Two Christchurch Societies Give Musical Programme

Radio Record, Volume XIII, Issue 11, 21 August 1939, Page 12

Two Christchurch Societies Give Musical Programme

| Features Debut Of Mae Robertson

T was remarked recently by j a Christchurch musician ‘that musical societies had a great obligation imposed upon them in keeping good music ‘alive. A day or two after his statement, the public had the opportunity of hearing the Christchurch Harmonie Society and the Duicet Junior Choir on one programme. The Harmonic Society’s work is well known all over New Zealand and the good standard that it sets ranks it high, but the performance of the juniors, specialising in Mozart, was remarkably fine, when it is remembered that the choir has been going for only 18 months. Choruses and piano work-the best of Robin Milford’s suite-pre-sented a fine opening, but the triumph of the evening was Vaughan Williams’s "Magnificat", in which a new soloist, Mae Robertson, contralto, made her debut. The choir also presented "The Shepherdess", by Dr. V. E. Galway, of Dunedin. A. G. Thompson is the conductor of the junior choir and his farsightedness musically was well demonstrated. The children are between the ages of nine and 18, and the rigorous training they are undergoing will provide a valuable musical feeder for adult societies of the future.