The 17th Intervarsity Choral Festival: PERTH, 23 May-3 June 1966

Camp Venue: New Norcia Benedictine Community (men at St Benedict’s, women at St Gertrude’s)
Participants: AUCS, SCUNA, MUCS, MonUCS, NUCS, NEUCS, QUMS, SUMS, TUMS, UNCS, UWAUCS
FIBS: FIB (Festival Information Book)

COMMITTEE

Convenor: Peter Sarah
Secretary: Elizabeth Anderson
Treasurer: Mary-Jane Jolley
PUCS Pres: Virginia Augustson
Vice-President: Jon Cook
Committee: Laurie Fisher, Ken Gilmore, Anthony Marrion, Thea Martin, Michael Page, Geoffrey Lowe, Kim Roberts, Ruthe Thomas

CONCERT

8pm, 1 June, Winthrop Hall
Conductor: Michael Brimer; Ralph Middenway; Rex Hobcroft; William Griffiths; John Hind; Frank Callaway
Soloists: Marcelline Burrows, Lynette Abbott , John Nicholson, Bruce Martin
Program: Bach Jesu, Priceless Treasure (MonUCS+MUCS); Monteverdi Beatus Vir (AUCS+SCUNA); Buxtehude The New-Born Babe, Rex Hobcroft In the Fire, a Telegraph Pole (QUMS+TUMS+NEUCS); Zoll Spanisches Liederspiel (SUMS+UNCS+NUCS); Purcell Festival Te Deum (UWAUCS); Haydn Nelson Mass (combined); Gaudeamus Igitur
Notes: Members of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. Piano: Bruce Macrae. Perc: Ralph Middenway
Review: Sally Trethowan, “Bizarre piece for a choir”, West Australian, 2 June 1966, p.14. “There was scarcely a seat vacant in Winthrop Hall last night … Though choral music by Bach, Purcell and Monteverdi was presented, the work that brought prolonged applause was a rather bizarre piece for choir, instrumental accompaniment and tape-recorded sound-track. It was specially composed for the festival by former West Australian Rex Hobcroft … It would be invidious in such a concert to comment on shortcomings in technique and interpretation when the whole purpose and value of such a festival is the working and singing together by the participants for their own enjoyment. The audience go to hear them making music and delighting in it. And indeed … there was a certain infectious spontaneity.”

OTHER COMMENTS

The choir also sang at special service in St George’s Cathedral.