Fifty Years Of Musical Service

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 16, 26 October 1934, Page 21

Fifty Years Of Musical Service

Christchurch Liedertafel Celebratin g Its Jubilee From 3YA This MonthCarnival Week Preparations in the South — Christian Science Lecture to be Relayed by 3YA on Sunday Week.

Frurty years of service to music in the community is the record of the Christchurch Liedertafel, which is celebrating its jubilee concert on Wednesday, October 31, when the items will be broadeast by 8YA. "Liedertafel"’ means literally "Song Table," and is a popular German name for a club or society which meets for the practice and performance of male purt-songs. The table idea was instituted by the Christchurch Liedertafel early in its career, and nas been preserved ever since. At present-day concerts the

singers are grouped behind double tables of half-circle shape with the ends toward the audience, this giving every member « clear view of the conductor’s beat. The present membership of the Liedertafel is twenty-seven and the society in its fifty years has built up a wonderful library of music, beginning with the Orpheus, Hatton and Chickering collections, and a fine selection of: more than 400 part-songs Many modern compositions of outstanding merit have been acquired, and, under the present conductor, Mr. Alfred Worsley, no fewer than seventyabe new part-songs have been performWar musical excellence is the chief aim of the Liedertafel, preservation of close personal friendship between the singing members and between the ubscribers and the circle is upheld as a trust. The Liedertafel has assisted at many concerts in aid of charitable objects, and last Augus* the Liedertafel gave its first broadcast concert in aid of the city orphanages. at which over £800 wag collected. To merit the sustained and increasing interest of subscribers by maintaining the standard of the singing and the:attractiveness of the programmes’ wiil always be the chief aim and desire of the Liedertafel. For the jubilee concert to be held in the Radiant Hall on October 31, a feast of good fare is being prepared, ‘The society’s repertoire has been carefully combed and only ouistanding compositions have been selected for production at the two hundred and sixty-ninth concert. in the fiftieth season of the society, which will be a memorable occasion, These numbers,

constituting an exceptionally fine programme, have been rigorously rehearsed to ensure the best artistic results. (CHRISTCHURCH is famous for its Carnival Week, and from November 3 to November 10 is the 1984 season, Four duys’ gallops and three days’ trotting combined with the annual show are the fixtures, and 8YA will relay a running commentary on the seven days’ racing, and the opening of the show. In the evening, on Saturday, November 8, a hour with Gilbert and Sullivan will be the first portion of the programme, the second portion being taken up with a relay from 3YA of the Dunedin programme. HUNDREDS of people are interested in Christian Science, and on Sunday, November 4, Miss Margaret Murney Glenn, C.S.B., will give a lecture on this subject at the Crystal Palace, Ohbristchureh. This lecture, under the auspices of the Christian Scientists, is to commence at 3 p.m. and will be relayed by 8YL. In the evening from 3YA the complete recorded version of ‘the opera "Faust" will be given. ON Tuesday, October 30, the Melody Pair will be heard from 8YA. This talented couple, piano and vocal, will give 20 minutes of folk songs and dances, featuring England, Ireland and Scotland. Miss NATALID GRUSHENKOVA, travelling secretary of the Russian Missionary Society, who is at present in Christchurch, is on a world tour, and although she broadcast three times in Australia is very disappointed that the New Zealand Broadcasting Board has not invited her to give lectures over the air. Miss Grushenkova thinks New Zedland is an ideal tourist country, but. on account of its lack of publicity. is little known to the rest of the world. She thought that if New Zealand could organise photographie displays .combined with a collection of Maori curios in London, the publicity trade would benefit enormously. LOVERS ‘of chamber music are pro- * mised a wonderful hour on Mow . day, November 5, when that gifted musician, Mr, Gordon Bryan, will be heard in a group of pianoforte solos. Mr. Bryan is the examiner of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Musie, London, and during his recital will play in conjunction with a string orchestra, conducted by Mr: Harold Beck, the famous "Brandenburg Con. : certo" (No. 5). , Freipay, November 2, will see the return to the microphone of Mrs. .°: W. Scott. Mabelle Esquillant, as she is known to listeners, has been absent from the studio for some time, and her reappearance will be welcomed, for she is the possessor of ‘a good contralto . voice. A. B.B.C, programme is sched-~

uled for the same evening from 3Y.A. and is entitled "Seven Days’ Sunshine -A Musical Cruise." QVER £53 was taken at last week’s community sing in Christchurch, and Alan Brown is quite’ assured of reaching last year’s total by the end of the season; £1116/16/3 is the total to date, and with two more sings to go, the £1250 mark should easily be reached. Over 1300 scats are booked for the last sing, which will take place on Monday evening, October 29, when among the artists will be little Jimmy Poole, Fred Fox and Warwick Humphries.