St. Joseph's Cathedral Choir, Dunedin

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIX, Issue 35, 7 September 1922, Page 23

St. Joseph's Cathedral Choir, Dunedin

The annual meeting of St., Joseph’s Cathedral' Choir was held at St, Joseph’s Hall on last Thursday evening. Rev. Father Foley, Adm., presided, and the greater .proportion of the ' members were present. Father. Foley expressed the great pleasure it was- to him to be present at,, the meeting of the choir, with which, because or its traditions and splendid record in • the musical world,' he felt proud to be ; associated. He eulogised the choirmaster (Mr. A. Vallis) for his painstaking efforts, and also the organist (Mr. F. Stokes), to’ whom, as well as to Signor Squarise, who in the past'had done such fine work, much of the choir’s present success could be attributed. Father Foley said* he would like to see the strength of the choir maintained by the young people, who would thus be devoting their talents to the highest' possible' purposethe rendering of the glorious music of the Church, the finest of all music— the glory of God. Whatever he (the speaker) could do to assist' the choir; would be considered a most" pleasing duty. Father Foley referred in sympathetic terms to the death of Mr. W. A. Woods, and also to that of a brother of Miss McCready (a popular member of the choir), and asked' all present to record a resolution of condolence with the friends and relatives. of the deceased by standing a few moments in respectful silence. Following are extracts from the annual report presented by Mr. H. . Poppelwell, in the absence of the secretary (Mr. M. Goughian), who lately met with a serious tram accident; Your committee beg to present its annual report for the year ended June 30, 1922, and in doing so congratulate members on accomplishing a satisfactory year’s wbrk. The attendances both at practice and on Sundays have been satisfactory, and this has made it possible to render a good class of music. Beethoven’s great Mass in C, which had not been sung for a period of 14 or 15 years, was put into practice during the year, and successfully. sung. The Gregorian Plain Chant and the less pretentious Masses of the choir’s repertoire have not been lost sight of, and have been sung from time to time, during the year, but particularly during the Lenten season. The number of members on .the roll ,at the commencement of the year was 38, and closes with a membership of 43. At a. time when pursuits of a frivolous nature claim so much attention, this increase in membership is particularly gratifying. Your committee regret to record the death of Mr. W. A. Woods, Auckland, an old member of the choir, and extend to his sorrowing relatives their sincere sympathy. The usual sacred recital was given on Christmas Night. A sacred concert was' also given on Easter Sunday night, and, since the close of the year, a third concert was given—the latter being for the benefit of the St. Vincent’s Orphanage. Your committee desire to thank members of St. Patrick’s Choir for valuable assistance at each of these concerts; also those members of our own choir who gave special service at these concerts and throughout the rear. Special thanks are due to Miss E. Knott (president of St. Joseph’s Ladies’ Club) for the - use ,of the. club’s piano at practices during the year. ' Several, meetings of your committee have been held and matters which required attention have received such. • A matter at present engaging attention is the compilation of a list of members from the inception of the choir, and your committee will be pleased to receive assistance from members to further this effort. A tablet bearing the names of life members has been erected in the choir gallery. < Your committee desire to thank his Lordship the Bishop for the encouraging interest he takes in the choir; also for entertaining members at the principal festivals of the year. It also places on record appreciation of the interest taken in the choir by Rev. Father Foley, Adm., and the priests of the parish. Special thanks are due to the choirmaster (Mr. A, Vallis) for his work, particularly, in regard .to the time devoted to and pains taken in preparing new hymns for the use of the choir; to-Mr. Stokes (organist); to Mrs. Comer (librarian), for her care of the library and repairing music books and to Miss Heley, for arranging a card party and social. A word of thanks is also due to Mrs.. Little and Miss Sandys' for acting as accompanists, and to Mr. Hussey for conducting on several occasions. - Your committee desire to ..congratulate our president (Right Rev. , Mgr. Coffey) on the well-deserved honor lately conferred on him by his Holiness the Pope in raising him to the dignity ,of Domestic- .Prelate, and sincerely hone Monsignor Coffey , will have a most pleasant holiday, and return safe and well to St. Joseph’s parish, where he is so ; greatly esteemed. • ' ■- In consequence of the unfortunate and serious 'accident to our genial and hard-working secretary, this report is presented at a little later date than Usual. Members will I>6 in accord with your committee in expressing the pleasure felt at Mr. Goughian being so far on the way to recovery, and sincerely hope he may soon be fully restored to good health. . . . .. In conclusion your committee epee again, "impress on members the desirability ’ of doing all they possibly ' can to promote the. interests of the choir, and to give earnest attention to practices. They would also remind members of. the great honor they have in singing the music of the . Church, and the consequent duty- devolving noon them as ; a choir, and finally to always bear in mind that they are not so formed for. any ..personal aggrandisement, •• .but that .they may the more' adequately do honor to God and to His Holy Church. . / ... :.V'v;c" ’■ . v .. Xv (

The report was adopted on. the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. J. B. Flynn, > the latter compliment-/' ing the compiler on the comprehensive nature of : the. same. ■ Mr. Flynn also moved that a letter, of sympathy be sent ; to Mr. Goughian, and .expressed the hopes of every member of the choir that their energetic secretary would speedily regain his health and resume his place among them. n' He (the speaker) reminded his hearers that the present > was the 50th annual meeting of the choir as a Cathedral choir, and had thus attained its golden .jubilee. This year, too, as a church choir, it. had attained its diamond jubilee or 60 years of existence. Such an important occasion should not, in the speaker’s opinion, be allowed to pass without some fitting celebration. This announcement created considerable enthusiasm, and the incoming committee was requested to give earnest attention to the subject of a due celebration. / With his Lordship' the Bishop as patron and Kev. Father Foley as president, other office-bearers were appointed as follows;—Secretary, Mr. M. Goughian; librarian, Mrs. Comer ; assistant librarian, Mr. L. Fogarty . committee-Messrs'. F. Heley, H. Poppelwell, J. B. Flynn, and J. Woods. An enjoyable musical programme was contributed to by—Songs: Mrs.- Sandys (“Scenes That Are Brightest”),--Miss F. Gardner (“A Summer Night”). Miss B. Vallis (Luzzi’s “Ave Maria”), Miss I. Sweeney (French chanson),Mr. D. Fogarty (“The Secret”), anti Mr. L. Fogarty (“They Say”). Recitations were given by Miss Bambury (humorous) and Mr.. ,J. B. Flynn'(“The Monk’ Felix,” from “The Golden Legend”). Mr. A. Vallis was accompanist. Dainty refreshments were handed round by the lady members of the choir in conclusion of a very successful and pleasurable gathering.