THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 249, 21 October 1933, Page 7 (Supplement)

THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

DIAPASONS AND ECHOES.

FROM FAR AND NEAR,

(By ORPHEUS.)

The classic chosen to be broadcast from IYA at 2 p.m. to-morrow, will J>e Brahms' Second Symphony, Opus 73, in D Major, one of the most popular of his symphonic works. The soloists for the Municipal Choir's production of the first act of Wagner's "Lohengrin," 011 October 28, will be "Elsa," Miss Freda Evans; "Lohengrin," Mr. Roger Erriugton; "The King," Mr. J. T. Gibson. A weird misprint from a musical paper: "The subject was "l'lie Wierd in Music,' a topic which was handled in an able manner by Mr. Karl Atkinson.' Surely the compositor lost his chance here, for, although Mr. Atkinson is connected officially with "wireless," the ■appropriate misprint should have been "Wired." • The Classic Club's eighth meeting, held last Tuesday evening, drew the usual large attendance of music lovers. A long and interesting programme, capably carried out by all the performers, was appreciated to the full. The items presented covered a wide range, and were well chosen. This young club is doing excellent work in improving musical taste, by maintaining consistently a high standard in its selection of works for performance, and it is therefore very encouraging to know that its efforts are meeting with such success. Beethoven's Trio in D Major, Opus 70, No. 1, which is to be played by Mr. Ilaydu Murray, violin, Miss Lalla Hemus, 'cello, and Miss Dora Judson, piano, at the Auckland Chamber Music Society's next concert on November 13, is best known for its enchanting slow movement, the "largo assai ed expressivo," one of the most wonderful ex-, positions- of melancholy in all Beethoven's works. It has a mystic character which has given the whole trio the nickname of the "Geister-trio," "Ghost Trio," and it may be no mere chance that the first studies for this largo arc found on the same sheet of paper which contains the sketch in D Minor for "Macbeth." Particular interest is attached to the performance of Corelli's beautiful "Christmas Concerto" (No. 8), by the Bohemian Orchestra next month, for its composer, Arcangclo Corelli (born 1653), stands before the world as the first mature composer of violin music, and the fountain head of modern violin playing. His works mark the turning point when the struggles and experiments of the seventeenth century blossomed into the maturity of genuine instrumental music, establishing the principle of grouping of contrasted movements, sometimes even venturing so far as to allow the contrast to extend to change of key. All Corelli's concertos contain passages of real vigour and healthy vitality, and adagios of very characteristic beauty and delicate tex r • turc, eminently tuneful. The Pastorale is one of the most attractive of his movements.

Writing to a friend i:i Auckland, Mr. Peter Dawson, who returned to England "by the Oram a, says that he has been invited to .eturn to Australia next year to sing at the opening of the War Memorial at Melbourne on Armistice Day, November 11, 1934. He probably will also broadcast from the principal Australian stations, r.nd, possibly, from some ox the stations in New Zealand. In his letter the popular baritone mentions also that, in return for the great reception given liiui by the people of Sydney, at the nine concerts there presented, he gave a concert, the proceeds of which, amounting to over £230, were divided among various Sydney charities. Tlio principal feature of the October meeting of the Academic Club was .a talk given by Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Morris upon their "Experiences during musical study in Germany." In addition, the following programme was presented: —Songs, "Tears," "Moonlight," "Love Song" (Schumann), "Serenade" (Strauss), sung by Miss Dulcie Hughson; piano quartets, Weber's "Polonaise Brilliant," played by the Misses Crook, Hammond, Armour and Mr. Max Bretnail, and Brahms' "Hungarian Dance" No. 0, played by the Misses Holmes, Wilson, Hulse and Orme; piano solo, "Fantasie" (Beethoven), played by Miss Freda Crook; strings and piano, "Turkish March" (Beethoven); First Movement, Concerto for two violins and piano (Bach), played by Miss Daphne Higham and Mr. and Mrs. Morris. Miss Dorothy Mills gave "Impressions of Schubert," and the Misses Patricia Boyle and Kohonui Simeon presented two "Dances Characteristic," (a) Hungarian Bell Dance, (b) German Folk Dance. A brief description of the organ which is being installed in the new church built for the members of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Symonds Street, may interest music lovers. This organ was originally built for Mr. Alfred Trenwith, Otahuhu, by Mr. George Croft, -organ builder, at a cost of £2500. Early this year the complete organ was purchased by a church member and presented for use in the new building. In. adapting the instrument to its new position, the_ opportunity has been taken to bring it thoroughly up to date, and it will therefore be equipped with every modern mechanical and tonal improvement. The original action,, which was tubular-pneumatic throughout, has been converted to electro-pneumatic. The organ contains three manuals, 29 speaking stops and 1003 pipes. The speaking stops are grouped as follow:—Great organ, 8 stops; swell, 10 stops; choir, 7 stops; pedal, 4 stops. There are also 3 tremulant, 9 couplers, 12 piston, 8 combination pedals, 2 swell pedals. The tonal scheme has been redesigned to give the maximum power necessary for the size of the building, together with the variety of tone colour desirable for the various roles the organ will be called 011 to fulfil. A new duleiana stop is being added to the pedal organ, and this will contribute to making this instrument an outstanding example of the New Zealand organ builder's art, not so much for size as for real, lasting beauty. The wind will be provided by a direct coupled electric blowing plant. The starting and stopping of the plant will be by push-button control direct from the console.