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

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27 NOTES FOR SALE Musical Moment An Organ - Building Luncheon On Wednesday morning, November 25th, the Mothers' Auxiliary had placed a mock organ in the red in the centre of the gymnasium. They had raised a giant keyboard along the walls, and placed staves, clefs and notes everywhere to prof claim their Musical Moment. By elevenfthirty, white notes had already started to appear on the curtains as a result of the expert shopping service which attended to mail orders. As the morning went on, the curtains became a mass of notes of every size, and every mother, student, and friend of the School proudly wore a white eighth note to show that she was a shareholder in the new organ. At two o'clock the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr. A. S. Leach, announced that the organ was assured, and by the end of the day, a substantial beginning had been made towards an Organ Scholarship. To entertain the shoppers , interludes of song were provided by each grade in turn, from the Nursery School upwards, and an excellent lunch was served in the diningfroom by the mothers. Once more our Mothers' Auxiliary was victorious, for no organ has ever sold more parts, nor built itself more quickly. SIGNE SALZBERG, Grade XII There's Always A First Time Our new organ was dedicated at our Carol Service just before Christmas. Those of us who had been playing for Morning Prayers were naturally wondering if this privilege would now go to a qualified organist, or if we would ever have a chance. Early in January, Miss MurrellfWright asked me to meet her for an organ lesson. I was amazed, I was frightened, and I was excited, but offl went with my Hymn Book to keep my appointment. Lesson one taught me how to unlock and open the organ without scratching the sides, and how to lock and cover the instrument when I had finished. We talked about the various stops and I was shown the automatic pedal stop which I must use until I learn about the pedal board. Then Miss Murrellf Wright gave me a hymn to play and, setting my hands on the keys, I began. By the wrinkles in her forehead I realized that I was playing many wrong notes, but we moved on to the next step and I looked at the instruction book. What a lot there is to learn about the stops and their uses and about organ technique! The following day I saw my name on the list to play for Prayers in two daysl time. I practised my two hymns on the piano until I felt I was notef perfect, but as the hour drew near, my knees grew weaker. One of my better qualified friends played while the school filed in, but soon the opening hymn was announced. My hands touched the keys and, sure enough, there was an organ sound. In fact, I played both hymns and began to feel more confident. Now as I became more familiar with the organ itself and with the stops and the effect of stops, I look forward to this special privilege once each week. There are so many new ideas to try, and so many new hymns to learn that one could spend hours experimenting. My next challenge is to learn to use the pedals. I can see that it will require many hours of pracmqu but I cannot wait to begin! JAQUELlNl1 Lvl, Grads K

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26 ' , l'k' ,L NL l 49 A : V 5 3 Q Y, L 7 .' ' Ml ' if Nqr' , , F 5 17 'S y -' if r as . Music This Year The music this year has been better than ever. In November at the Organfbuilding luncheon, interludes of song were given by the junior and Senior School under the direction of Mrs. Birse. Visitors were impressed by the quality of the singing from Kindergarten to the Senior Choir which sang the Finale. From the beginning when the Choir entered carrying lighted candles, singing created the atmosphere for the Carol Service at Christmas. The carols varied from a little one called Snowf flakes sung by the juniors, to the Carol of the Bells , sung by the Choral Group and Choir, and included such favourites as The First Noel in which the congregation heartily joined. At our Thanksgiving Service and on several other occasions, the School Choir has sung special anthems. On Remembrance Day we sang, Lord, Make Us Free , and on May 6th we sang HO, Perfect Love , because it was Princess Margaret's wedding day. There are few hours in the day when sounds of music are not coming from the practice rooms, and Education Week brought a special programme at which a group of piano pupils shared the musical honours with the senior singing classes. In May, the pupils of Mrs. Bach and Mrs. Baxter gave a piano recital and Mrs. Flood's pupils performed early in June. Music is wellfloved at Balmoral Hall. The School enjoys singing at prayers every morning, and the Choir members value the special privilege of the extra opportunities they are given of exploring interesting music. JULIA BERRY BETTY N1cHoL Grade X Victor Feldbrill Visits Balmoral Hall On Sunday afternoon, November 8th, Mr. Victor Feldbrill, conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, addressed a group of music students and others interested in music. He told the group that his own musical career began when he was twelve with the study of the violin. When he was fourteen, he had the chance to conduct the school orchestra. Conducting intrigued him so much that at seventeen he began to study it intensively. He said that he felt that a musical education should be an important aspect of every child's life, but added that parents should not regard the end of music lessons as the making of a child into a virtuoso, but rather as the widening of his appreciation and understanding of music, and thereby, the enriching of his life. Mr. Feldbrill also discussed the formation of a symphony orchestra in a city. Firstly, interested musicians are invited to apply for an audition. From the many applicants, only those who reach the standards set by the conductor are chosen. To this nucleus, the best aspirants from outlying districts may be added. Thus, even though the orchestra may be a partftime occupation for him, each player must be an accomplished musician. In group playing, however, individual talent and interpretation must be sacrificed to the wishes of the conductor. The conductor also plans the programmes and prepares the orchestra for perf formances with guest artists. Once the orchestra is formed, concluded Mr. Feldbrill, its future depends on the interest and support of the community. Mr. Feldbrill's visit undoubtedly created increased interest among the group who heard him on this occasion, and we hope that he will return. DIANE B1sHoP, Grade XI

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