THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

NOTES OF THE DAY. FROM FAR AND NEAR, (By ORPHEUS.) Joseph. Szigeti is playing in New York at the present time. Yehudi Menuhin was to give his first concert after returning to England on December 1 in the Albert Hall. A lecture entitled "The Romance of Song" is to be given by Mr. Roland Foster in the Lewis Eady Hall on February 5. Congratulations are due to Miss Hinenioa Rosieur for having earned tlie I enviable distinction of being awarded the Melba scholarship for another year, and without competition. "It is not true that the large majority of the listening public is not enamoured of the finest music. If my years of broadcasting have taught me nothing else, they have brought out that fact very definitely. Give the people the best and they learn to appreciate it. Teach them that music is a language they can understand and they will love it and revel in it." —Walter Damrosch. One of the most artistic of visiting singers heard from the National stations is the Sydney vocalist, Mr. Clement Q. Williams. Mr. Williams has a very pleasant high baritone voice, which he uses very tastefully, together with a' knowledge of "microphone technique," gained evidently from a wide experience of broadcasting, while his programmes are always botli interesting and unhackneyed. When Yehudi Menuhin visited Auckland his father informed the writer that his son's recordings were very often much better than his concert performances, for the reason that the record would be the pick of the best of a number of playings of the composition. Now a famous violinist is quoted as having said: "If only the public knew how much better a recorded performance is than those they hear in the concert room they'd spend all their money on records and give up attending concerts."

The many well-wishers of Miss Leila Bloy, who left ttiis week for Melbourne, where she is to study at the University Conservatorium of Music, will doubtless watch her future carcer with great interest. Shortly before her departure, the young violinist presented a recital from the IYA studio and gave a most brilliant display of virtuosity in a wellcontrasted programme. Her studies in Melbourne will be under the supervision of the noted violinist, Mr. Tossy Spivakovsky, who was very favourably impressed by her performance at an audition given by Trim to Miss Bloy j recently.

Dr. Edgar Bainton, the director of the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music, is to hold a summer school of music hero on January 27, 28 and 30. Two lecture-recitals will be given daily in the university hall, to which all registered music teachers will be admitted without charge. These recitals will deal with music at various periods and will include talks upon the works of Bach, Handel, Scarlatti and several modern composers as well. Anyone wanting full information about this movement should apply to Miss Ethel Hammond, who will be the secretary in charge. Dr. Bainton will hold a similar school in Wellington about a week earlier than the above dates.

Soprano voices are generally considered to be the least suited for broadcast purposes. There are, however, exceptions to the rule—if it can he called one—and one of these is the lyric soprano voice of Miss Beatrice Pugh, the Brisbane singer who was heard in recitals recently from the IYA and 2YA studios. Although described as an Australian vocalist, Miss Pugh is of English birth, but went to Australia when she was 15. For the last two years she has been studying London under Sir Henry Wood. In that period Miss Pugh was successful in obtaining a number of engagements with the 8.8.C., due, no doubt, to the suitability of her voice for broadcast purposes as well as her patent artistry. It is to be hoped that later on we will have a return visit from this charming singer.

The Municipal authorities will soon have to make a decision regarding the appointment of a bandmaster to the post left vacant by the retirement of Mr. George Buckley. There should not be any necessity to go far afield to find .a suitable man. In Auckland at the present time there is a musician fully qualified to conduct a military band, both as regards experience and ability. However, it is to be hoped that, whoever is chosen, due regard will be given to the need for adequate rehearsal, without which no combination, large or small, should be expected to give satisfactory performances. It is not fair to the conductor, players or their auditors to present works to which insufficient preparation has been given. This question C? rehearsal is admittedly a difficult one, but it might be solved provided that the council takes a sympathetic view regarding this pressing need, also that the man appointed has enthusiasm and —most important of all—the rare gift of being able to impart his enthusiasm to others.