THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 137, 11 June 1932, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

DIAPASONS AND ECHOES.

FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(By ORPHEUS.)

Mr. Harvey Brandt, an American composer, makes an intriguing suggestion; he urges that, as a counter-offensive, musicians should be permitted to print in the daily papers what they thought of the reviews. This idea opens up some interesting possibilities.

The second of tlie series of organ recitals to be given this year by the newly-appointed honorary city organiets will take place on Saturday evening, June 18. The organist on this occasion will be Mr. Arthur E. Wilson. An interestiii" and varied programme will be presented, one that leaves the beaten track to a large extent. Amongst the bio-ger works will be Prelude and Fugue in C. Minor (J. S.Badi), Gustav Mcrkele Organ Sonata Xo. 0. One of the most popular items should be Siboliue' tonepoem, "Finlandia." The assisting artists will be Miss Phyllie Gribbin, contralto, and Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Bailey, who will give elocutionary items.

Mrs. J. F. Woodward, the well-known Wellington soprano, who, it may be remembered, sang here in the " Messiah " some, years ago, put up a remarkable performance in the Koyal Wellington Choral Union's "Eaust" concert given recently. Miss Teresa McEnroe, who was to have sung the part of Marguerite, was suddenly seized with influenza, and it was only at 2 o'clock on the day of the" concert that Mrs. Woodward was asked to take her place. Despite the fact that she had never sung the part of Marguerite before, Mrs. Woodward very sportingly came to the rescue, and accomplished what the critic of the "Dominion" justly describes as " an amazing achievement."

Mr. Fred Prime, the veteran doublebass player, lias been accorded the honour of being elected a life member of tho Bohemian Orchestra, with which organisation he lias been associated ever sinco its inception 18 years ago. Mr. Prime has accomplished a wonderful record in our city's musical life, ono that hardly could be equalled anywhere. H« has played in the Auckland Choral Society's Orchestra for over 03 years, dating back to tho time when tho late Mr. Vincent Kico was conductor, and, during that lengthy period, has only missed playing in two concerts! Truly a line example to the younger generation, and an outstanding record of long and faithful service to the cause of good music, of which both Mr. Prime and his fellow citizens should be proud.

Complaint liae been made before, in these columns, about the number of hackneyed items presented in the programmes given here by visiting artists, fudging from the following, taken from "The Tiniee" of March 20, this grievance seems to be universal: "Not only conductors, but pianists and fiddlers, and even singers (though they have the least possible excuse) are apt, when they reach the stage of becoming international celebrities, to go about the world all conducting, playing and singing very much the same music in order to display their personal capacities in contrast to others of the same class. As a result the repertory gets poorer and the concert room duller, the more visiting artists are employed. That tendency is one cause of all that rather petty bickering so prevalent lately about the admission of foreign artists to one country or another. Too often they bring with them nothing but themselves. If it were understood that a German artist of whatever class came to England to bring the latest and best of German music, and a Briton going to America of necessity carried with him the product of his country, we should hear less of tariff walls and barred frontiers impeding artistic progress." Commenting upon this in "The Listener" of April 6, Harvey Grace remarks: "The soloists are perhaps the worst offenders. To judge from their programmes, one would suppose that the repertory of the pianoforte, for example, was limited to about a couple of dozen soloe."

"The Italians have a proverb that lie who can breathe can sing," said the judge of the vocal section at the Christchurch Competitions, Mr. Will Hutch ens, recently. "Students of singing should remember that without correct breathing control, they cannot sing properly. The breath, by its action on the vocal chords, ie the motive force, in the same way that petrol is used in the carburetter of an engine. The maintenance of a compact, buoyant column of air is necessary to sustain tone and to maintain the pitch. Clavicular breathing, which consists of raising the shoulders, is frequently the cause of faulty singing, and competitors should aim to develop a natural rise and fall of the diaphragm."

Miss Molly Atkinson, late of Auckland, took the parts of Sicbel and Martha in the Royal Wellington Choral Union's recent concert production of Gounod's "Faust," and created an excellent impression. The " Dominion," in its review of the concert, says: "A very liiiis^ u d and cultured singer was revealed in Miss Molly Atkinson, a performer new to Wellington, who sang the music allotted to the youth Siebcl and tho old dame Martha with equal ease and charm. Miss Atkinson is a. dramatic soprano of rich, golden quality, and her voice was under perfect control. Her singing of the 'Flower Song' was one of the features of the evening." Another Auckland singer, Mr. W. B. Brough, also received praise for his singing. Mr. Brough took the part of Valentine, and was described as "a vibrant baritone of strong, even quality, and a range which the music of Valentine did not test."

There will be a lull in musical circles, at least, so far as the larger musical fiocietiee are concerned, until about the middle of July. In the meanwhile, however, several recitals are to be given by m-oupe of some of our younger artist-,. Judrin" from last year's experience, these -concerts should be very cirjbyable, and something to look forward to with pleasurable anticipation.