Singing with the Stars II

To Guy Jansen, Festival Director and Conductor, to organist Michael Fulcher, to Ian Johnstone, Master of Ceremonies, to Hon Chris Finlayson, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage ,  to Ian McKinnon, Deputy Mayor of Wellington and your wife, Jenny, to the singers and choirs leading us in song and to everybody here this afternoon,  greetings, kia ora, kia orana, fakalofa lahi atu, taloha ni.  These are the languages of the Realm of New Zealand.

Thank you for inviting Anand and me to “Singing with the Stars II”.  It is lovely to be here to share in this community event with you all.

The feast of hymns and song for everyone has included Bread of Heaven and songs that are innovative, stimulating, contemplative and sublime.  We notably loved the unexpected whirling dervish song.

An event of this nature brings together a range of people.  There is a special exhilaration when joining with many others, in a strong, harmonious choir.  It underlines the popularity of such a choir-based event and we can compare it to community carol services held at Christmas time.

In December last year I listened to the engaging interview by broadcaster Kim Hill of Emeritus Professor Colin Gibson.  Professor Gibson is a member of the New Zealand Hymnbook Trust, writer of hymns and musical settings, and editor for the upcoming Australasian Dictionary of World Hymnody.  Of his well-known hymn “He Came Singing Love” he said:

"[It was] always sung for ordinary people who just turn up in church and sing - never for a choir.  Choirs are great - I love the way they handle music, but when I write a hymn, it’s a popular song, it’s just got to work for an ordinary untrained singer."

Hymns are special in that they are written for an ‘untrained’ singer.  Luckily each of us here does not need to be a trained vocalist to participate!

As a result of his historical knowledge of ancient hymns Professor Gibson was able to reflect on writing hymns - and told Kim Hill:

"It is a form that has always been present in human communities so all I am doing is taking a tiny share in a long line."

We are incidentally going to be singing a hymn called “Everyday” written by Professor Gibson, with lyrics by Dr Shirley Murray.  I understand Dr Murray is here this afternoon.

I know that everybody here is enjoying this afternoon.  We thank Guy Jansen, Michael Fulcher and all those who have worked hard to make it happen.  Anand and I are certainly delighted to be at this Singing with the Stars II event, a highlight of the singing year.

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.