A Popular Choir

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 20, 27 November 1931, Page 4

A Popular Choir

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"THE 4YA Broadeasting Choir is a eredit to Auckland. Formed in 1929 at the suggestion of the 1YA Musical and Dramatic Committee, for the sole purpose of broadcasting work, the choir has since become recognised as one of the ‘leading musical combinations in Auckland and their fame has spread further afield than their own city. The success of the choir must be most pleasing to Mr. Len Barnes, 1YA station director, who formed it, and who has conducted it since the first rehearsal in June, 1929. The choir is indeed fortunate in having such an €xperienced and popular leader. Mr. Barnes was for eleven years a member of the Christchurch Cathedral Choir, under Dr. J. ©. Bradshaw, to whom he acknowledges a wonderful foundation for choir training and musical knowledge. While residing in Wellington he was conductor of the Orpheus Musical Society, the Wellington Amateur Operatie Society, and The Terrace Congregational Choir. The choir originally had thirty-two voices, but this number has since been increased to forty. More than half of the members have also sung as soloists from 1YA. Among the works performed are "The Messiah" (Handel), "The May Queen" (Sterndale Bennett), "The Banuer of Saint George’ (Elgar), Choral Songs from the "Bavarian Highlands" (Nigar), "St. John’s Eve" (Cowen), "The Rebel Maid" (Montague Phillips), "The Legend of Nerbudda" (Hubert Bath), "Messe Solennelle’ (Gounod), and "Hymn of Praise" (Mendelssohn). They have also broadcast part-songs, anthems, an adaptation of Longfellow’s poem "Evangeline," programmes of old-time songs, sea chanties, negro minstrels, community singing, and Christmas carols. In all they have made about thirty appearances in full since their first concert in August, 1929. Mr. Gyril Towsey is accompanist, and at times the Salon Orchestra plays in conjunction with the choir. The deputyconductor is Mr. J. lL. Heath, many of whose compositions have been sung by the choir. On December 9 the choir will broadcast, with the Salon Orchestra, Hande’s "Messiah," the soloists being Nellie Marriage, Kathleen Mulqueen, Syd. Poffley and Len Barnes. From 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve they will sing carols and on New Year’s Eve old-time songs.