Balmoral Hall School - Optima Anni Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Page 28 text:

26 I ml' 1111 ff 49 ' , 3 ' i:T - - L V I ' ' 5 'i- I 'L' ' ' .' Mm Music for Youth A special 'LMusic for Youth concert was given in the Auditorium on November 4th. This concert, by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, was an experiment, and replaced the customary afternoon concerts for high school students. The opening number was The Rackozy March by Berlioz, which was an appropriate choice since November 4th was the second anniversary of the Hungarian revolt. The rest of the programme was varied, and, though composed entirely of classical music, it was made up of favourites. These ranged from Aaron Copland's Rodeo Suite to Borodin's Polovtsian Dances which were beautifully sung by the Daniel Mclntyre Schola Cantorum. The soloist for the first movement of Schuf mann's piano concerto in A minor was Deidre Irons, a thirteenfyearfold Winnipeg girl. Her per' formance was spirited and showed the remarkable control and quality for which she has already been widely acclaimed. Victor Feldbrill, conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, introduced the programme and gave interesting and informative comments before each item. At the end of the evening, he expressed great pleasure at the apparent success of the concert and indicated that there would probf ably be other youth concerts later in the year. HELEN WILSON, Grade XII Music Recitals Each of the three terms of this school year has provided an informal Music Recital, either in the drawing room or in the gymnasium. Piano pupils of Mrs. Bach and Mrs. Flood have been responsible for most of the programme, but singing by different groups under the direction of Mrs. Birse has been a delightful feature of each recital. No matter whether the groups were formed from an entire grade, as when Grade Two sang, 'LI See Youll, or from the Senior Choral Group or The School Choir, the performances have been colourful and enjoyable. Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra at Balmoral Hall This year, The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra has carried on an extensive programme in the city and surrounding districts to increase among young people an interest in live music and es' pecially in symphony concerts. Among six thousand other students we, at Balmoral Hall, had the privilege of hearing a little symphony at Schoolj Five members of the Orchestra came on September 19th and gave us a lively selection of semifclassical works, including a medley of wellfknown songs. ' The instruments in the group were the piano, cello, saxophone, violin and double bass, which made a very pleasantfsounding group. The inf formative comments about the pieces, instruments and composers, made by Mrs. W. Guest, Chairman of the Women's Committee of the Orchestra, helped to make the concert interesting and enjoy' able for us all. PAMELA MACCHARLES The St. Peter High School Choir On April 17, the choir of St. Peter's High School, St. Peter, Minnesota, honoured us with a halffhour programme of anthems and folk songs. The choir consisted of seventyftwo high school students, and was conducted by the choirfmaster, Mr. Lamar Runestad. Among the selections, they included three religious songs, Come and Let Us Worship, by Gretchaninofg NO Spirit, Who From jesus Came, by Havey, and HO Day Full of Grace, by F. M. Christiansen. The tone and harmony in the partfsongs were delightful, but the conductor pointed out that unison singing is sometimes a sterner test of ability to maintain pitch. In the southern folk' hymn, Wondrous Love, the choir had the opporf tunity to show that they could also pass this test. The concert,which was entirely without accom' paniment, ended gaily with Early One Morning, and we were sorry that it was over so soon. VALERIE SAUL

Page 27 text:

Music for Juniors On Thursday, October 30th, we went to the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra Concert for Grades Four, Five and Six at the Playhouse Theatre. At the beginning of the concert the members of the orchestra were introduced by the conductor, Victor Feldbrill. Each musician showed us his instrument and played a short phrase so that we should learn to recognize the sounds. Among the six interesting pieces they played was Danse Macabre , which is better known in English as The Death Dance , by SaintfSaens. It was a musical story about spirits being summoned by the devil to come up out of their graves as the harp played the twelve strokes of midnight. If we listened carefully, we were able to hear rattling bones, played by the glockenspiel. There was another good piece taken from Canada Suite by Weinzweig. It suggested a train chugging along. The triangle played the bell, and the whistle was made by the trumpet. We enjoyed the concert very much and were sorry when it was over. It was lovely to listen to such exciting music, and we hope that we will be able to go again some time. On the way back from the concert, the bus came into Balmoral Hall's driveway and could not get out again! The trees were in the way, and the bus was too long. However, after some rocks were moved, the bus drove on to the playground, turned round, and went out. Auxn HUNT JANE KIRBYSON KATHRYN NEILSON PATRICIA PBNNOCK NANCY SYM Grade V The Owl and the Rabbit Once there was a rabbit who wanted every' thing he saw. One day a crow went flying by and the rabbit said, I wish I had a shiny black coat like Mr. Crow. Then out from a tree popped Mr. Owl, who said, Would you really like a shiny black coat? Yes, oh yes, Mr. Owl! Do you know how I could get one? Yes, I do. When you get up in the morning go out and roll over and over in a black mud puddle. Then go to the lake and look at yourself, replied Mr. Owl. Oh thank you, Mr. Owl, I will do exactly what you said, replied the rabbit. So the next morning he woke up and ran to a mud puddle and rolled over and over in it. Then he ran to the lake to look at himself, and said, Oh look! How beautiful I am. He went to show himself to everybody, but when they saw him they ran away, because they 25 were afraid of him. This went on all day. The little rabbit did not like this, so he went to Mr. Owl and asked him if he knew how he could turn white again. l k Owl said, Go and wash yourself in the a e. So the rabbit did, and he turned white again, and always stayed like himself. Moral: Be satisfied with what you are. NANCY SYM, Grade V ll Ning! lj ew' il like! f X'ix11vll'u'W A! l fr LA' Q. Y? cv L Q 'Z igai bQ'lN f . in W I ELSA RENSAA Junior Ha11owe'en Party The junior School was buzzing with excitement on October 31st. The gymnasium had been decorated by the seniors, with black cats, witches, pumpkins, and skeletons. The party began at onefthirty, and Mrs. Sellers, in Scottish costume, was hostess. Grade VI led the Grand March around the hall twice so we had an opportunity to see all the costumes. Mrs. Sellers then called us up one by one to put our money in the U.N.I.C.E.F. pot and introduce ourselves. There were cats, tramps, oddflooking witches, and scary ghosts, but the costumesl liked best were the bride with highf heeled shoes and bridegroom with a big black hat. The entertainment began with Grade I carrying cards with letters which formed the word, Hello , They were followed by the higher grades, each presenting a short entertainment which the guests seemed to enjoy very much. After this, each grade made its own circle, and had cookies and ice cream. When we were leaving the gymnasium, each of us picked an apple out of a box, then went down' stairs to change. We were given a sucker just before leaving, and then we went home. JANET HARRXSON, LAURXE GRANT, RUTH STEWART

Page 29 text:

27 The Carol Service In the absence of Miss MurrellfWright, the Carol Service this year did not follow the traditional pattern. Instead, an adaptation of the play, The Inn at Bethlehem , by William J. May, was presented. This Nativity story was interspersed with readings and the singing of carols by a choir chosen from grades nine to twelve, under the direction of Mrs. Birse. The carol Though Poor be the Chamber , illustrated the reading, . . because there was no room for them at the inn, and the folk tunes, Bring a Torch and The Nightingale , provided a musical background for the scene at the manger. During the presentation of the children's gifts, the junior School sang the Rocking Carol with warmth and spontaneity. Outstanding among the other carols were the little known O Jesu Sweet and The Nightinf gale, which were sung by the whole choir. It was very disappointing for us all that Miss MurrellfWright was not well enough to be present, but everyone made a special effort to produce a Carol Service worthy of the standards she has set. At the dress rehearsal, a tapefrecording of the entire Service was made so that she could listen to it at home. SIGNB SALzBBRG Our New School Hymn Book 1959 will be remembered in the history of Balmoral Hall as the year of the new School Hymn Book. In 1950, with the amalgamation of Rupert's Land, an Anglican Church School, and Riverbend, a United Church School, an unusual problem confronted the newlyfformed Balmoral Hall. Which Hymn Book should be used? For prayers on opening day, two hymns were chosen, and mimeographed copies made. Each day, two more hymns were added, and gradually, our familiar loosefleaf Hymn Book developed, consisting of one hundred and sixtyfone hymns enclosed in green cardboard covers. For eight years these books have been used, and many hours have been spent replacing missing hymns and keeping the covers repaired. The Board of Governors set up a committee in 1953 to discuss plans for a permanent Balmoral Hall Hymn Book. Since that time the committee has worked to select our favourite hymns, and hymns and prayers for all occasions, to obtain copyrights for them, and to deal with all the matters that are involved in creating such a book. On Wednesday, April 15, 1959, a service was held at which the new Hymn Book was first used. The service was opened by Rev. Canon J. C. Clough with a prayer of dedication. Later in the service, Canon Clough, the Chairman of the Hymn Book Committee, and Mr. A. Searle Leach, Chairman of the Board of Governors, related many interesting incidents in the Hymn Book's evolution. Special hymns chosen by the girls were sung during the service, and Rev. Nelson Mercer closed the service with the Benediction. A grant from the United Church, which is used for religious education. has made it possible for Balmoral Hall to have these books, and while they are the property of the School, each girl has her own from the time she enters until she leaves. We are very proud to be the hrst owners of the Balmoral Hall Hymn Book, one of the common bonds which unite us in fellowship when we join each day in our Morning Service of praise and worship. JOCBLYN W1LsoN, Grade XI HYMN Bo o K X Z! f 1. f iff H f I 6AL 0R4L S i 'MIL Su4q,L Mme Clcl Cutler Choncjellq,ill'elfIm3 lnlace lb New