Welsh Journals

*• TOYSTLI D6JHJEf[y DPJJZIIJE. * No. 79. Vol. VII. JULY, 1899. Price One Penny. ARWYSTLI DEANERY CHORAL FESTIVAL. The Annual Choral Festival of the Choirs of the Deanery was held on Wednesday June 7th, at Llan- dinam Parish Church. Generally speaking, the Festival was a great success, and a decided advance from a musical point of view upon previous years. We do not know whether this is to be attributed to the fact that more time was allowed for preparation this year than usual. If so, we may perhaps hope a still further advance, if preparations for the future aremade betimes. To speak more in detail, we would say that the hymns generally, were remarkably well rendered, both time, tune, and notably expi'ession being all that could be desired. We feel §ure that the thrilling rendering of the tune " Bryntirion," to the words " Lead us, Heavenly Father, lead us " will not soon be forgotten by those present It may be well perhaps to note for future reference that the tunes sung were Covenant, Bryntirion, New Brighton, and St. Ann at Matins, and Hermas, Zeboim, Beatitudo, and Hanover at Evensong. The Psalms and Canticles were from one point of view well rendered, but the}' pale by .comparison with the rendering of tht hymns, and we would emphasise this because we are fully convinced that this need not be and indeed should not be. It nted not be, because the capacity to render them as they ought to be, is there & only requires developing and bringing out. It thould not be, because the words bring us, as it were, into touch with the Church of God in all ages of its history. We would say with all due deference that the time has come, both here and elsewhere, to move out of the narrow groove we hitherto have been moving in, by giving the same studied and detailed attention to their rendering as we do to our hymns. Every expression of thought and feeling should have its due mode of rendering where possible. Nor will such attempts in wedding musical and verbal expression together be found difficult or distracting. It will be rather found that the light which is thus thrown by the music upon the words gives them a new force and life, and the chanting will thus avoid obscuring the varied alternations of thought and feeling, and so become as it should be, a true commentary on the words, kindling a deeper devotion by a finer intelligence. As an example and proof of what can be done with our chanting from one point of view we would refer to what we can only characterise as the magnificent rendering of the Benedictus to Harris' double chant. The Psalms at Matins, were Psalm 20, sung to Frost's minor & major chants. The change to the Tonic rather than a relative major may account perhaps for the strange mixing of one and the other. This was the only discordant and jarring note in an otherwise admirably rendered service. The Te Deum was sung to a varied selection of single, double and quadruple chants. This was a creditable render¬ ing, theonly exception we would t ike being the neglect in following the marginal directions and expression. At Evensong the Psalms were 8 to an adaptation from Attwood by the Rev. W. L Richards, Psalm 93 to Brown in G, and Psalm 150. a simple but effective chant by Dr. Keeton. The Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis were to a setting by Arthur H- Brown. These are in themselves admirable compositions, and proved well within the capacity of all present. The music being simple, effective, devotional. The Nunc Dimittis was well sung in every respect, and was as well nigh perfect as the limited circumstances would allow. In our opinion, though at the same time, we base such on the character of the music and especially on the time assigned it by the composer, the Magnifi¬ cat was somewhat marred by the rather too rapid singing. Had it been treated similarly to the Nunc Dimittis—for both are in time and character the same —the effect would have been much enhanced. Though otherwise admirably rendered, it lacked that broad majestic rendering which should attend THE Even¬ song Canticle. The Anthem was ' Come Holy Ghost,' by the same composer. This is a good anthem of its kind written in the purest style of ecclesiastical music, savouring neither of the namby painby sentimental nor of the rollicking concert hall style. To do it per¬ fect justice it requires a large body of voices. However it was very creditably rendered. It was well sung in the morning and even more so in the evening The excellent rendering fully brought out the fine harmony of the different parts, & for steadiness of time, refine¬ ment of tune, and devotional feeling, left under the limited circumstances little to be desired We should not omit to mention that the responses were as usual sung to Tallis' Festal arrangement. If we may point it out, we should like to see, and we feel sure it would enhance the rendering, as well as be in keeping with what that gifted musician intended, the plain-song have its due attention. To hear it rendered as it generally is—especially in our small country churches