Welsh Journals

flrwpstli Deanerp maaazine. Vol. VI. (New Series). JULY, 1910. No. 211. CHORAL FESTIVAL. Talking of another and larger Festival the Dean of Bangor said the other day to the present writer " we are always apt to call the last festival the hest, hecause we have been struck by the beauty of the sing¬ ing." Making an allowance for this natural tendency we are inclined to think that the Carno Festival of 1910 takes very high rank, if not quite the highest, in the long series of Festivals held in this Deanery. The choirs turned up in strong force and there was not a hitch anywhere in the proceedings. For the special train connecting Moat Lane with Carno a guarantee of 150 tickets, at an average of lid., had to be signed, but as about 70 booked from Llanidloes (Llangurig turning out strong) at Is. 7d. each, we imagine this was easily fulfilled. Arriving at Carno village about 3-15, we went straight to Rehearsal, which was short as the more distant choirs were let out early to tea, a meal which continued in sections from about four to service time ; it was plentiful, good and well served. The clergy robed in the Parish Room and proceeded to the Church where the service opened with " Brightly gleams our Banner" as a Processional. Then the first part of the service was intoned by the Rector of Penstrowed, the responses, etc., being well and firmly sung. The Psalm 68 went with a swing and the Magnificat and Nune Dimittis, to Bunnett A, were admir¬ able. The settings are simple and there is too much unison perhaps to suit some tastes, but they are effective and give plenty of scope for good singing, and the unaccom¬ panied verse in the latter canticle was quite striking. The anthem " Great and Marvellous" (Edmund Turner) was taken more quickly than at Rehearsal, which in our opinion improved the effect, which certainly was strikingly successful. The Basses were rather far off and were not heard as well as usual, but the general blend of the voices was altogether harmonious. Barnby's stately music to "Thrice Holy Name," which had not been thoroughly mastered at the previous week's Rehearsal, was thoroughly learnt now and well rendered. " O what the joy " struck us as being a trifle too fast, but this is a fault on the right side, as it is a hymn which is apt to drag .horribly: the same remark applies to the closing hymn, "The day Thou gavest." Mr. Paterson Morgan gave us a most admirable sermon on why am I a Christian. Mr. Darbyshire Roberts took the last part of the service and the lessons were read by the Vicar of Llanwnog and the Rural Dean. The organ and piano were under the capable charge of Mr. Morgan, Llandinam, and Miss Lena Davies, Llanidloes, and were well supplemented by the violin of Mrs. Richards, Carno, and the cornet. We congratulate the conductor, Mr. Richards, who had the choir well in hand throughout, on the successful issue of his work. ■