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

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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

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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

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28 LIBRARY IIEPUIIT THE LIBRARY EXECUTIVE 1958-59 Chief Librarian-SHIRLEY DoNALDsoN Assistant Librarians: Sara Allan Pamela MacCharles Jacqueline Duncan Lori McDougall Margaret Kosinski Heather Miller Library Committee: Wendy Bracken Lynn Funnell Carol Cranston Nancy Webb Margaret Fisher Lindsay Wiley Senior Library The highlight of the Fall Term was Young Canada's Book Week. Special posters, displays, and a Library Quiz stimulated interest in all sections of the Library. The winners of the Quiz were Valerie Saul in the Senior Section, and Suzanne Evans in the junior. With the accession of nearly one hundred new books this year, the shelvesdas well as the Execuf tive-have been under considerable stress and strain. The accessions were made chiefly in the History and Geography sections. Two Science film strips have also been catalogued. The Executive has worked hard and capably to keep circulation running efficiently. They have painted posters, written book reviews, and even learned to repair damaged books. Our most recent effort was the spraying of the new School Hymn Books with a preservative coating of plastic. The Assistant Librarians especially should be commended for the setting and marking of the Library Quizwa Herculean task! Gifts to the School Balmoral Hall once again welcomes this opporf tunity of extending thanks for the many gifts received this past school year and for contributions to the Prize and Scholarship Fund and the Bursary Fund. We acknowledge gratefully a portable stereophonic record player for the Junior Library, and a television set for the Red House recreation room, both gifts of the Mothers' Auxiliary, a set of prints of famous paintings, curtains for the Red House recreation room. The School is grateful not only for these material gifts which are widely enjoyed, but also for the interest and help of parents and friends in so many of Our activities this year. Junior Library As in the Senior Library, Young Canada's Book Week was a busy one. Attention was focused on Fairy Tales, Legends and Myths, bringing the wellfstocked 398 section into prominence. The girls produced many illustrations and book reports as the result of detailed investigation. A series of maps and posters on Hans Christian Andersen, given by Mrs. H. H. G. Moody, made a colourful display. Dramatic presentations of Aladdin by Grade Six and 'iMother Goose Forgetsn by Grade Two, ended an active week. During the Easter Term there was a French Week, with a quiz on the titles of our French Books. jean Riley of Grade Four was the winner. We should like to thank the Mothers' Auxiliary for the fine portable stereophonic record player which they have presented to the Library. This will also be available for use in the Senior School. In addition, the mothers have made a collection of pictures and clippings for the file in the Junior Library which are being extremely useful. Again this year the Senior Library Executive has helped the junior Library in many ways. We are grateful for the numbers of books given to both Libraries during the year. This generosity coupled with the help and interest of the mothers and so many other people, has helped to make 1958359 a very successful year. SHIRLEY DONALDSON, Chief Librarian Dear Sir :- Your name has been selected, You forthwith will be sent A sample copy, yes, for free, Of Campbell's Brand New History, A book without a precedent! Cn one condition only We make this generous offer: Within the next six months you must Buy two more books we profferf' The letter does not end here, no, But I have read enough. And now I see a postman's life Must sure be pretty tough: Through snow and sleet and gloom of night Struggles the poor man, Delivering a message which I file in the garbage can. PATRICIA MCMAHON, Grade IX