Gordon Bell High School - Purple and Gold Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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GORDON BELL HIGH SCHOOL

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GORDON BELL HIGH SCHOOL The Mixed Choir PJ1HIS year Gordon Bell is again entering a Mixed Choir in the Manitoba Musical Festival. This organization, whose members are selected from the girls’ and boys’ choirs, is one of the most popular of the school’s choral activities. The choir has had weeks of intensive study under the baton of Miss Argue, both as a whole and in separate units; and as a result of this its members feel confident that they will make at least a creditable showing in the Festival. The first test piece is a traditional air arranged by Bernard Naylor— “How Should I Your True Love Know”—Ophelia’s lament for the death of Hamlet. It is a simple melody in a minor key, expressing the first numbness of great sorrow and gradually growing to a tide of deep grief that is bitter in its intensity. The second number, Elgar’s “After Many a Dusty Mile,” is in distinct contrast to this. It is a light and quickly moving melody with a continual echo in the base which is very effective. Although an extremely difficult number, it holds the interest of the performers and makes them feel that the long hours spent on it were not wasted. At the Musical Evening presented by the students of Gordon Bell in March the choir sang these two songs with splendid effect. Since this write-up was completed the choir has sung in the Festival, and has been successful in winning the shield.

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34 GORDON BELL HIGH SCHOOL The Gordon Bell Junior Male Voice Choir “ ' T ' E ARE standard-bearers, we are torch-flingers, we are the fruit of the VV country.” These were the words spoken by Sir Hugh Roberton to the Boys’ Choir at the Musical Festival. Somehow these praises did not seem to cheer the boys, but when he began to announce the marks, a swift si¬ lence crept over them. However, the Boys’ Choir entered the Auditorium empty-handed and left it just the same, except for the worth-while experi¬ ence and criticism gained. Thus the big night for the choir passed. The next most important event in the choir’s history was the Musical Evening success, in which the choir took an active part, singing its two selections—“Linden Lea” and “The Tide.” Hard work, if it may be called so, was done throughout the year. When called at 11.30, handsome tenors, good-looking baritones, and winsome basses would assemble, to give their utmost co-operation to Miss Argue. No choir can get along without a leader, and a good leader is necessary to control sixty-odd boys. The boys all join in heartily thanking Miss Argue for her work during the school year with the choir. The choir has become a good pursuit for boys and we hope that it will be carried through next year with even better success and happier prospects. A Musical Evening A MUSICAL EVENING was presented by the Gordon Bell students on Monday and Tuesday, February 19th and 20th. The singing, under the direction of Miss Argue, and the orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Hubble, were highly praised, and showed two large audiences that the Gordon Bell High School is musical as well as dramatic. The programme included everything from vocal and instrumental solos to large choruses of one hundred or more voices. A tap dance by Betty and Frances Morrison, and readings given by Lillian Kay and Liston Mc- Ilhagga were greatly appreciated. A cello solo by Ruth Gordon and a vocal solo by Beatrice Felsted showed the variety of talent which we have in our school. A Girls’ Chorus, Junior Male Choir, and Mixed Choir did exceed¬ ingly well under the capable baton of Miss Argue. Two ensembles, a trio, and a duet, were much enjoyed by attentive audiences. The music Of the orchestra was delightful to hear and showed the clever conducting of Mr. Hubble. The accompanists were Joyce Cassidy, Norma Dow, and Geraldine Scott.