Unique Presentation Of

‘Messiah’ By Tongan Choir

A MUSICAL event of some interest and importance took place recently in connection with the Annual Confer ence of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, which was held for the first time for some years in Neiafu, Vava’u. This was a performance by a Tongan choir

of about 300 voices of Handel's “Messiah." r - Helsen, until lately manager of Burns Philp, Ltd., in Vava’u, and formerly a well-known Sydney tenor, rendered one of the solos and gave appreciated help in the practices.

It was found practicable to perform only one solo in each part, three being taken by Tongans—Fakahua (soprano), Sisilia (contralto) and Motua Puaka (bass). All the usual choruses were sung with vigour, remarkable confidence and accuracy, and a pleasing quality of tone. The conductor was Taniela Mafua, and the choirs of Neiafu, Leimatu’a, Holonga and Makave took part.

In between the various pieces the Rev.

P. Kongaika read the words, to fill in the gaps caused in the sequence by the omission of the other solos and of the parts usually not included in any pre sent-day performance of this work. Much valuable assistance was given by those who adapted the Tongan scriptural words to the music, and transcribed the English music into the Tongan solfa, and by vari ous conductors in Neiafu who frequently visited the separate choirs during re hersals. Five or six combined practices were held prior to the performance.

It is probable that a presentation of “The Messiah" by a native choir is an event unique in Pacific history, and, com pared with performances in Australia and New Zealand, the standard was surpris ingly good.

The choruses were sung unaccompanied and from memory, with the aid of no musical instrument other than a pitch- Pipe.

Mr, O. Newman, planter, of the New Hebrides, returned home by Trans oceanic plane on September 16, after a month in Sydney.