St. Joseph's Cathedral Choir

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 37, 30 September 1925, Page 35

St. Joseph's Cathedral Choir

Seven big choirs, first competing in separate harmony, then combining their 235 trained voices in a magnificent finale, gave a memorable treat to the fortunates who were able to gain admittance to His Majesty’s Theatre on last Wednesday night, and provided a unique spectacle that led the judge to congratulate the city upon the possession of such gifted bands of vocalists. ■' Years ago (says the Dunedin Evening Star in its issue of the following day) the choir contest in the Dunedin Competitions Society’s annual festivals attracted entries approximating the magnitude of last evening’s showing, but with the intervention of the war later entries dwindled. It now looks

as if the event will prove the big feature of the competitions, for the number competing last night, it is believed, was a record. In fact, the judge (Mr. H. Temple White) suggested that it was a record not only for Dunedin, but for the whole of New Zealand, and he afterwards declared that -the inspiring display would be one of the outstanding memories of the numerous competitions at which he has adjudicated. ■ It may have been partly due to the fact that 235 singers are bound to have many relatives and friends that - the auditorium was so closely packed, but the incredible numbers who were turned awaya sad disappointment in view of the' feast they missed —proved that, a hall vastly bigger than His 1 Majesty’s Theatre will be needed, though it may not be available, when a spectacle of last night’s calibre is again presented in .Dunedin. \ Two tests were set for the contest, which if, TOW won by St. Joseph’s Cathedral Choir. The first was, the “Gloria” from Mozart’s Twelfth Mass. It called for careful and somewhat vigorous interpretation, but when all was over the judge confessed that the composition itself did not appeal to him. . It was not an. inspiring writing, he said, and

WIN CONTEST ATDUNEDIN COMPETITIONS.

A GREAT PERFORMANCE.

there was a good deal of doubt as to whether Mozart really wrote it. It was not of the same style as the rest of the Mass. The other test was an unaccompanied part song, Pinsuti’s “The Sea Hath its Pearls,” a theme calling for delicate treatment. The choirs which competed, with the names of the conductors in parentheses, were: The Orpheus (Mr. AV. Gemmell), United Congregational Church (Mr. W. R. Sinclair), Leech Lyric Club Choir (Mr. J. Leech), Dunedin Harmonists (Mr. W. R. Don), Macandrew Bay Glee Club (Mr. H. P. Desmoulins), Air. P. Mirams’s party (Mr. Mirams), St. Joseph’s Cathedral (Air. A. Vail is).

Commenting on . the performances, the judge said that lie felt a proud man in having the honor of adjudicating upon the efforts of the biggest number of choirs that had been seen in Dunedinif not in New Zealand—for many years, and the city was to be congratulated on having in its midst so many choirs of the quality of the evening’s detachment. The standard was very high, and it was pleasing to think that there were in the city so many obviously capable conductors. The choirs had a sound idea of interpretation, and lie was pleased to notice so many “fresh” voices. Tendering a little advice to the competitors, Mr. White explained that in all concerted work p'erfect blend was the ideal. No voice should stand out; no singer should be able to hear himself, though he should be able to hear the singer on either side. There was no better training for a soloist, he added than in a choir, and to substantiate this he reminded them that nearly all great singers had spent an apprenticeship in some choir. With so many good choirs it was difficult to determine the winner, but four had been outstanding, the other three varying a little. f ! ' - ; ' i r '" : “ ' v-

Speaking of-the winning effort, Mr. White said that St. Joseph’s Choir had given a splendid rendering of the “Gloria.” Perhaps' the training of that * choir fitted/it forv • this class of music. He •»; had thought that the choir would be better in the “Gloria” than in the part song, but his j marks indicated: otherwise. L The Massed Display. Though the efforts of the choirs, with the, necessary, interludes for the awarding- -of marks, occupied a long period with the same two compositions being presented by the seven choirs, the audience evinced the keen--est interest and gave each band of vocalists an enthusiastic reception. The great event of the evening, the massed display, made a great impression : the judge meanwhile withholding his decision. Such a. mammoth combination, especially one that had not until that moment been under his baton, and also had been trained by seven different leaders, looked an. impossible task for extempore conductorship. Mr. White registered a surprising achievement, though, of course, a good deal of credit is due to the vocalists, who adapted themselves so spontaneously to such unusual requirements.

The Placed Competitors.

The judge then relieved the suspense of the audience—not to mention the performers themselves—by announcing the results, which were as follow :

St. Joseph's Cathedral Choir, 163 points ("Gloria" 81, part song 82) ... 1

The Orpheus, 159 points ("Gloria" 79, part song 80) 2

Dunedin Harmonists, 158 points ("Gloria" 77, part song 81) ... 3

Leech Lyric Club Choir, 156 points ("Gloria" 79, part song 77) 4

THE CHOIR ENTERTAINED.

In appreciation of the choir's

fine achievement. his Lordship Dr. Whyte entertained the members at St .Joseph's Hall alter devotions on last Sunday evening; the Cathedral collectors being also guests of the Bishop on the occasion. The choir rendered the test selections, also the "Soldiers' Chorus" from "Faust" (Gounod) in splendid style; vocal solos being given by Miss M. Eagar, Messrs. D. Fogarty and Rankin. Miss Adelina McGrath played the accompaniments.,. In very felicitous terms his Lordship the Bishop congratulated the choir on its recent success and reiterated' his remarks on other occasions of the high standard of efficiency it had attained and so consistently upheld. All were proud of St. Joseph's Cathedral Choir and the talented choirmaster (Mr. Vallis) deserved the help «o loyally given him by the members. The Bishop also expressed his pleasure at the presence of Signor Squarise, whose many.

years service with t the choir was gratefully remembered, and it was pleasing to notice the keen interest be still took in the choir

and its doings. Brief speeches were made by Mr. Vallis, who thanked the Bishop for his ever ready help and encouragement, and

expressed the choir's indebtedness to Miss McGrath for her valued Services in the con-

test and on other occasions; Mr. J. Flynn, who paid tribute to Mr. Vallis and to the choir's loyalty towards him; Mr. E. Eagar, and Mr. D. O'Connell on behalf of the collectors. . ' %&

Dear Little People, Do you know that this is the very last day of September and that to-morrow we begin October, the month of the Holy Rosary. Yes, October is one of Our Lady’s special months and we must be sure to say the Rosary most faithfully every day. The

month has many great feasts in it: it is a Golden Month. I’ll tell you the feasts as we go through the Birthday List, and if it happens there are no birthdays on a great saint’s feast, I’ll tell you about the saint. These are the names: —Nellie Gardner and Rosa Kinney on the 2nd, Feast of the Holy Angels. Be sure to remember your dear Guardian Angels on that day; Jack Scott and Stella Dowling on 3rd, and St, Francis f of Assisi on the 4th, Colleen McNeill Mary | Hanrahan, Dorothy O’Connor, and Lorna McEntee on the 6th, Tarcie Heffernan and Noreen de Vere on 7th, which is the Feast of the Holy Rosary. Remember this is the Big Day of the month; Elsie Orlowski and Julia Tavendale on Bth; Jack Rodgers and Honoria McDonald on 9th, which is the Feast of St. Denis; Maggie and Mary Murphy, twins, on 10th, the Feast of St. Fran- ' cis Borgia; Madge G allien and Kathleen Morahan, on 11th Pattie Moore, next day; i i Margaret Rooney and Ellie Ledingham on V 13th, Feast of St. Edward; Jamie Mclntosh and Eileen Bulman on 14th; VNoija Conrick and Mary » Donaghy oh 15th,. Feast of St. ; Teresa; Margaret Mulvey, Patricia O’-

Rourke, Lallie Milne, Bridgie Reilly, Sheila Walsh and Leslie O’Leary, all on the 16th; Vera Crow on 17tb, with St. Margaret Mary, the great lover of the Sacred Heart; Mary Walsh on 18th; Mona Cotterell and Raymond Wilkins next day; day after that, Pat Abbott, Joy Brocherie and Katie Kin-

ney; on 21st, Pearl McNeill, Teresa Healey and Owen Daly; Veronica Sheehan next day; Beryl Tunbridge on 23rd; St. Raphael, Archangel, on 24th; Joyce Bonisch, 25th; Brunetta Smith, 27th, Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles, on 28th, Jack Nihill and Joan Doherty have their birthday also; Zoe Howarth, Margaret Crowley, Garrett Ryan and Frank McNeill on 30th, Feast of St. Marcellus and Walter Neilson on the last day of the month. Many Happy Returns to all of these, and don’t forget your Patron Saints. During the month - I’ve had letters from ever so many new Little People, and even some old friends have sent along their Badge Money so as to become real Members of the L.P.L.C. Sad to say, quite a number are forgetting all about one of our very strict rules, and they are writing in PENCIL. This cannot be allowed, except when a Member is not well enough to write with a PEN and INK, or is such a tiny, wee Little Person that he or she is not allowed to use INK. I wonder do you understand why. you MUST NOT write in PENCIL? It is because the Printer who prints the Tablet

AND EVERY OTHER PAPER IN THE WORLD as well, has to work so quickly to get the business done in time, THAT HE SIMPLY CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO TAKE SPECIAL TIME TO READ PENCIL WRITING, which is always more faint than INK WRITING. And if he is a dis-

agreeable Printer, HE MAY JUST THROW 7 THOSE PENCIL LETTERS ASIDE! Now, will you believe me when I say that it will surely happen to some of you, not to get an answer even to your letters, and it will be quito your own faults. This is the very last time I will remind you about it, because it is TOO AWFUL to mention again. See now, and be good Little People.

L.P.L.C. BUSINESS (New Members) . % EVELYN WALL, St. Mary’s College, Westport: Evelyn is six, her birthday was on July 31, and she has a doll and a pram. (Welcome Evelyn, you have «o Birthday Mate, will you be Letter Friends with Nellie O’Brien, Slope Point? Her birthday is on 12th July, and she is same age as you.» IRENE MARION STRAKA, Tahekeroa, Kaipai-a Line, is 11 and her birthday is on 7th November. Irene has seven sisters and two brothers. She and her sister Joan have a pony called “Brownie, ”3 a goat “Betty” and a kitten called “Fluff.” (Welcome Irene, and indeed, we’d like the whole lot of you to join up with us. You have no Birthday Mate, but there’s Mary Daly, Box -62 Balfour, whose birthday is on the 2nd November, and who is about same age as you; Will you Ibe Friends?—Anne.) . DAVE STUART, Judgeford, Pahautamii, is not quite brand new, but he sent for a badge. ; Dave wants Puzzles and fine I weather. He also wants his Letter Friend to

answer the letter he wrote. (Have you heard from your Mate yet, - Dave? Thei weather is pretty bad, sure enough, but I' what’s the use of being fidgetty about it P 1 We are not haying ,Cross-word Puzzles in . i our pa£s>, old man] bbc^Tuse’ there‘afe .so-*’ many of them about it seems a pity to use up our little bit of room on them. What do you think? — THERESE RYAN, Domett Street, Westport, is a tiny new Member, a little six-year- . old, and she has sent for a Badge. (Wei-" come Therese, when is your Birthday Anne.) KITTY O’GORMAN, 80 Young Street, New Plymouth, wants to join our Big Family. Her birthday is on April 12, and she is 9. Kitty would have written long ago, but she helps her mother and does not get much time for letter writing. (Welcome Kitty, you’re the girl we’ve been waiting for. Do you know you’re my 300th Member, and you’ve a Birthday Mate exact same age as yourself. Her name is Gretchen McGreevy, Kenilworth Street, Waipawa. Will you two be Friends? Anne.) MAY McBRIDE, Box 24, Queenstown, has written to us before, but now she has got her Badge. At May’s home they have cows and calves— darling little calves. (Glad you’ve joined up properly May. Hope you’ll like your Badge and that you and Agnes will be Friends.—Anne.) PHYLLIS MoAULEY, Glen-iti, Timaru, ■ wants someone of 13 to write to her. (Welcome Phyllis, I hope you’ll like your Badge. Perhaps you have a Birthday Mate, what is your date. Will you and Winnie Hannik fin bo Letter Friends? I’m putting her -letter, next to —Anne.) WINNIE HANNIFIN, Timaru Road, Waimate, is an old Little Person, who wants someone of about 14 to write to her. Win- " nie’s birthday is on November 14. Winnie’s sister Annie belongs. to ns also, and she has four ’‘'Letter Friends. (Glad you want to make At friend ’ Winnie, but" you have no Birthday Mate just yet. Will you write to Phyllis, whose letter is just ahead of yours—Anne.) . ANNA McMILLAN, 80 Young Street, ' New Plymouth, has joined up with us and sent for her Badge. Anna’s dear mother is very ill in Wanganui, so, our little friend is staying with her Aunt in New Plymouth, where she has four cousins to play with. (Welcome Anna, so sorry your mother is suffering. Yes, you f have two Birthday —Mary Conrick, Main Road, Upper Hutt; and Joan Rees, Convent School, Hastings.—Anne.) VERA LANG, Russley Road, Upper Fendalton, Christchurch,'is 12 years old and has a birthday on 30th ; December. Vera has two Letter Friends now', and .is still looking for moi’b. (Welcome Vera, -glad you have made friends. Yes, you have two Birthday ' Mates—Mol lie Houlihan, Orepuki; and - Mary O’Sullivan, Convent School, Hastings. Anne.) , *-.> t: . A FELIX LANG, Russley Road,.; Upper Fenv |lalton, Christchurch, is 11 and is looking Mfor a Letter Friend. - Felix , has learned Hat in and is serving Mass. His brother has served for. 10 : years. • (Welcome. Felix,,/jfjprry you have no Birthday Mate. Will you be Friends with Dan Kearney, Box 93, Oam-

am? His birthday is on, the same day as -Vera’s; and he is nearly 11, just like you Anne.) - , ,;,r, MONICA jKILK'ECLY, 39 Martin Square; Wellington, has been reading our page for such a long time that she has joined up with--, us. Monica’s birthday is on 25th August. '\ She was 10 years then, and she wants Let-’ ter Friends. (Welcome Monica, you have two Birthday Mates waiting for you — Eileen Sheehan, “Happy Valley,” P. 0., Te Tua, Southland, and Mattie Nevin, Westport. You three should be real good Friends. — Anne.) MARY HARDING, Motukaraka, Hokianga, has joined up because she wants Letter Friends. Mary’s birthday is on 30th April and she is 9. They live on a farm, are milking 15 cows, and Mary is in-Std. 3. (Welcome Mary, sorry you have no Mate. Perhaps some of the April Members will write to you, what about you and Ella Abbott being Friends? Ella has no real Mate either, her birthday is on the 26th April, and she lives at “Kincora,” Pahautanui.— Anne.) JESSIE GRACE, Riverside, Pirongia, sent for a Badge and wrote a second letter telling ns her birthday, which is on February 12. (Glad to tell you there is a birthday Mate waiting for you Jessie —Kathleen Abbott, “Villa Maria,” Pahautanui. Perhaps if your sister Annie writes to ns we will find a Letter Friend for her, too. — Anne.) NANCY GAMBLE, 38 Seddon Street, Aramoho, has joined us. Nancy is 8 and her birthday is on January 31. (Welcome Nancy, hope you’ll like your Badge. Yon have no Mate but perhaps you and Eileen Carney, Rakaia, will be Letter Friends. Her birthday is on the first day of January, and yours on the last. You are the same age and have no real Mates, either of you. — Anne.) FRANK GILL. Albany, Auckland, has sent sixpence for his Badge, he is 10 years old. (Welcome Frank, when is your Birthday:' Would yon like a Letter Friend? — Anne.) J. FAHEY, East Belt, Rangiora, has joined ns and says he is writing to Tom Mnlqueen. (Welcome, hope you’ll like your Badge, glad you had a letter from Torn. What is your full name? —Anne.)

SHEELAH PITZGIBBON, Waghorne Street, Napier, has been" reading our page tjll she had to joints. ; Sheelah’s birthday is on. 7tli ! March and; she is ; in the 2nd Std. (Welcome Sheelah, you’ve got two Birthday - Mates —Molly • Murphy, Fortrose, and Kathleen Crowe, ] Forest Hill. Mind you become Friends. Thanks for Riddle, you’ll see it somewhere later, —Anne.) ~ MAURA FITZGIBBON, Waghorne St., Napier, is ten years old, in Std. 3 and goes to the S.H. High School, Napier. (Sorry you’ve no. Mate Maura, neither has , Phyllis Shortall, 48 Fox Street, Invercar- J gill. Her birthday is on 6th September, and yours is on the 4th. Will you ; be Friends? Anne.) t-j MONICA CORRIGAN, 51 Cambridge Street, Pahiatua, has written’ to us long* ago and now she has sent for a Badge. Monica’s birthday is on sth. March and she is looking for a Mate. (Yes, Monica* dear, you liave two Mates, and one is a namesake also Monica Ford, Regan Street, Stratford, and Maureen Fitzgerald, Devon Street, Gore. Will you all be Friends?—Anne.) \ JOANA BYRNE, Kotinga, Takaka, is 8 years and in Std. 2. Joana had a little lamb which died and her Uncle Frank got her a bigger one to be a new pet. (Welcome Joana, you didn’t tell me your birthday, and you may have a little Mate waiting for you. Glad you got another lamb. — Anne.) / ' - LENNIE SPELMAN, Woodville, lost his' badge . and sent for another. Lennie tells us that he met his Letter Mate, Tim Cahill, at the opening of St. Brigid’s Church, Feilding. (Sorry you lost, your first badge Lennie, glad you got another. Don’t you think it was fine to meet your Friend like that. I hope many of my Little People will meet, as time goes on. I will give you a supplementary list of New Members, next week, w r e have no room this time. One or two addresses have been asked- for, here they are this time, BUT YOU MUST KEEP THE LISTS BY YOU, THAT IS WHY I SEND THEM TO YOU. Long addresses take up so much room, and we have so little to spare. Addresses asked —Lorn Carroll, Swift’s Creek, E. Gippsland, Victoria, Australia; Kathleen Egan, Nightcaps. y.-’