CHORAL RECITAL

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 251, 24 October 1942, Page 6

CHORAL RECITAL

INTERMEDIATE DEPARTMENT GIRLS. ENJOYABLE PROGRAMME YESTERDAY. A most enjoyabie afternoon's entertainment was provided yesterday by the girls of the Intermediate Department of Marlborough College for their parents and friends, who filled the Masonic Hall. They presented their attractive selection of choral items in a manner that would have done credit to much older singers, and added variety with three short dramatic readings. A particularly pleasing feature was the "stage management" of the performance by the girls themselves, each group of songs and each reading being announced by one of those taking' part. The programme was opened by the combined ciasses singing "God Defend New Zealand," in whieh the audience joined. The other items in the first group, announced by J. Avery, were "The Five Bells of Osney" (an old three-part round), the "Spring Song" set to Rubenstein's "Melody in F," and "Old King Cole." The girls of Form 1, for whom B. Frost acted ,as spokesman,-' sang the old favourite, "John Brown's Body," a Basque lullaby, "The Lass of> Richmond Hill" and "Come, Lasses and Lads." Their group was followed by a reading by Form 2 girls of a scene from "Alice in Wonderland," "The Mock Turtle's Story." Those taking part in the reading, which had been prepared by Mrs I. J. Forbes, were D. Mayo, J. Brookes and M. Mabey, while N. McCaskill acted as interlocutor. The Form 2 girls next presented four numbers, announced by J. Ruthven. They were two love songs, "When Song is Sweet" and 'T11 Wak Beside You," and two Old English songs, "All Among the Barley" and "Strawberry Fair." Nola Marshall then contributed in a finished manner a piano solo, "Melodie d'Amour," by H. Englemann. In introducing three songs by the combined ciasses, Schubert's "Cradle Song," "Comin' Thro' the Rye" and "Annie Laurie," M. Reynolds added what is perhaps a little-known fact, that the "Rye" referred to in the second of; these is an actual stream in Scotland, rather precarious in the crossing. A further "Alice in Wonderland" reading, "The Mad Tea-Party," was read by girls of Form 1 — R. Simmiss, B. Webster, J. Irving and J. Morrison, with directions read by B. Frost. In this the readers had been coached by Mrs S. A. Roberts. In announcing three songs by the choir, J. Morrison explained that it met once a weelc in the hobbies period. The songs were Tschaikowsky's "Legend," a translation of a Gregorian chant used in Russian church services, Gounod's "Angels Guard Thee," and Cyril Scott's "Prelude." A scene from Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables'' followed, given by members of the combined ciasses, trained by Miss L. A. Humphreys. The extract, "Little Cossette and Father Christmas," was introduced by D. Martin and read by B. Hawkins, J. Julian, J. Avery, L. Corbett, N. Mills and D. Bartlett. The final choral group by the combined choir comprised "Oh, Who

— ^ ... .a Will O'er the Downs So Free?", the Christmas carol, ' Silent Night," with an air in descant, and a metric setting of the Twenty-third Psalm. These were announced by B. Hawkins. The fine standard of the girls' singing was a testimony to the skill of Miss Humphreys, who trained them and played their accompaniments. This year in particular, with fewer facilities than in other years for specialised teaching, the choral and dramatic work was a credit to the pupils performing and to the mistresses who trained them. V