The Choir Festival.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XIV, Issue 1, 2 July 1923, Page 279

The Choir Festival.

The festival was a great success. It is one of the disadvantages pf the Waiapu diocese that it consists of three water-tight compartments and it is much to be: regretted that it is impossible for the choirs m Poverty Bay and m the Bay of Plenty to take part m such a service as was enjoyed by those of the Hawke's Bay Archdeaconry on June 4th.. The programme of the festival has already been published. It was found necessary to depart from it a little. The ps'Slms were, sung to Anglican chants j)ut the accentuation of th» Cathedral

psaltei* was considerably modified, and the effect was to combine as far as possible free^ rhythm with Anglican pointing. The result,; although not altogether what one could have wished, was at any rate a great improvement upon the usual, method of chanting. Members of the congregation remarked upon the smoothness of the chanting,, the natural emphasis on the words, arid the distinctness of the enunciation. Of course there were defects m our first attempt, and if we criticise a little we must be understood to be merely pointing out a few things that as the result of this experience may be remedied m future. In the first place, the men's voices were somewhat drowned m the abundance of soprano. The men did .hot seem sufficiently familiar with the unison work, especially m the plainsong to the canticles, to provide the 1 1 body Which unison singing Ought to give. They were not spontaneous. If church music ds to be properly sung it must be so -familiar that no books are required. The following of the musical score means artificiality and restraint that hinder a natural ren-. dering. Such familiarity would have ntf>d<* it unnecessary for the conductor to have been conspicuous In fact, m a church service, he should be invisible; The organ accompaniment as played by Mr Spinney was perfect, but the capacity of the organ was unequal to the demands made upon it m loud -passages. We would strongly suggest the addition of a few brass instruments. oh a future occasion. Of the devotional aspect of the two celebrations it; is out of place to speak, only those who took part m them can know how uplifting anjd helpful they were; the one quiet ap.il subdued, the other joyful and exhilarating. The congregation at the fling Eucharist was good, that at the; Choral Evensong was splendid. The tea m St. John's Schoolroom, arranged at very short notice by Napier friends was . excellent, and provide^ the nucleus of a very sociable reunion of choir members. . . . ;^ : , "'...; -We heartily corigra|.i;kte. the.. .. cpm-: mittee.arid choirs esp^eiaUy Mr; ¥'. W.

Tombs and Mr Spinney upon' the success of our first festival. Mr Tombs •'. energy and enthusiasm knW no bounds. The festival has enabled many .of us, move than ever before, to realise the meaning and the glory of reverent worship. .