PROGRAMME OF MUSIC

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 132, 4 May 1940, Page 5

PROGRAMME OF MUSIC

ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH CHOIR. To aid the mission funds of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand, a new departure in the musical life of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church took place on Thursday, when a musical programme was arranged by the choir and. its leaders, Mr and Mrs John Emmett. A large attendance showed appreciation of the innovation and keen interest was taken by the audience in a very fino programme given by the choir and assisting artists.

“Seek Ye the Lord” (Roberts) was the anthem with which the programme opened. The tenor soio was admirably taken by Mr C. Sherriffs, and the choir was asked for little else than to provide a background for hie solo. The second offering of the choir was “Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.” This is a difficult .piece and showed the good progress which the choir is making under the leadership of Mr Emmett. The vocalists were under fine control, and showed a nice appreciation of light and shade. The choir was heard at its best, however, in the final anthem, “By Babylon’s Wave” (C. H. Gounod). A delightfully sustained pianissimo at the opening worked up to a dramatic finish, and members rose well to the occasion, showing excellent attack, good balance with beautiful harmony to give a very fine performance. Mrs Emmett and Miss Eyre played organ and piano accompaniment which added to the general excellence of the anthems.

Tlie presentation of grand organ and pianoforte duos, in which Mrs Emmett was at the organ and Miss Eyre at the piano, was a musical treat to which many in the audience were not accus>tomed. Two pieces by Grieg, the lovely ‘‘Melod'j” and the lively “Erotik,” were followed by the inspiring prelude from “Parsifal” (Wagner). All these pieces were most attractively presented. Two well-known songs, “O For the Wings of a Dove” (Mendelssohn) and “Angels Ever Bright and Fair” (Handel), were sung by Master Earl Andrews. He has a voice of rare sweetness which the songs he chose brought out admirably. Sympathetic treatment was shown by Miss Nancy Hobson, a newcomer to the city, in a bracket of viola solos bv Bach. She played “The Happy Souls Whom Christ Is Leading” and “Come Sweet Death.” Her performance was impressive and her pleasing technique brought out the beauty of this instrument. A solo organ ‘presentation by Mrs Emmett was “Suite Gothique” (L. Boellmann). She demonstrated well her command of the instrument and her ability to axploit its many musical effects. A delightful contrast was shown in the movements, beginning with the grand “Choral,” which led to the catchy “Minuet Gothique.” the serene “Prierc a Notre Dame,” which was played with rare feeling, and the exacting “Toccato,” which found the organist equal to all its demands. A quartette by Misses G. Laurenson, J. Bovis, L. McDonald and Airs .M. Pearce four well-known city vocalists, was one of the finest contributions to the enjoyment. They gave a most artistic rendering of Schubert s “The Lord Is Mv Shepherd.” Air Shernffs was heard again in the appealing solo “Tf With All You r Hearts” from Alendelssohiv s “Elijah.” The minister. Rev. J. Hubbard, expressed the appreciation of the efforts of Air and Airs Emmett, the choir and assisting artists for providing such a musical treat arid for doing their part towards the church’s missionary effort. He also _ thanked the audience for attending in such large numbers.