"THE HARVEST QUEEN,”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1942, 26 November 1906, Page 3

"THE HARVEST QUEEN,”

The above is the name of a cantata docribecl as “ a new and original juvenile cantata, composed and arranged by tko Bov. David Parry.” The conception of the author throughout this composition is undoubtedly bright and refreshing, but the language with which the different characters arc invested often rises above the juvenile standard. The burden of the composition treats with nature in all her aspects in summer, in winter, in autumn, and in spring. Bruits, llowors, forests, sparkling streams, grazing herds, birds, etc., are all dealt with in ilowing verse. The Fairy Queon soliloquises in the opening stanzas and orders the Fairies to give their aid to the Festival of the Harvest Queen. The Fairies sing their answering song, after which the children enter with march and song, acclaiming that they are gathered to do homage to the Harvest Queen. The Fairy Queen summons King

Kauri from the forests. Ho addresses the children, extolling the virtues of the Harvest Queen, and tolling of his realm of “ forest bush, wilds, hill and dale.” Tho children welcome tho King with song, and he relates in legendary language the pro-

gress of Now Zealand froth' the time when he stood in unacknowledged stateliness. He concludes with appealing to tho ohiidron as She "men and women of She years to coma" to redeem New Zb daad from the drink curse and slaves. Tte ohildren Bang au ode So the Forest

K ; ng, an! tho Harvest Queen is ushered in to a song of welcome. The Harvest Queen, after extolling tho fruitfulness of tjo oat fi, decroos her court to hold the

batvost jubilee, Scene (wo is She court of tbo H trvest Q teen, and afttr recsiving th. 3 groeiing of King Kauri, to which she responds by dwelling on ibo great benefits ho has conferred on them all with his

timber shade, etc , a presentation of fruits is mads. Apples, pears, ptaehos, grapes, orange?, plums, acd cherries aro p,esented in turn by yarious ohildren, and to eaoh gift the Q seen suitably responds, More

humblo and ÜBofal proßonls aro also brought by oibor ohildron, pota'oe?, vcgo tables, grain, ole. At tho oonoluHlon of Iho court tho Fairy Q OOOII invoke tho prodonon of throo angola, Poaoo, Plenty, and Temperance, who in turn ploy on their diiloront parte. Tho cantata oonoludra with Fairy Quoon and Utrvoet Q ioon in combination, tho latter prottily thanking tho Fairy Quoon for hor assist nooo to tho foalival. On tho whole tho contain ia a very oroo'itablo composition, but would bnvo boon considerably improved had tho author mnnogod to obtain original settings to his]nougs. Tho oantata will bo produood on Thursday ovoning.