MUSIC

New Zealand Listener, Volume 9, Issue 218, 27 August 1943, Page 10

MUSIC

THE DOMINION SONG BOOK No. 8. By Vernon Griffiths, Whitcombe & Tombs, 2s 6d. TRE Dominion Songbook No. 8 makes its appearance with 12 well-known songs and hymns, simply arranged for four-part singing with piano accompaniment, by Dr. Vernon Griffiths, Professor of Music at Canterbury University College and author of An Experiment in School Music Making. There are six popular hymn tunes (including "St. Anne," "Hanover,’ "Richmond," and the "Old 124th"), and six other songs (including "Annie Laurie," "The British Grenadiers," "High Barbary," and "Loch Lomond"), and all these are arranged in Dr. Griffith’s distinctive style with richly harmonised accompaniments. The collection has been made to solve the manpower problem of choirs which need easy parts for the few men they have left. In most cases, there is a unison singing of the first verse, then the forces split into three and four parts, with the tune in the bass, and some of the songs finish with a descant. The scope of the book has been determined by the fact that it is specially intended for the use of mixed choirs in the various armed forces, mixed massed choirs in universities, training colleges, and post-primary schools, and church choirs. Conductors of such groups will find that their own particular difficulties at the present time have all been taken into consideration by the arranger. Useful hints on securing the most effective results are printed inside the cover, and the music itself is clearly printed on generous well-spaced staves. THE LYRIC COLLECTION OF arn eh, Kennedy. Black. Chas. Begg & 2s 6d. KENNEDY BLACK, music master at the Southland Boys’ High School and conductor of that school’s choir, (Continued on next page)

(continued from previous page) which has been on the air, has arranged 16 pieces of various kinds for four-part singing with piano accompaniment. "Adeste Fideles," the Angelus ftom | Maritana, the Anvil Chorus from Il_ Trovatore, Beethoven’s "Creation Hymn," the Minuet from Mozart’s Don Giovanni, "Drink to Me Only," and others are included. together with "God Defend New Zealand" and the National Anthem. Pianists will find e little difficulty in following their parts, as the voice parts, on two staves, closely resemble the piano part at a glance, and are not joined to it at the front. This could be remedied with a red pencil.