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The Lieder March 2025
Tue, 11 Mar 2025Printable version
The Lieder
Newsletter for the Christchurch Liedertafel Male Voice Choir.
Issue 9
March 2025
Editorial
Well unfortunately autumn is here and summer was a poor rendition fading into the past. Where did all those balmy summer nights go, sitting out after a BBQ in a warm breeze till late? I don’t think we had any, did we? Well, the year is advancing and our new facility is working well. I think the selection of music has led to resounding success at our rehearsals and the learning has been quite rapid, while enjoying what we are singing, and grasping the songs well. I look forward to rejoining you again as we move towards the concert. Thomas’s notes are a timely reminder of Anzac Day approaching and of our participation. It is a great thrill to be asked to perform at the dawn service when you consider all the choirs in Christchurch that could have been asked. Please consider your attendance as it is a great experience to be a part of.
Dates for your Diary
- Concert dates 2025
- May 4th, Aug 10th, Nov 30th
Choir Profiles
Jeff Hadfield
I am Jeff Hadfield a second tenor with LMVC for 10 years. Originally sang with a MVC in South Yorkshire UK for 30 y3ars. When my wife and I came to live here, the Liedertafel was a must for me, and I enjoy the fun, camaraderie, inspiring music and strong leadership. Singing provides a release from all other thoughts, an outpouring of pent-up emotions and the concerts are amongst the highlights if our year… do try it !!
Notes from the Podium
At our most recent committee meeting, we discussed our participation in the upcoming ANZAC Dawn Service. As we prepare for this significant event, we reflect on the importance of honouring those who have served and sacrificed. The Christchurch Liedertafel has a longstanding tradition of contributing to this solemn occasion—dating back to the announcement of the First World War, when the choir was invited to lead the public in patriotic songs, and again at the declaration of the war’s end.
This year, we will once again perform Pōkarekare Ana, a cherished Māori love song that has become a staple in our repertoire. Written around the time of World War I, its themes of longing and devotion resonate profoundly in remembrance ceremonies. Alongside this, we will sing Advance Australia Fair and God Defend New Zealand, as well as Eternal Father, adapted with lyrics associated with the army services. We are also preparing Dan Forrest’s arrangement of Great Is Thy Faithfulness, a hymn of reflection and gratitude that feels especially fitting for the occasion.
As we gather in the pre-dawn light, let us lend our voices to these melodies with the depth, expression, and dignity they deserve. This is a moment to honour, remember, and connect through music—something we are privileged to contribute to each year.
On a side note.
A Vintage Maxwell in Annat
By Donald L Wright
This story is about an affair with a 1921 Maxwell motorcar that has spent some 80 years in and around the country village of Annat, located west of Sheffield on state highway 73 in Canterbury.
It is also about the people that have assisted with the car’s continuing restoration, and their professional ability to adapt and create parts that are not even available in the Vintage Car Club swap meets or parts sheds. The social aspect of a rural men’s shed has considerable influence over acceptable restoration, lubricated with a good Scottish dram complemented with pure Annat / Waddington water, all part of mature aged rural dwellers.
I find it remarkable that to date there appears there is no other surviving 1921 Maxwell on planet earth with a roadster body the same as this hidden gem.
The Maxwell was a genuine ‘barn find’ in Ellis (Jim) Searles shed on Searles Road, Annat, at around 1959 by my father George Wright.
It was originally imported and sold by Todd Motors to a W D Abrahams of Whitecliffs in 1925. I am thinking it may have taken time to convert to right hand drive and ship to NZ accounting for the missing three years.
Jim Searle had acquired it about 1940 and had driven it extensively.
George had rounded up the author at the age of 10 to steer this acquisition home from Jim’s dilapidated farm shed. Over the years the car had been the resting place for a multitude of obsolete farm equipment gathering leaves, dust and dirt.
My mother could not believe her eyes just what was entering the front gate under tow, and there certainly were some comments that were not at all helpful, especially when parked beside the newly purchased 1955 Chevrolet family car.
There was a certain mystique, aged, and used smell about the car in its very dilapidated state. A simple roadster, unique with wooden wheels and this black fold down hood. Unfortunately, the original rear axle had been replaced with a Whippet of smaller size wheels. Folk law has it that the original was discarded as considered poorly built.
A basic restoration including new hood, side curtains, paint and a replacement Oakland rear axle including the wooden wheels was carried out around 1961.
The Maxwell considered roadworthy had entered the Canterbury VCC Irishman rally around 1962 with my father George driving and Pat Keating navigating. Pat Keating incidentally, the late Patron of the NZ Vintage Machinery Club was a huge figure amongst the Canterbury vintage movement. A true gentleman in every respect. The Machinery Club Park at McLeans Island Christchurch is named after him.
The ‘Irishman’ must have been quite a challenge for the Maxwell’s occupants after an extremely cold winter night in the Irishman Creek Station woolshed. No doubt there was the best Scottish antifreeze on hand to help offset the cold, but story has it these two Maxwell competitors were blasted with dust and gravel by a vintage Bentley!
This was the enthusiast’s turning point, the focus was now on these old English racers.
Maxwell was given the push to the back of George’s shed behind some recently purchased vintage Bentley parts acquired from Andrew Anderson’s Hackthorne Road shed. Here was my opportunity to learn, experiment with, and enjoy vintage engines and the Maxwell prior to me being licensed to drive. Once one could drive there were more important and faster cars that had appeal! Beside a few family events, friend’s parties, and a Lion’s Club event the Maxwell was yet again pushed to the back of the shed.
Summarising at this point there was a lot of restoration work required to just get it on the road plus the interior woodwork was collapsing.
The mechanical state was poor especially this adapted Oakland rear axle. The worst feature was the rear wooden spokes were about to also collapse. It was time to call in Vern Jensen (Aotearoa Wooden Wheels) to replace the spokes. The workmanship of Vern is nothing but amazing using hickory and when the hub is removed, they remain intact. After applying marine varnish, enthusiasm leapt to another level, energising one to move forward with a worthwhile project.
Next step was to dissemble the car and sand blast, this is where a ground up job was started. Good friend Bob Scott of Waddington, he has vintage car restoration is in his DNA, took this on board and then replaced all the crumbling body woodwork.
I took all the mechanical parts home; the idea was to clean up and rebuild or replace where necessary, being a farmer and having experience with agricultural machinery, maintenance, and fabrication, this job seemed straight forward enough.
Starting on the Oakland differential being not the original and not in particularly good shape, a tooth missing on the crown wheel and all four bearings worn out this was to be mission almost impossible. Pipes Engineering in Annat was a good starting place and how appropriate, but better still Graeme the owner, made a statement ‘we can fix anything in Annat you know.’ Talk about enthusiastic - yes, he welded a tooth back into the crown wheel. Time will tell but from all accounts the men’s shed team ‘rubber stamped’ the implant! Graeme also built up and re-bushed all shackles, steering joints, and front kingpins. I am full of admiration for my Annat engineering expert.
As a matter of course there is axle bearing replacement next. Graham Gibson a retired Darfield Service Station owner and a men’s shed participant believed there maybe some of these large rollers in the Canterbury VCC parts shed at McLeans Island. Well as luck would have it and a bit of guidance from that team, Graham dug out from the depths of their bearing rack four almost new bearings - simply put ‘a monumental find’ amazing - WOW - this is pure vintage excitement.
This now completes the parts for the diff and with Graham's guidance we meshed the pinion successfully into the crown wheel a small step that meant a lot to me as an ever so slightly bent agricultural engineer.
Taking that a tad further my son Stephen, wound up his heavy industrial farm lathe and turned out a couple of cast brake drums, cast some years ago replacing the worn Oakland all steel misfits. My lathe experience was back in 1965 at a school workshop, but being basic I was in awe as how Stephen rolled out these masterpieces of brake power. A true father son moment!
To complement the lathe experience, I needed a set of alloy hub caps as there were only two with the words Maxwell written across the nut like face. The other two had of course Oakland written on them.
Enter Rex Walker a talented Waddington (a local) back shed engineer who spends most of his time building small Traction Engines and associated small farm implements. Out came four beautifully built hub caps made from blank alloy, all threaded, lathed out with an original sized nut cut out with Maxwell written across the face. I have no other words but simply WOW! When I thought that was over, he took the old Oakland hubs and copied the original Maxwell front to match the rear. Rex your talent is simply incredible.
Again, Bob Scott has been a godsend with preparation and painting. His advice and tutoring have made remarkably interesting shed evening’s where together with others mentioned have sorted Maxy issues and anything else that was wrong with the world. Just simply a true ‘summer wine’ experience - that the journey getting there is the exciting bit.
I now have an opportunity to clean up and paint the chassis. This seamed simple enough but after six coats of spray painting, I am slowly getting it together. My thoughts were that I should have a go with this two-pot mix on the mechanical bits and then progress to painting the body. Finding a dust free, warm - but not too hot environment then adjusting the air / paint viscosity mixture is something the word ‘difficult’ has a whole new meaning!
That is without filling panels and sanding smooth. I now have deep respect for these tradesmen, and patience is certainly a virtue.
There are results I am proud of but there is a long way to go!
More men’s shed meetings - oh but there’s politics, the Irishman rally, the council, farming, the weather and just where are we motoring too next. This is why my restoration is at snail's pace. Who cares - sometimes not even me.
But lads, the next step with Maxy - how do I find out how the rear brakes operate from the pedal -- important one would assume.
No real answers from ‘the shed’ again side tracked into another boy’s vintage car high-country adventure.
A sudden thought - I know, a visit to Kathryn Smiths shed - she had a Maxwell completely restored.
Camera in hand problem solved, together with a few other forgotten components that need positioning including the speedo drive off the front wheel. WOW another eureka moment that extends enthusiasm for vintage restoration and understanding just how clever the engineering was in 1920.
Can I just say at this point Kathyrn suggested to write of this story and given her passion for vintage autos one felt a duty.
There will be more as this is ‘a working progress’, the Maxy will still be there long after we have raced, rallied, and retired, but in the next decade or two, one gains a feeling of accomplishment, respect, pride, and fellowship with mates second to none. There is also my wife Jenny who has always been there with words of inspiration and encouragement, attending rallies and events despite how cold these old cars can be with the air conditioning always on full cold!
As for Annat, well it was a historic town back in the late 19th century that had a church, hall, shop, school, police station, railway siding, creamery, and the most important pub, where the Cobb and Co horses were changed. It now has few residents, one defunct streetlight, a heap of talent and if you blink whilst passing through you will certainly miss it.
Humour
- Get some roosters for eggs
Then you will see that gender does matter.
- We are living in a generation that would unplug your life support to charge their cell phone.
- Being 20 in the seventies was much more fun than being 70 in the twenties!!
- I see people my age out there climbing mountains, parachuting, running marathons, all the while I am feeling good about getting my leg through my underwear without losing my balance
- I would like to share a personal experience with my friends about drinking and driving. This might save you the cost and embarrassment of being arrested for DUI.
Table of Contents
The Lieder February 2025
Tue, 18 Feb 2025Printable version
The Lieder
Newsletter for the Christchurch Liedertafel Male Voice Choir.
Issue 8
February 2025
Editorial
We are rocking into 2025 and things are going well at practice. The new rooms are working well and at a greatly reduced cost. Please be mindful that with the great acoustics Thomas can hear everything but amplified. Yes, even practising your tenor part when he is taking the basses. Please refrain from talking during these sectionals as it is also loud and off putting, if not downright rude and disrespectful to the MD.
The choir is going through a tough time financially and strength-wise. We have been lucky to gain 4-5 new members and this has been a great help. A few of the Board have been working hard to get us back up out of the mire and have committed many hours in pursuit of this. There are now between 30 and 40 members and this is your choir so please stand up, help out and contribute. Whether it be helping to get our tickets designed, printing done in a cost-effective manner, distributing flyers, ideas to reduce our costs, selling the idea of subscriber to a friend, bringing along a potential singer, taking more than four tickets to sell for the concert, or even sending me something to put in the news letter - everything helps. If nothing else, stop sitting on your hands doing nothing, get them dirty and lets get this Choir back up where it used to be. Share the load by giving us a hand. Thanks.
MM
Dates for your Diary
Choir Profiles
Richard Burtt joined the Liedertafel Choir fifteen years ago. He sang in the Christchurch City Choir some years earlier and the Liedertafel gave him the opportunity to enjoy regular singing, good manageable music , great company amongst the members and pleasure from the three public concerts the choir gives annually .Singing is good for everyone's phycological, mental and physical health and the music, changing as it does for each concert, provides him interesting challenges and exposure to new thinking, cultures and covers life's experiences and richness. He sees that the Liedertafel Choir is open to anyone wanting to have these good things.
Notes from the Podium
Our rehearsals in the new venue are going really well, and it's been great to hear the energy and enthusiasm in the singing of our repertoire for Encore! One piece that stands out is The Impossible Dream, a song that embodies perseverance and aspiration, originally from Man of La Mancha. The arrangement we’re singing is beautifully crafted for choral voices, allowing the harmonies to swell with a sense of grandeur and purpose. The choir sounds fantastic on it—it really plays to our strengths, with a rich, expressive sound that captures the heart of the piece.
And speaking of theatrical flair—I recently performed as Ernesto Goat in The Billy Goats Gruff for Toi Toi, which was a delightfully chaotic experience! Performing in the open-air setting of the Arts Centre Quad added an extra layer of fun, and the joy of introducing young audiences to opera made it all worthwhile. Whether in Man of La Mancha or as a melodramatic goat, the magic of music remains the same—it’s all about storytelling, connection, and a bit of theatrical energy.
Teaching could be considered a performative art, and I’ve been settling into teaching at St Andrew’s College, which has been really rewarding so far. Working mostly with Year 9 students (3rd form), there’s something special about introducing music to students—whether it’s rhythm games, singing, or more practical music-making. I’m enjoying the challenge of making music accessible and enjoyable for them all, and I’m looking forward to seeing their confidence grow throughout the year.
Regards
Thomas
On a side note.
The Liedertafel Board
You will probably know that the choir has a group of members that looks after the governance of the choir but you may be interested in how that all works.
Under our constitution, the board is elected at each annual meeting. Thomas is a member of the board as of right, by virtue of being our musical director, and the elected members are Colin Heinz (president), Mark Mulholland (vice president), Lindsay Strang (secretary), Chris Carter (librarian), John Yates(treasurer), John Dunford and Andrew Earl. There are regular monthly meetings throughout the year and occasional informal huddle meetings, normally at our half-time breaks, when something needs immediate consideration.
The constitution needs to be very formal and is lodged with Charities Services. We have a Certificate of Incorporation that is issued by the NZ Companies Office. As we changed our constitution during last year, we have a new certificate dated 30 October 2024.
There are various powers and responsibilities that the constitution prescribes, such as looking after the choir’s assets and enabling it to engage in leases. In terms of assets, we own our piano, have cash in the bank and a stock of music that is housed in a storage area in Riccarton. Magically, our concert staging arrives at each concert on our trailer that is also housed in the storage unit.
Most meetings follow a standard format with reports from each board member on their particular area of responsibility.
With recent concerns over the choir’s income versus expenditure, there has been emphasis put on increasing our profile and looking towards new members. The new web site (www.liedertafel.nz) and Facebook page are pillars of the marketing effort along with the invitation for us to bring a mate to our special guest night in March. Our move away from Rangi Ruru for rehearsals is also financially driven.
If you have any questions or suggestions then please approach any one of the board listed above. We are there to try and achieve the best for the choir.
JY
Humour
A doctor that had been seeing an 80-year-old woman for most of her life finally retired. At her next checkup, the new doctor told her to bring a list of all the medicines that had been prescribed for her. As the doctor was looking through these his eyes grew wide as he realised Grandma had a prescription for birth control pills.
"Mrs. Smith, do you realise these are birth control pills?"
"Yes, they help me sleep at night."
"Mrs. Smith, I assure you there is absolutely nothing in these that could possibly help you sleep!"
She reached out and patted the young doctor's knee and said, "Yes, dear, I know that. But every morning, I grind one up and mix it in the glass of orange juice that my 16-year-old Granddaughter drinks. And believe me it definitely helps me sleep at night.
An elderly, but hardy cattleman from Texas once told a young female neighbour that if she wanted to live a long life, the secret was to sprinkle a pinch of gunpowder on her oatmeal each morning. She did this religiously and lived to the ripe old age of 103. She left behind 14 children, 30 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren and a 40-foot HOLE where the crematorium used to be.
Newsletter for the Christchurch Liedertafel Male Voice Choir.
Issue 8
February 2025
Editorial
We are rocking into 2025 and things are going well at practice. The new rooms are working well and at a greatly reduced cost. Please be mindful that with the great acoustics Thomas can hear everything but amplified. Yes, even practising your tenor part when he is taking the basses. Please refrain from talking during these sectionals as it is also loud and off putting, if not downright rude and disrespectful to the MD.
The choir is going through a tough time financially and strength-wise. We have been lucky to gain 4-5 new members and this has been a great help. A few of the Board have been working hard to get us back up out of the mire and have committed many hours in pursuit of this. There are now between 30 and 40 members and this is your choir so please stand up, help out and contribute. Whether it be helping to get our tickets designed, printing done in a cost-effective manner, distributing flyers, ideas to reduce our costs, selling the idea of subscriber to a friend, bringing along a potential singer, taking more than four tickets to sell for the concert, or even sending me something to put in the news letter - everything helps. If nothing else, stop sitting on your hands doing nothing, get them dirty and lets get this Choir back up where it used to be. Share the load by giving us a hand. Thanks.
MM
Dates for your Diary
- 10th March Sing along night. Everyone bring along a friend who might be a potential singer, or perhaps a concert attendee or subscriber.
- Concert dates 2025
- May 3rd, Aug 10th and Nov 30th (this one to be confirmed)
Choir Profiles
Richard Burtt joined the Liedertafel Choir fifteen years ago. He sang in the Christchurch City Choir some years earlier and the Liedertafel gave him the opportunity to enjoy regular singing, good manageable music , great company amongst the members and pleasure from the three public concerts the choir gives annually .Singing is good for everyone's phycological, mental and physical health and the music, changing as it does for each concert, provides him interesting challenges and exposure to new thinking, cultures and covers life's experiences and richness. He sees that the Liedertafel Choir is open to anyone wanting to have these good things.
Notes from the Podium
Our rehearsals in the new venue are going really well, and it's been great to hear the energy and enthusiasm in the singing of our repertoire for Encore! One piece that stands out is The Impossible Dream, a song that embodies perseverance and aspiration, originally from Man of La Mancha. The arrangement we’re singing is beautifully crafted for choral voices, allowing the harmonies to swell with a sense of grandeur and purpose. The choir sounds fantastic on it—it really plays to our strengths, with a rich, expressive sound that captures the heart of the piece.
And speaking of theatrical flair—I recently performed as Ernesto Goat in The Billy Goats Gruff for Toi Toi, which was a delightfully chaotic experience! Performing in the open-air setting of the Arts Centre Quad added an extra layer of fun, and the joy of introducing young audiences to opera made it all worthwhile. Whether in Man of La Mancha or as a melodramatic goat, the magic of music remains the same—it’s all about storytelling, connection, and a bit of theatrical energy.
Teaching could be considered a performative art, and I’ve been settling into teaching at St Andrew’s College, which has been really rewarding so far. Working mostly with Year 9 students (3rd form), there’s something special about introducing music to students—whether it’s rhythm games, singing, or more practical music-making. I’m enjoying the challenge of making music accessible and enjoyable for them all, and I’m looking forward to seeing their confidence grow throughout the year.
Regards
Thomas
On a side note.
The Liedertafel Board
You will probably know that the choir has a group of members that looks after the governance of the choir but you may be interested in how that all works.
Under our constitution, the board is elected at each annual meeting. Thomas is a member of the board as of right, by virtue of being our musical director, and the elected members are Colin Heinz (president), Mark Mulholland (vice president), Lindsay Strang (secretary), Chris Carter (librarian), John Yates(treasurer), John Dunford and Andrew Earl. There are regular monthly meetings throughout the year and occasional informal huddle meetings, normally at our half-time breaks, when something needs immediate consideration.
The constitution needs to be very formal and is lodged with Charities Services. We have a Certificate of Incorporation that is issued by the NZ Companies Office. As we changed our constitution during last year, we have a new certificate dated 30 October 2024.
There are various powers and responsibilities that the constitution prescribes, such as looking after the choir’s assets and enabling it to engage in leases. In terms of assets, we own our piano, have cash in the bank and a stock of music that is housed in a storage area in Riccarton. Magically, our concert staging arrives at each concert on our trailer that is also housed in the storage unit.
Most meetings follow a standard format with reports from each board member on their particular area of responsibility.
With recent concerns over the choir’s income versus expenditure, there has been emphasis put on increasing our profile and looking towards new members. The new web site (www.liedertafel.nz) and Facebook page are pillars of the marketing effort along with the invitation for us to bring a mate to our special guest night in March. Our move away from Rangi Ruru for rehearsals is also financially driven.
If you have any questions or suggestions then please approach any one of the board listed above. We are there to try and achieve the best for the choir.
JY
Humour
A doctor that had been seeing an 80-year-old woman for most of her life finally retired. At her next checkup, the new doctor told her to bring a list of all the medicines that had been prescribed for her. As the doctor was looking through these his eyes grew wide as he realised Grandma had a prescription for birth control pills.
"Mrs. Smith, do you realise these are birth control pills?"
"Yes, they help me sleep at night."
"Mrs. Smith, I assure you there is absolutely nothing in these that could possibly help you sleep!"
She reached out and patted the young doctor's knee and said, "Yes, dear, I know that. But every morning, I grind one up and mix it in the glass of orange juice that my 16-year-old Granddaughter drinks. And believe me it definitely helps me sleep at night.
An elderly, but hardy cattleman from Texas once told a young female neighbour that if she wanted to live a long life, the secret was to sprinkle a pinch of gunpowder on her oatmeal each morning. She did this religiously and lived to the ripe old age of 103. She left behind 14 children, 30 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren and a 40-foot HOLE where the crematorium used to be.
