The 27th Intervarsity Choral Festival: HOBART, 8 May–24 May 1976

Patrons: Lady Burbury, Mr V.G. Burley, Sir George Cartland
Accompanists: Jennifer Chilcott, James Cotterell, Noel Ancell, Bruce Cornelius, Peter Weeks
Camp Venue: Deloraine (various pubs, halls, and churches)
Participating Choirs: AUCS, SCUNA, FUCS, MUCS, MonUCS, PUCS, QUMS, SUMS, TUMS, UNCS, MMM, UniChant Mascot: The Red Lion.

COMMITTEE

Convenor: Christopher Thomas
Secretary: Noel Ancell
Treasurer: Nicholas Heyward
ConMan: Dianne O’Toole, Joanna Hart
Publicity: Anni Large
Publicity: Bruce Cornelius
Publicity: Jeannette Parkes
Librarian: Gillian von Bertouch
Camp Officer: Nicholas Heyward
Transport/Billeting: David Nairn Thorp
Social Sec: Louise Phillips
Deloraine Liaison: Roslyn Phillips
Catering: Louise Phillips, Roslyn Phillips
Staging Dir: Diana Large
Tech: Stephen Pryde
Uni Liaison: Judith Abercromby

CONCERT 1

12 May, Convent Hall, Deloraine
Programme: Tchaikovsky Crown of Roses, Alfred Wheeler Old Mother Hubbard (AUCS); Purcell The Fairy Queen (choruses, UWAUCS); J. Haydn Nelson Mass (excerpts, MUCS); Janequin Au joly boys, Palestrina Sicut cervus, Sweelinck Seigneur carde mon droit (SCUNA); Mendelssohn Elijah (two choruses, SUMS, UNCS, UniChant, MMM); The Deloraine Glee Club; Verdi Rigoletto (choruses, QUMS); Mozart Vespers (excerpts, TUMS); Ian Green Beauty Imposes (FUCS); Morley April is in My Mistress’ Face, [Unknown] Simple Simon (MonUCS); Barbershop Quartet; Handel “Hallelujah Chorus” (combined choirs and audience).

CONCERT 2

8.15pm, 16 May, St David’s Cathedral
Conductors: Ian Cugley; Donald Hollier; Brian Hingerty; Donald Hollier (sub-conductors: Noel Ancell; Brian Hingerty; Ian Owens; Gwynn Roberts)
Soloists: Lyall Bevan (baritone)
Program: Ian Cugley Gloria Tibi Trinitas (commission); Keith Wilson Ave Maria; Nigel Butterley The True Samaritan (first performance); Donald Hollier The Revelation of St John the Divine (commission)
Notes: “Australian Choral Music Concert”
Review: ‘Pleiades’, “Hobart choral music had merit”, Mercury, 17 May 1976, p.2. “That contemporary Australian choral composition is heading in three directions and that it has merit became evident at last night’s first concert of the 27th Intervarsity Choral Festival. Dr Hollier … demonstrated that electronics has it uses, in particular when it is used to achieve effects which with normal means would require a very large body of singers and musicians. He incorporated in his work, commissioned for the festival, practically all the elements available to the contemporary composer. Working with several choirs and orchestras, [Hollier] needed the help of sub-conductors. The whole had been thoroughly rehearsed and it worked … All in all, last night’s concert was a highly commendable effort and it demonstrated that the young generation may go new ways, but it is well prepared for the task.”

CONCERT 3

3.15pm, 23 May, Theatre Royal
Conductor: John Lanchbery
Soloists: Marilyn Richardson, Eleanor Houston, Gerald Stern (replacing George Hegan), James Christiansen
Program: Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle, Gaudeamus igitur
Review: ‘Pleiades’, “Splendid end to Festival”, Mercury, 24 May 1976, p.6. “With Rossini’s Messe Solennelle … the 27th Intervarsity Choral Festival had a splendid end at Hobart’s Theatre Royal yesterday afternoon. The choir … sang with the degree of polish and technical competence required by a work of such proportions … From the Kyrie until the highly elaborate Amen, Mr Lanchbery was able to present music that inspired and also was moving when one remembers that it was presented by students who sang because they loved music … The performance concluded with the Gaudeamus Igitur, the old student song which traditionally is sung between the fifth and 10th glass of beer. It sounded all right, even without the brew.”

OTHER COMMENTS

Steering Committee: Nick Heyward, Di O’Toole, Ros Phillips, Chris Thomas.

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