XMAS MUSIC AT CHRIST CHURCH.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 31 December 1907, Page 8

XMAS MUSIC AT CHRIST CHURCH.

(Communicated.)

A few notes on tlie mus>ie rendered at tho .above church on Christmas Day, < voniiig service, may interest thos;> Ikjlcngng to the Anglican Church in Wa i^anui, as well as others. Mr. 0. W. MuvkH1, .organist of the church, presf:!ed at the organ throughout the service, and there was a fairly strong, efficient choir. The boys' and ladies' voices and singing were particularly good on the occasion, and they deserve much c.edit for the way they rendered the musitial portions of the service -a full choral one. The men members of the choir were in stronger force than usual, and I was much pleased with their singing also; better than what 1 have been accustomed to hear of late, I must add. After the opening voluntary, veu-y pleasingly played by the organist, processional hymn No. 60 (Hymns Ancient and Modern), "Hark! I'he- Herald! Angels Sing." was heartily anil joyously sung by choir and congregation alike—in innieom. except the penultimate line of each verse. The effect was inspiriting to> all true folks and lovers of good church music and singing, no doubt. The Psalms proper for Christmas evening service, also the Canticles—Magnificat and Nunc Dimitt is—were finely chanted, chants and "pointing" as contained and directed in the Cathedral Psalter. Anthem, "Sing, O Heavens" (Beetnold Tours) was splendidly sung, the solo part for soprano voice taken by Miss Pawsooi, being^ correctly, tunefully, and most pleasingly rendered. As I do not recollect hearing this very fine; appropriate anthem before, it was especially pleasing to my mind and oar, and I hope* to> hear it again on Sunday next, sth January 1908. Other hymr.s sung were: "O Come All Ye Faithful/ etc. (Adeste Fideles). that very fine, r'aniiliar, ofinsung Latin Christmas hymn which never palls upon the ear ; ''"When Shepherds • WntoVd their Flocks Ivy p!fffjSht; Tr and No. 63. "O Saviour, Lord, ■'■to "Thee We Pray." This hymn was sung to that fine old church ttmo "Warehnm," which to my tasto and way oP thinking was marred, although well sung, by being taken too fast. There is « dignity, if I may be permitted to use the expression, abivui. such church tunes as "Wareham." and they should be rendered in a "measured '*' deliberate, and sustained manner, not jerkily—all which was wanting <m the occasion referred to*. But let this pass just now. All the above-named hymns were sung with much heart 1! ihss by choir and congregation alike. Tsh'eh whs refreshing to listen to, <md in marked clontraci to the way many of the hvmn.s and tunes in Hymns, Ancient and Modern, are frequently sung at Christ Church, Wang-aniii." After th-r sermon —a stirring and eminently appropriate' one—the following Christinas carols were sung by the choir:—"The- "First Nowel," "'Twias in the Winter," «T!he: Manger Throne," and ."Carol for.Christ-, mas Day." Although I have heard two at least of these carols before in other churches in New Zealand, yet the remaining two I do not recollect hearing, and I ani bound to say that I never heard Christmas carols better sung anywhere. It was quite a treat to listen to them, the boys' voices ringing ..o-vt •most sweetly, c'ea-rly. and tunefully. If Mr. Naylor, organist ami choirmaster of Christ Church, trained his boy choristers for the singing of the Christmas carols on Christmas Day, 1907, he deserves great credit for his work ano. the result attained. A word of praise musi> also be aoorded Mr. Naylor for the excellent and tasteful way in which he icndere^ the voluntary during the oflertory- This was taken from the Pastoral Symphony in Sir Arthur Sullivan s '.'Light of the World"—a masterly composition: by that distinguished and "popular composer. A smoothly-.flo'.vnig. reposeful organ piece, the voluntary named was artistically and expressively reMered by Mr. Naylor, and he is fairly entitled to all the praise thai, J ; and no doubt ethers, have bestowed upon this particular performance It was a treat, simply, and 1 felt really ©orrv when the concluding chords graclfcally died away until the diminuendo, •piano', pianissimo bars were readied. tad the very last sounds from the organ had floated away into space amongst the aMes of the church! The + concluding voluntary, played whilst the large congregation was dispersing was taken from Handel's First Concerto-a hold ■ majestic, inspiriting, composition It wa .s well indeed brilliantly played.. Wishing Mr. Naylor and his choir a Bappv New Year, and better result* next year in the rendering of the musical portions of fha incomparable wr- : iccjof the Anglican Church as contained in the Book of Coition Prayer, I •close(my notes on the evening service <>£ Christmas Day. 1907.

' \ voutli named Walter Willenhorg hi-, invented a new system of wireless {So«rraphv which, according to the New York -Times," is destined to l)f shortly installed in Paris and Now iork.li the presence of a representative of the ibov? iournal. the young inventor recently it Hoboken repeatedly picked m> Srconi messages from Clifton, as well ni from Port Morien., H<s w.to establish TSSion in Paris, and as the result of. c JSments.. already concluded he is SSive of his aoility to send and reS Siesaages direct between Now York and the principal European cities. Tb^mpital n ies«wy has already boon suScribed. Among other things, WilSorg; has invented a pocket wireless. ■tSus, which is attached to his collar and runs down # to a at the waist. With this mstrn■rt the New York "Times" testifies, Whis sent and received messages over PdMancG of oight milps while walking Ei the streets of Hoboken.