CHURCH CONCERTS.

Patea Mail, 10 July 1882, Page 3

CHURCH CONCERTS.

On reading the report of the parishioners of St. George’s church, I noticed our new Curate proposed that a series of entertainments be given to swell the building fund for a new church. If this idea be carried out in a thoroughly practical manner, there is no doubt it will materially assist this good and great undertaking. With all due respect to promoters of our concerts, I think we should now attempt-something more substantial than mere scratch concerts. The organist and choirmaster ought to have enough talent for a series of successful concerts.

I cannot do better than inform you the way I had the pleasure in assisting to overcome such another financial difficulty. The minister of St. James’s, London, built a very large school in connection with the church, and like other things (he expense greatly exceeded the estimate. To help to overcome the difficulty, our head organist and choirmaster arranged a series of sacred and secular concerts. We had no outside assistance whatever ; our organist and choirmaster conducted ; and I being his assistant took the organ. We undertook cantatas and oratorios ; our ’leading singer took the solos, the choir the choruses.

Now, why should not the congregation of St. George’s try to do likewise? It is true we had a choir of 46 well trained amateur musicians. Let the choirmaster and organist and choir endeavor to augment their ranks ; learn music by notation (the old notation very much preferable) ; practise and stud}’hard; try easy choruses and cantatas at first ; and in. a short time the congregation will be proud of their choir and attend your concerts. —Yours truly, ■ P. C. S.