The mantra on this day was
‘music’. From the triumphal sounds of
trumpet, tubas and tom toms by members of the High-Country Community Band, the power
of the pipe organ, counterpoised by the peaceful sounds on piano by accompanist, Ms. Eduarda van Klinken, the
stirring sounds of a massed choir under the masterly direction of Mr Alexander Dixon and the acoustically
brilliant vaulted ceiling of Toowoomba’s St Luke’s Anglican Church, this was a
day of giving service through song and the universal language of music.
It was also a day to launch the
appeal for the restoration of St Luke’s splendid pipe organ which has been
serving congregations since 1907 and now understandably puffing out a few
little squeaks.
Choristers gathered from all
directions of the compass to be part of this wonderful afternoon, including an
eager group from our own Esk Community Choir.
After galloping through a two-hour rehearsal of five beautiful hymns
with Mr Dixon, Revd. Canon Paul Mitchell welcomed a capacity congregation who
were both treated to and participated in the singing of these chosen pieces,
the John Rotar arrangement of the first, ‘Praise to the Lord’, being its inaugural
public presentation.
From Eduarda’s organ ‘Concerto
Am’ by J S Bach through beautiful solos by two of the students from Toowoomba Anglican School
supported by the massed choir, a beautiful acapella performance by ‘Footnotes’
layered with violin interludes by tiny Leora Dowling, the purity of sound from the school’s
Secondary Chapel Choir through to the Massed Choir’s singing of ‘The Lord Bless
You and Keep You’ composed by the incomparable John Rutter, this was an
afternoon to bring joy and harmony through the language of music and the hope
of a dedicated committee and a supportive congregation for their worthwhile
cause.
By: Sue Walker
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