Around The Nationals

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 77, 13 December 1940, Page 28

Around The Nationals

ILFRED GIBBS BECKETT, whose photograph appears on this page, is the son of G. C. Beckett, a Wellington businessman. In April, 1939, he left New Zealand for England, working his passage. There he joined the Royal Navy, won commissioned rank, was detailed for special work in connection with the deGaussing of ships, and from that, transferred to active service. He has been engaged in work with small shipsChannel patrols, and raids on the enemyoccupied coast. When he was in New Zealand, he took part in several broadcasts for the NBS, and his experience has evidently served him well, for his talks in the BBC’s Overseas Service has been heard here during the last few months. Before he left, he was a member of the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, and his work here with yachts and motor-boats has obviously been useful. He has described the work of the speed and patrol-boats in the Channel, and exciting journeys across to land troops for raids, wait for them, pick them up, and dash for home. Before his departure, he was special travelling representative for Columbia Pictures. His father is secretary of the Association for New Zealand Advertisers and the son has a flair for bright writing and publicity work. His father has received interesting letters. The last one came from a naval hospital, where Beckett was convalescing after a minor operation. * * * Christchurch Male Voice Choir, whose photograph appears on this page, was founded in 1917, and its first concert, given in aid of the Y.M.C.A. Soldiers’ Trench Comforts Fund, was presented in the Choral Hall on December 20, 1917, under Dr. J. C. Bradshaw, who has been conductor continuously since then. In the first notice to patrons, the following statement was made: "The choir has for its object the practice and public performance of male voice music of the highest type. A special feature will be the inclusion in its programme of fine old glees and madrigals of the best English periods." This is still the aim of the choir, and while new music is constantly practised and presented, many numbers to be found in the choir’s earliest programmes remain firm favourites with its audiences. For nearly 20 years, the choir was assisted by the Cathedral choir, but since 1936 it has been reorganised as an entirely adult male choir. BS Eo % (1 HE major work in the Christchurch Male Voice Choir’s request programme to be broadcast by 3YA from the Radiant Hall on Wednesday, December 18, will be Grieg’s "Landerkennung." The Norwegian King, Olav Trygvason (964-1000), who brought Christianity to Norway, had already, as an infant, become with his mother an exile from Norway. It was in his 31st year that he first saw. his native land, when, after the murder of Haakon, he was sailing over the North Sea from England to take possession of his kingdom. He landed at the fiord of Trondheim, and it is the spirit of that voyage which inspires this work. "Landerkennung" has been translated as "recognition of land." (