Welsh Journals

<t No. lf£ Vol. XIL JUNK, 1904. Peice One Penny. The Choral Festival of the Deanery took place as announced at Carno Church on Wednesday, June 8, when favoured with beautiful weather, the various choirs arrived in fairly strong- force a little before eleven by train or b^ake, mustering- in all about 150, all the parishes in the Deanery being accounted for except Llanguiig, which, doubtless owing to the natural upset caused by the Vicar's approaching departure, sent no representatives The Festival commenced at eleven (we were a little but only a little late) with a celebration of the Holy Communion, the service being sung for the most part to the music of Merbecke. and we are free to confess lhat this, which ma}T be called the official sitting of our great Liturgy, fairly holds its own when compared with the efforts of modern composers for melody, dignity, and simplicity combined. The " Gloria,in Excelsis " was set in chant form, the first part to the Tonus Regius, passing to ihe Peregrinus The sermon was preached by the Archdeacon of Wrexham, and was a reverent and appropriate application of Hebrews xiii, 15, to the conjunction of a Choral Festival and the Eucharist The service concluded with the Nunc Dimittis to Chants by " Goodenough," the passage from the minor to the major in the Gloria being a fit climax to a solemn and impressive service The Yiear of Carno celebrated, and was assisted by the Rural Dean (Gospeller), the Vicar of Llanwnog, who read the Epistle, and the Vicar of Trefeglwys. We might suggest that in future the various clergy should en¬ deavour to ascertain the numbers of intending communicants (this being essentially a case where a disused rubric is more honoured in the observance than the breach), and instruct them to come up at ovce and in a steady stream, and not in ones and twos at the last moment. We ought to have mentioned that the Anthem, " Lift up your heads " (Gosr), was sung at the offertory. The Rector of Penstrowed presided at the harmonium. Lunch took place at one, the choirs being divided between the Church- room and the ' Aleppo Merchant.' At three the choirs re-assembled for rehearsal. This was some¬ what prolonged, and did not give much time for tea, which had to be taken in relays, and rather delayed the evening service. A spirited rendering of " Fight the good fight " was a fitting introduction to a service which (in spite of some imperfections which we will leave it to the conductor to point out in our next issue) was on the whole one that our choirmasters can well pride themselves on. Its outstanding features were the Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis, by Dr. Vincent) in which we venture to think the unison passages —impressive as they were—were almost too trying for bass and alto voices), and the very fine Anthem, "The eyes of all," by the same composer. The special Psalms were particularly well sung, and the clear articulation of the words was especially noticeable. The Vicar of Oswestry again gave an eloquent Sermon, full—almost too full (though by no means too long) of valuable points. Miss Astley accompanied with her usual ability, and the Vicar of Penstrowed in conducting had the choirs well under control. The Vicar intoned the service excellently, and the first and second lessons were read by the Vicars of Liandinam and Trefeglwys. This notice is inadequate, but the eventful day is passing into to-morrow, the printer is insistent for copy early in the morning, and even your reporter must sleep. LLANIDLOES. Duripg the absence of the Vicar the services on Sunday, May Sth and loth, as well as on Ascension Day, were taken by the Rev.W. L. Richards, Rector of Penstrowed. The change was much appreciated by the congregation, while the Choir had the addi¬ tional advantage of practises under the baton of the conductor of the Ruridueanal Festival. The congregations on Ascension Day were up to the average—whiclh as our readers know is not say¬ ing very much.