REGINA MALE VOICE CHOIR 1930 – 1939
During this period much of Southern Saskatchewan was dominated by a lack of rain. Howling winds churned up blinding dust storms, grasshoppers ate everything they could find. Unemployment and poverty was everywhere. Men were ‘riding the rods! to the East to try to find work.
The Empire State Building was completed in May 1931. In May 1932 Amelia Earhart flew solo nonstop across the Atlantic. F.D. R. was elected President of the United States.
Despite the challenges of the Dirty Thirties the Regina Male Voice Choir kept the pioneering spirit alive with performances, separately and in concert with other singing groups in Regina. The RMVC’S Grand Annual Concerts continued to be held in Metropolitan Church, the F.N. Darke Hall, the Armoury and Exhibition Grounds on April 30, 1930, April 6, 1931, Märch 28, 1932 April 17, 1933, March 4, 1937 and April 10, 1939. Dan Cameron was Conductor for most of them with Cyril Hampshire leading the men on a few occasions. Accompanists were A.C.Williams, Cyril Hampshire and Mrs. W.J. Mars. Helen Davies Sherry, Soprano, was Assisting Artist for several events. Fredda Bradly, Violinist, also did the honours.
Benefit concerts were common. The Regina Rifles Regiment and RMVC got together to present benefit concerts on December 21, 1930, December 6, 1931, December 20,1931 and December 20, 1935. The Regina Philharmonic Society and RMVC also shared the stage on March 15, 1933, March 21,22 1934 and April 22, 1935.
The Leader Post Christmas Cheer Fund benefitted from the RMVC concerts on December 20, 1935 and December 18, 1938 as did the Lieutenant Governor’s Emergency Distress Fund on December 6, 1931. October 1931 through to April 1932 saw “No Fee or Collection Concerta” in the F.N.Darke Hall on the last Sunday of the month. Participating choirs were;
Metropolitan Church Choir, October 25, 1931, Regina Choral Society, November 29, 1931
Laubach Memorial Ladies* Choir, December 27, 1931, Carmichael Church Choir. January 31, 1932
Queen City Classics, February 28, 1932, Knox Church Choir, March 27, 1932
Regina Male Voice Choir, April 24, 1932
The BIG EVENT of the decade was the world’s Grain Exhibition and Conference in Regina July 24 to August 5, 1933. The Regina. Male Voice Choir participated in the massed-choir presentation of AIDA in front of the grandstand in the Exhibition Grounds under the direction of A.F.Traviu and featured soloists from New York City, Hammerstein costumes and the Traviu Symphonic Band. Dan Cameron trained vocalists for the parts of the Priests. There were many dozens of singers, from over a dozen organizations, taking part in the chorus of slave-Prisoners and the Chorus of the people. They were –
Carmichael United Church, Church of the Little Flower, Regina Philharmonic Society,
St. Mary’s Anglican Church St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, St. Mary’s Cathedral,
Metropolitan United Church, St. Peter’s Anglican Church Queen City Classics Male Voice Choir,
Regina Ladies’ Choir, First Baptist Church, St. Andrew’s United Church First Presbyterian Church,
Holy Rosary Cathedral, Knox United church, St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral Regina Choral society,
Westminster United Church, Regina Male Voice Choir
Somewhere in this picture are many of the members of the Regina Male Voice Choir singing their hearts out as part of the Chorus of Slave Prisoners or the Chorus of The People.
An added attraction was when Frank Hawks flew his Northrop Gamma non-stop from New York City to Regina to officially opened the world’s Grain Exhibition and conference when he landed at the Regina Airport on July 30, 1933.
Some of the musical selections presented during this decade were –
It Comes From The Misty Ages The Heavens Are Telling Hale Bright Abode Hallelujah
Song of the Jolly Roger Evening Pastoral Lullaby Scotch March The Wanderer Full Fathom Five
Music When Soft Voices Die LO, How A Rose Jesu Unto Thee Be Praise Excerpts From Mikado
The Lord High Executioner Bonney Was A Warrior Hope The Hornblower The Desert Song
It Was A Lover And His Lass Steal Away We Be Soldiers Three The Spirit Flower
When World War II began many members of the RMVC enlisted. With fewer members most of its functions were charity events with other musical groups in support of the war effort.
Membership in 1930 – 84. Membership in 1939 – 39.