THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 164, 13 July 1935, Page 11 (Supplement)

THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

NOTES OF THE DAY

FROM FAR AND NEAR. (By OIIPHEUS.) John Brownlee, the Australian operatic baritone who toured the Dominion two or tliree years ago, sings in the film, "The Private Life of Don Juan." The' Bohemian Orchestra at present is rehearsing Beethoven's Symphony Ko. 7 in A Major, and Grieg's Concerto in A Minor (Op. 10), for a broadcast from the IYA studio in a few weeks' time. Paul Vinogradoff will be the pianist in the concerto. In Mr. Owen Jensen, IYA has secured a worthy successor to Mr. Eric Waters as accompanist. Mr. Jensen is also a composer and some of his compositions will be heard at the concert to be given by the Society of Musicians on Monday niglit. The next concert on the Auckland Society of Musicians' programme for the season will take place in the Overseas Club Booms on Monday evening next. This will take the form of a "Local Composers'" niglit, and it is said that a very interesting programme of instrumental and vocal numbers has been arranged. The Auckland Chamber Music Society's next concert has now been fixed definitely for Wednesday evening, August 7. The following works will be played: Quartet No. 8, Mozart; quintet. Opus SI, Anton Dvorak; quartet, Opus 7, Ernst Dohnanyi. The players will be: Haydn Murray, first violin; Carl Wliitmore, second violin; Harold Baxter, viola; Lalla Hemus, 'cello; Leo Whittaker, piano. Miss Beka Paterson, a young Auckland soprano, who has recently returned from Melbourne after two years' study of voice production, is giving a song recital in the Lewis Eady Ilall on the evening of July 23. Her programme will include operatic arias, Schubert lieder, art and modern songs, also duets. Miss Paterson will be assisted by Mr. Robert Simmers, the well-known baritone, and Mr. Alan Pow, eolo pianist and accompanist. The following interesting extract is from a book, "The Price of Pleasure," by Mr. Charles Graves: "Experts will tell you that the worst thing for the tl eatre is snow, after that comes fog and intense heat like that of last summer . . . The ideal weather from the box-office point of view is a dull day. Colli weather and rain are bad." Secretaries of musical societies would be well advised, therefore, when arranging dates for the season, to select a dull, dry day for their concerts and in the light of recent experience, avoid the month of June. The editorial in the June number of "Music in New Zealand'' takes the form of a sermon on the evils of enviousness, a failing that, unfortunately, is not unknown in the musical profession. H. 11. Tombs writes of his musical experiences in "Naziland"; Sophie Hal! concludes her series of articles entitled "What is Music?"; the editor. T. Vernon ririiiiths. in an article, "Academic Dress." urges the wearing of academic costumes on ceremonial occasions by those entitled so to do: reviews of concerts in the south, and of new music take up the rest of the issue. According to Mr. I'lunkct Greece's recently published biography, "Charles \ iliiers Stanford," JClgar was deeply hurt by the remark made by Stanford, who was an Irish Protestant with a hot temper and a caustic tongue, that Klgar's oratorios "stank of incense." In this interesting book Mr. Greene completely disproves the accusation of Mr. Bernard Shaw and others that Stanford and Parry tried to keep Elgai down. It was Stanford who recommended Elgar for his Cambridge degree in 11100 seconded liini for membership of the Athenaeum in 1903, and fought for his inclusion in the Leeds Festival programme in 1004. The biographei considers Stanford "the greatest innovator in English music since Purcell."

Americans are fond of doing things in a big way. Kecently Tulsa University, in Oklahoma, U.S.A., gave a large audi ence the unique experience of hearing 100 pianos played together by 200 players. The students were rehearsed for seven months for the performance or Tschaikowsky's popular "1812 Overture" and "Slav March" and Strauss' "Blue Danube," played by 2000 fingers in unison. To be precise, two mammoth pianos led and the others were brought in like the parts of an orchestra by the conductor. An American commentator remarks that the big show demonstrates a new idea. "Piano practice isn't really a lonesome job, Johnnie. Go to your practice now. and some day mother will get 199 other bright pupils to come over and play with you." The New Zealand Broadcasting Board is to be commended for its enterprise in engaging outside artists to broadcast from the national stations. At the same time it is not always to be complimented upon its choice. We have heard alleged comedians whose efforts wouldn't raise a laugh at the convivial meetings of our social clubs on Saturday nights —not even after the supper adjournment; we have heard sopranos who wobbled and scooped; and tenors whose repertoire appeared to be limited to popular "song hits." On the other hand, however, the board has been quite fortunate in its choice of baritones. Raymond Beatty was very satisfying, so was Alexander Browne; while the latest, Clement Q. Williams, is one of the best we have heard so far, both as regards artistry and choice of song. Some disappointment has been expressed in musical circles regarding the selection of works in the programmes recently presented by Yehudi Menuhin. Beethoven was represented only by the Turkish March from "The Ruins of Athens"; Brahms, by two hackneyed Hungarian dances; Bach, only once, although that one performance —the Partita in D Minor —was a rare musical treat. On the other hand, the lighter side of the programmes was at times somewhat suggestive of the "Dinner Music Hour." The" violinist will be passing through Auckland in August, and it is to be hoped that we may yet have another concert from him, in which there will be presented works more worthy of the player and more in accord with our standards of musical taste. Wh°n visiting musicians and their management realise that programmes that satisfy the cultural demands of Australian audiences may not always measure up to the aesthetic requirements of the Dominion, then we may begin to hope for better treatment.