The Debating Society

Sports : Hockey for Schools—J. T. Hankinson. Hockey—D. S. Milford.

Science : The Atom and its Energy—Andrade.

Fiction : The Small House at Allington—Trollope. The Warden—Trollope.

The American publication "Time", "Chess", and "Yorkshire Life" have been added to the periodicals taken.

The Society has been more popular than ever this term and many people, including junior members of the School, have taken an active part in the meetings. These were again held in the Big Hall, which has proved to be a far more suitable place than VC form-room.

The first meeting was held on Saturday, 24th January. The motion before the house was "That this House considers compulsory military service at the present time undesirable." The proposition, Mr. Piers, seconded by Wilson, said that conscription produced a less than half-trained body of men which soon became out of date, that one lost individuality in the Army and that conscription came at the most critical time in one's career. The proposition therefore considered conscription neither necessary nor desirable and suggested instead that voluntary reserve organisations should be encouraged. The opposition, Newdick, seconded by Jackson, had little faith in voluntary reserves and argued that discipline, leadership, fitness, and a broader outlook were gained from conscription, and that many of the terrible losses suffered in 1939 would have been saved by a large reserve trained under conscription.

Speeches from the floor of the house were made by Messrs. Le Tocq, Berg, Addy, Radford, Stuart, Mason, Kelsey, Cobham and Markus.

The motion was carried by 53 votes to 15.

The Society met again on Saturday, 7th February, and it was decided to hold a series of short discussions instead of a full debate.

The first of these was "That perversions of the truth are sometimes justifiable." Mr. Le Tocq, the only speaker, made an amusing speech in which he came to the very remarkable conclusion that lies to avoid trouble or to excuse oneself were entirely justifiable. .

The motion was carried by 46 votes to 53.

The next subject under discussion was "That the decline in British sport refleots the decline in Britain generally."

Speeches were made by Messrs. Radford, Speight, Markus, Harrison, Burgess, Newdick, Le Tocq, Kelsey, Jackson, Hilton, Holmes, Addy, Stuart, and Mortimer.

The chief points made were , that our sport had declined through lack of food and facilities, that sport was now a business and not a recreation, and that our sport had not declined but that other countries had produced sportsmen to compete with ours.

The motion was defeated by 13 votes to 46.

The last motion was "That communism should be outlawed." Speeches were made by Messrs. Markus, Speight, Hilton, Radford, Mortimer, Addey, Burgess, Baker, Harrison and Le Tocq.

The only argument used against the motion was that communism should not be outlawed because it was a way of thought and to forbid it would be undemocratic. Points made for the motion were that it should be outlawed as it was in itself a danger to democracy; that it should be outlawed only in cases of violence, and that as the communist party was no ordinary political one it should not be treated as such.

The motion was carried by 51 votes to 5.

The next meeting was held on Saturday, 21st February. The motion before the house was "That Englishmen were born free but are now in chains."

The proposition, J. C. Griffiths, seconded by Hilton, said that our freedom was being impaired by the number of restrictions imposed upon us. The National Health Bill, compulsory National Service and the direction of labour were given as examples of this.

Mr. L. Burgess, seconded by Markus, opposed the motion. They argued that Englishmen were never free, as only certain people enjoyed freedom at the expense of others. The employment of women in mines and of children in mills during the last century were given as examples. They also pointed out that restrictions were at the present essential to ensure reasonable liberty for all.

Speeches from the house were made by Messrs. Newdick, Graham, Jackson, Wilson, Addy, Bainton, Stuart, Trewick and Speight.

The motion was carried by 36 votes to 29.

The last meeting of term was held on Saturday, 6th March, when the house considered the motion "That scientific discovery in the past oo years has caused more misery than happiness."

Frater and Norwood proposed the motion, saying that the industrial revolution had caused much misery, that wars were becoming more and more terrible through scientific discovery, especially with the discovery of the atomic bomb, and that science had discovered many harmful drugs.

The opposition, Radford, seconded by Stuart, pointed out that science was the outcome of the natural urge of the human race to better itself. Anaesthetics and the wonders of medicine, modern travel and 'the present low infant mortality rate were given as examples of the benefits of modern scientific discoveries. They also argued that man's moral weakness was the cause of the misery and not scientific discovery.

Speeches from the floor of the house were made by Messrs. Mason, Graham, Griffiths, Waters, Jenkins, Le Tocq, Markus, Kelsey, Mortimer and Carlill.

The motion was defeated by 42 votes to 13.

At the meeting W. Graham proposed that the Society should hold meetings in the Summer Term, and on being put to the vote this suggestion was carried by a large majority. The Headmaster has agreed that one or two meetings should be held.

BRITISH SHIP ADOPTION SOCIETY

News was received at the end of term that our link with the "Mountpark" had been renewed, and the Chief Engineer, Mr. Ellis, has taken over the association which the late Captain Rickard had maintained so well since 1938. The ship was at Sydney in April and due to sail late in the month for Auckland.

We are looking forward to a renewal of our correspondence with the ship next term after a lapse of several months.

THE ART GROUP

The Group started work at the commencement of the Easter Term. Unfortunately a restricted membership had to be imposed to keep the members down to a maximum of twenty members, owing to the great difficulty in obtaining materials and the very limited space available in the Art Room.

The activities of the Group have been divided into four categories : Sculpture, Oil Painting, Book-Binding and Pottery; all as yet still in their early stages of development. The oil painters are still working on their first canvases and suffering agonies of apprehension—although several surprises have been sprung by "colourists" Baker and J. C. Griffiths. It is to be hoped that with the kind permission of the artists some of these works may be seen by the School at the end of the term.

The book-binders are making simple loose-leaf folders with quarter binding to become familiar with the technical difficulties of the craft, although Calvert has ambitiously commenced the sewing in of sections.

Clouds of chips (?) and an incessant hammering are the trade marks of the sculptors; so far they have only produced the rough shapes of their creations, but next term should see a smoothing down of the rougher edges.

The potters are still in what might be called the "sausage" stage, or making vessels by coiling strips of clay and so building up from a base.

We have had a very enjoyable term's work and are looking forward to continuing next term, when the painters are going out on excursions with Mr. Collier at week-ends in order to paint landscape "on the spot".

We would like to congratulate Watson, in the painting section, on winning the York Schools' poster competition very convincingly. in spite of some specialist competition.

THE MUSICAL SOCIETY

The Musical Society again played a very active part in this term's activities. The series of weekly gramophone recitals, played in Big Hall on the new amplifier, were continued with much success. This term, the presenting of recitals was not limited to members of the Committee as previously, and four recitals were presented by volunteer non-members.

On Monday, gth February, the whole School saw the film of Benjamin Britten's "Instruments of the Orchestra," which was greatly enjoyed and appreciated by all.

The climax of the term's activities was the presentation of the Orchestral Concert, which is dealt with elsewhere.

THE SCHOOL CONCERT, 1948

Last year, exceptionally, the School Concert was held in the Summer Term. Originally planned for the Lent Term, illness and the subsequent closing of the Junior School effectively prevented it being held in March, and it was postponed till July. This year it was given as planned on Monday, 22nd March, in Big Hall.

It is unfortunate that the dimensions of Big Hall, so perfect acoustically, do not allow for the School and parents to be present in strength at any one performance. It was necessary, therefore, to hold the Concert proper, for parents and friends of the School, in the evening, and the so-called School performance was, in reality, the Dress Rehearsal. It is no disparagement of singers or players to say that as a concert the afternoon performance was unsatisfying : for one thing the programme was turned topsy-turvy; inevitably the chorus and orchestra had to be stopped and corrected; inevitably soloists had to acclimatise themselves to the Hall; inevitably, the performers, knowing it was a rehearsal, were not "tuned up" in the way they were in the evening performance.

The notes that follow are a criticism of the Concert which took place at 6 p.m.

As before, the first part was devoted to miscellaneous items, mostly short and with a preponderance of solos. The orchestra had grown to 33 players, of whom 19, a larger proportion than last year, were

members of the School and the Staff. Of the rest, a good proportion were visiting music staff, a parent, and even one grandparent of boys now in the School. Our thanks are due to these ladies and gentlemen for all the time and energy they have given to the School. The Choral Society, too, had grown into an enthusiastic body of some 63 singers, very nearly reaching the limit of the accommodation of the alcove in Big Hall. As before, all were volunteers. On this occasion the whole chorus was obviously singing for the sheer enjoyment they got from singing, though it must be allowed that much of this enjoyment was shared by the audience. It was good to see the Junior School so well represented by 26 trebles.

The Concert opened with the National Anthem, followed by the lively Gavotte from Gretry's Opera "Cephalus and Procris" played by that part of the orchestra composed of boys and music staff. It was played firmly and perhaps rather more convincingly than the Country Dance from the same opera, which ended the first part. Ham followed this with Chopin's Polonaise in C sharp minor—delightful, easily flowing music which he played with growing confidence. The string quintet pieces, by an unknown composer, written when instrumental music was in its infancy, were more difficult to "bring off," and at times the balance between the five seemed variable and the intonation shaky. In contrast the two five-part madrigals of the same period of English musical history seemed ripely confident. They were composed by two of the greatest musicians of a great school and the culmination of a period. The voices of the Madrigal group blended well, their diction was clear, intonation good, and they in great measure captured the changing moods of their two numbers. P. J. Dennis, in the Minuet and Trio from Mozart's ever-fresh clarinet quintet, showed real ability. Carefully thought-out phrasing and delicate expression contributed to a satisfying performance. Carlill then played the Brahms G minor Ballad, having returned from being away sick, in order to keep to the programme. He tackled this technically gruelling piece with rare courage and success.

The visiting soloist for the concert was Mr. Arthur Taylor, a pupil of the late Sir Edward Bairstow. In the first half he sang, with piano accompaniment, a short group of modern descriptive songs, capturing successfully the mood of words and music. After the interval he led the Chorus and Orchestra into the wordy battles between Elijah, Ahab (Mr. E. P. Piers) and the Priests of Baal. He sang the part of Elijah with great feeling and insight, rough and dramatic in the great scenes with Ahab and the people, restrained and earnest in the moments of entreaty before the discomfiture of the prophets of Baal and in the prayers for rain in the famous scene with the Youth (M. R. Pallant) before the final chorus.

The Choral Society supported him with zest and an infectious enjoyment. From the first piercing, accusing, "Thou are Elijah," through the frenzied Baal scenes and the quiet, expressive "Cast thy

burden" to that final product of Mendelssohn's mature genius "Thanks be to God"—surely the greatest chorus he ever wrote and according to many critics the greatest chorus since Handel—the chorus sung with assurance, zeal, and as one man.

For reasons of space, the orchestra was whittled down from Mendelssohn's original scoring. Most of the wind parts were rewritten for the occasion. Mrs. Baird filled in the missing trombone parts when they were below the compass of the trumpets (who, incidentally, had noticeably improved since last year) and other bits and pieces on the piano, besides giving support where it was required. Mr. Stevens welded the orchestra, School and visitors, into an organic whale. Mr. Waine conducted.

PROGRAMME

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM PART I

Gavotte

From "Cephalus and Procris"

The School Orchestra

Piano Solo Polonaise in C sharp minor Op. 26, No. 1

R. Ham

Gretry ( 1 74 1-181 3)

Chopin (1810-1849)

String Quintet (a) Daphne British Museum M.S. (c.1625)

(b) Strawberry Leaves Violins: D. P. Norwood, D. J. Wilson, S. Daneff Viola: C. Dryden 'Cello: P. J. R. Mason Two Madrigals (a) The Silver Swan Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625) (b) All creatures now are merry minded John Benet (fl. 1600)

The Madrigal Group :

W. J. Burdass, Haxby, Hudson, O'Donnell, D. A. White, R. Hawkins,

Mold, Nicholson, Pringle, D. Thompson, Dryden, Kendell, Radford Clarinet Solo Minuet and Trio from Clarinet Quintet (k581) W. A. Mozart (1756-1791)

Clarinet: P. J. Dennis Piano: Mr. F. Waine

Piano Solo Ballad in G. minor Op. 118, No. 3

F. Carlill

Brahms (1833-1897)

Songs "Black Stitchel"

"How does the wind blow?"

Arthur Taylor

Ivor Gurney (5830-1337) C. V. Stanford (1852-1924)