COMBINED CHOIRS CONCERT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 191, 30 August 1937, Page 6

COMBINED CHOIRS CONCERT

A xare opportunity to hear Maori singing at its best was provided last evening in the Hastings Municipai Theatre, when a concert was given by the combined choirs which have been taking part in. the contest during the week at Pakipaki. Te programme included sacred songs, anthems, massed items, 'quartettes, and other music of a lighter nature, provided by the Heretaunga, Manutuke (Gisborne), Hiruharama (East Coast) and Torere (Bay of Plenty)* choirs. The tone and quality of the voiees was surprising. There was a puritv of diction, a fine rendering of the Maori tongue and an equally faultless enunciation of the English langua-ge, in which most of the numbers were sung. There was a pleasing sweetness in the female voices, and a rich quality of tone in the men's voices. A depth of feeling and reverence was imparted to the words and music. There was not a vacant seat in the stalls, circle -or boxes, and the gallery was pracjtically The Bishop of Aotearoa, the Et. Rev. F. A. Bennett, In introd.ucing the performers, remarked on their clarity of diction and perfect enunciation.* They were fine specimens of the Maori race. It was the first time, he said, that such a performance had been given before a European audience in a large theatre. The programme presented was as follows: — Massed choirs, "Lead, Kindly Light" (Maori version); Hikurangi ehoir, "I Was So Glad." (sacred song); Manutuke choir, "Blue Danube"; Heretaunga choir, "Sun of My Soul"; Torere choir, own composition hymn; double quartette (male), Heretaunga choir, "Nearer, Still Nearer"; Hikurangi choir, "Swing Low, Swfeet Chariot" (Negro spirituai); massed choirs, "Pleasant Are Thy Courts Above " Heretaunga choir, ' ' The Chase"; Manutuke, "Oh, Give' TTTanks"; Torere, "The Soldlers' Chorus"; Hikurangi female chorus, "Where Ere You Walk"; massed choirs test anthem, "What Are These?" (Stainer). The following cups won by the choirs in the contest were presented during the evening by Bishop Bennett: Torere chojr, for Maori hymn aggregate, Woodbine Johnson Cup; Hikurangi secular chorus, Auto Parts Cup; Hikurangi, psalin, Eev. Hakiwai Memorial Cup; Heretaunga, female chorus, Eev. Ahipene Hangi Cup; Heretaunga quartette, Ngaitai Cup; Heretaunga, own selection anthem, Te Hianga M. Nepe Cup; Heretaunga, test, Mrs. Faulkner Cup; Manutuke, second Maori chant, Hangi Mawhifi Cup; Manutuke, second male quartette^ Ike Robin Cup; Hikurangi, Maori, Sir A. T. Ngata 'Cup and Mr. Howard Booth Cup; Heretaunga, Hawke's Bay championship, Urangia Tangiwehi Shield; Heretaunga, Waiapu championship, Bishop of AotearoaShield; Hikurangi, runners-up, silver cup.