City of Dunedin Choir
Encyclopedia
The City of Dunedin Choir (trading name of the Dunedin Choral Society Incorporated) is a community choir
in Dunedin
, New Zealand
. It accepts singers of all age groups from the wider Dunedin community and performs large-scale classical choral works. In 2009 the choir's membership was around 140.
, Classical
and Romantic
orchestral works, and includes contemporary New Zealand choral music. The choir is usually involved in four or five concerts a year, and regularly performs with the Southern Sinfonia. Weekly rehearsals are held in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral
on the Octagon
in central Dunedin
.
(1922–1925) and Jack Speirs (1966–1973).
The Choral Society changed its name to Schola Cantorum in 1967, upon merging with the University Union Choir, and then to City of Dunedin Choir in 1993, the year it celebrated 130 years of existence. However, through all these "trading name" changes, the legal entity has remained Dunedin Choral Society Incorporated.
The Choir's immediate past patron was the then Governor General of New Zealand, Dame Silvia Cartwright
. The current conductor is David Burchell.
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It accepts singers of all age groups from the wider Dunedin community and performs large-scale classical choral works. In 2009 the choir's membership was around 140.
Repertoire
The choir's repertoire encompasses BaroqueBaroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
, Classical
Classical period (music)
The dates of the Classical Period in Western music are generally accepted as being between about 1750 and 1830. However, the term classical music is used colloquially to describe a variety of Western musical styles from the ninth century to the present, and especially from the sixteenth or...
and Romantic
Romantic music
Romantic music or music in the Romantic Period is a musicological and artistic term referring to a particular period, theory, compositional practice, and canon in Western music history, from 1810 to 1900....
orchestral works, and includes contemporary New Zealand choral music. The choir is usually involved in four or five concerts a year, and regularly performs with the Southern Sinfonia. Weekly rehearsals are held in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral
St. Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin
St Paul's Cathedral is the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Dunedin, in New Zealand and the seat of the Bishop of Dunedin.-Location:The Cathedral Church of St Paul occupies a site in the heart of The Octagon near the Dunedin Town Hall and hence Dunedin...
on the Octagon
The Octagon, Dunedin
The Octagon is the city centre of Dunedin, in the South Island of New Zealand.-Features:The Octagon is an eight sided plaza bisected by the city's main street, which is called George Street to the northeast and Princes Street to the southwest...
in central Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
.
History
In 1863 the Dunedin Choral Society was formed. The following year this choir was absorbed into the Dunedin Philharmonic Society with George West as conductor. The Philharmonic Society gave its last concert in 1867. A new Dunedin Choral Society was formed in 1871, again with West as conductor. This group collapsed in 1888 and it was not until 1897 that the third Dunedin Choral Society was formed with James Coombs as conductor. The existence of the choir has since been continuous. Notable past conductors include Sidney Wolf (1914–1922), Victor GalwayVictor Edward Galway
Victor Edward Galway was a New Zealand music academic, organist, conductor and composer.-Biography:Victor Galway was born in Colchester, Essex, England. He attended Ayr Academy and studied organ under Frederick Ely. In 1911 he emigrated with his family to Australia, where he studied music at the...
(1922–1925) and Jack Speirs (1966–1973).
The Choral Society changed its name to Schola Cantorum in 1967, upon merging with the University Union Choir, and then to City of Dunedin Choir in 1993, the year it celebrated 130 years of existence. However, through all these "trading name" changes, the legal entity has remained Dunedin Choral Society Incorporated.
The Choir's immediate past patron was the then Governor General of New Zealand, Dame Silvia Cartwright
Silvia Cartwright
Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright, PCNZM, DBE, QSO, DStJ was the 18th Governor-General of New Zealand.She is a graduate of the University of Otago, where she gained her LL.B degree in 1967, and a former student at Otago Girls' High School.- Public life and family :In 1989, she became the first female...
. The current conductor is David Burchell.