REPORT OF CHOIR FESTIVAL.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 25, Issue 12, 1 December 1935, Page 2

REPORT OF CHOIR FESTIVAL.

The first choir festival held under the auspices of the "School of English Church Music" was held in the Church of St. Matthew, Hastings, on Labour Day. About 130 choir members took part in the festival, the following choirs being represented: — St. John's Cathedral, Napier; St. Matthew's, Hastings; Holy Trinity, Wairoa; St. James', Otane; St. Luke's, Havelock North; and Woodford House. Members assembled in the hall at 2.30 where a cup of tea awaited them. At 2.45 the real business began when the choirs assembled in church for practice". An atmosphere of devotion was very soon felt, also a feeling that everybody was. trying their very best to make the festival an occasion to be remembered. At 3.15" the practice finished and members were at liberty to renew old friendships or make new ones. At 4 p.m. a procession was formed outside the hall and proceeded to the choir stalls where evensong was sung, Mr Tombs playing the organ and Mr Spinney conducting. The music taken . from Choir-Book No. 3 beginning with Hymn No. 3, "Forth in Thy Name O Lord, I go,' Psalm 84, Phillip's Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, The Anthem, "How Beauteous are Their Feet," by Stanford, Hymns No. 4, "We Love the Place Q God" to Stanford's tune Airedale, No. 6, "The Church Triumphant in Thy Love," and the Vesper, "Savour Again to Thy Dear Name" — sung to Pax Dei. The singing was very beautiful and ■well balanced, the light and shade and

general interpretation reflecting great credit on the members and their respective choirmasters. The Psalm was pointed according to the "Parish* Psalter," and the fact that so many choirs were able to sing so perfectly together with only one run through was a great argument in favour of the adoption of this Psalter. The Anthem was sung by the two affiliated cxioirs present, St. John's and St. Matthew's. The whole service was most devotional and proved an inspiration long to be remembered by all taking part. ~ The clergy were well represented, Dean Brocklehurst taking the service, the Ven. Archdeacons- Butterfield and McLean reading the lessons and Canon Mortimer-Jones preached the sermon.. The Rev. R. T. Hall and A. M. Niblock were also present. After evensong came tea* and then the records and conference. Mrs Spinney, the S.E.C.M. Waiapu representative, opened her speech by announcing that the Bishop of Waiapu had sent a message saying how very sorry he was ax not being with us today but at the last moment circumstances prevented his attendance. She was very pleased to welcome Mrs and Miss Williams and everybody was delighted they were able to spend the evening with them. Mrs Spinney then welcomed the visitors and said how pleased she was that the festival had been made possible, especially as a similar event was taking place at Te Aroha in the Waikato on the same day. This year all the Waiapu choirs were invited to the festival but of course next year only affiliated choirs would have the right to take part, therefor© it is hoped that choirs not yet affiliated will do so before long to enable the festival movement to grow. In conclusion, Mrs Spinney thanked all those who gave so generously towards the tea, and everybody who helped to make the festival such a success. During the conference it was decided that the next choir festival should be held at the same time in St. John's Cathedral, Napier, on Labour Day, 1936.