to enjoy themselves as might. He recommended that Mr A. Russell, of Wellington, should be asked to conduct the first sing in Christchurch. It was resolved that those preeent, together with such representative people as the secretary and Mr Owen think suitable, should constitute an executive to act in the meantime. The following officers were elected:— Honorary / secretary, Mr F. E. Baume; honorary treasurer, Mr R. B. Owen; honorary accompanist, Mrs H. E. Russell; hall manager, Mr H. Sweeney. It was agreed that the first “sing’* should be held on Wednesday next, from 12.30 to 1.45. The meeting decided lo invite Mr Russell to conduct the “ sing ” as suggested by Mr Owen. The choice of songs was left to a small committee. Mr Hunter was appointed chairman of the first “ sing.”

Mr Owen said he hoped arrangements woxi 1 d be made to form classes for those interested in the work, and that the movement would develop into something very fine before the summer months. A s ta~t would be made with well-known songs, and an effort would be made to introduce one* or two new songs every week. The children’s school choirs, in which he was particularly interested, would benefit ny this movement. He hoped fcr> see New Zealand develop into a great musical nation.