THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 242, 12 October 1929, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

GOSSIP OF THE PLATFORM. FROM FAR AND NEAR. (By ORPHEUS.) T>he next Municipal Band concert will be given on October 19. The programme will include "Tannhauser" march, "Light Cavalry" overture, Schubert's unfinished symphony, "The Bohemian Girl," "Maritana," and "Beethoven Echoes." The vocalists engaged are Mrs. Hal C. McLennan and Mr. Wilfred Scott, both of whom are appearing for the first time at these concepts. The way of the musioian is sometimes hard. Robert Newman, who was manager of the Queen's Hall Promenade Concerts (the famous "proms") from 1895, twice ruiued himself financially in their support. His widow has just been granted a Civil list pension of 29/ a week. The New Zealand Rationalist Association will give its usual entertainment in the Majestic Theatre to-morrow evening. Appropriate musical items will be presented, and a motion picture, "Metropolis," will be shown. There will also be a short lecture on "Science and the Future," by Mr. R. F. Way.

The programme for the Aeolian Orchestra's fourth concert of the season, on November 19, will be chosen from the following numbers: —Overture, "Pique |>ainc" (Suppe); American Suite, "Serenade" and "Coontown Cadets" (Thurban); selection, "Gipsy Love" (Lehar); London Symphony, minuet and iinale (Haydn); "VVeymouth Chimes", (bells and orchestra); march, "London Scottish," and "Celtic Lament" (strings).

"Xo machine yet invented," says Francesco Borger, "has been able to originate miisic. Only the creative musician can do so, and it is the creation of music, not its transmission, which constitutes art. Modern inventions of musical appliance are ingenious, arnusing..and astonishing musical contrivances; but fall short of producing the highest attainable- result. This ■ can only be achieved by individual personal effort.

At the meeting of the Auckland -Piano Students' Association last Monday even' ing a most interesting lecture on Schumann was given by Miss Rene Satchwell. The lecturer outlined briefly the composer's life, character, and works, and by way of illustration to the account of his compositions, several pieces were played. Miss Gracie Piggot rendered extracts from "Kreisleriana," and Mies Mavis Hewson played "The Etudes Symphoniqnes." Schumann, said Miss Satchwell, was the most "literary" of all composers. He was a journalist, a poet, a humorist, a great reader, and a com-' poser of charming but very difficult piano music. To interpret Ms compositions one needed to possess general culture and poetic feeling, as well as to be a thorough lmisiciau and a first-rate technician.

That the Municipal Band concerts are increasing in popularity was evidenced by the fact that an audience of double the usual size assembled to hear the ..citizens' concert .last Saturday evening. Speaking from a disinterested point of view, I may say that I think the time has come for the City Comicil to adopt a more progressive, policy in regard to' these entertainments. it is already much to the credit of the council and citizens of Auckland that ' they should maintain an organisation of this kind. The influence of music on everyday life is a subject which has not been studied deeply as yet, but I think it is safe to say that when a fuller, understanding of the psychological aspect of music is reached, it will be accompanied by a realisation of the immense power for good in regard to community life which lies in music. This being so, it is a pity that the concerts the band do not exert a wider influence. I feel sure that if the concerts were "boosted" mor.e enthusiastically by their promoters the public would not be slow in sharing that enthusiasm..At present there are. obstacles blocking the way. The Town Hall is not.as comfortable as it might ; be, nor is its' atmosphere particularly suitable for the hearing of music. And the concerts arc not advertised as well as they should be. I am aware that some of the. necessarv reforms would involve an expenditure which is beyond the means of the council at present; but there are others which might be carried through with comparatively little cost; and that this extra expense would be balanced, by an increased attendance and by the benefit that; would.accrue to the. public, 1 for one do not doubt. Municipal .music, it cannot be urged too strongly, is a necessity, not- a luxury; arid money spent in this fashion is never spent in vain. ■ .' ■.