JAPANESE MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 168, 15 July 1916, Page 17

JAPANESE MUSIC.

Buring the "At Home" to the Japanese officers) musical items were given by different performers. The band of. tho flagship, which had promised to assist. was prevented from being present by another engagement. Admiral Matsumura apologised for their absence, and explained that his officers would give a concerted rendering of two battle songs and the Japanese National Anthem. At a call from their chief the visitors gathered on the platform and grouped themselves in deep lines, slightly swaying from side to side to the rhythm of" the music. Then they burst into song—not what we understand by song, but a wild barbaric shout, rising harshly ou high notes, then with a sudden change of key dropping suddenly to depths of queer noises, but all the time keeping a steady sense of rhythm and a volume of sound overpowering in its intensity, till the roof of the great building rang again and again as if from organ thunder. Abruptly it broke. To our ears it was curious and chaotic, but filled with a strange barbaric realism. The Japanese National Anthem began on a low booming note and rose to a triumphal shout. The voices sounded mellow but throaty in the middle register, and dropped towards the end into falling cadences, like a deep-toned bell in perfect unison. Then it as suddenly ceased. The officer leading them sang a word or two. and was answered by a great shout.