THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 270, 13 November 1937, Page 16

THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

NOTES OF THE DAY.

i FROM FAB. AMD HEAR.

(By ORPHEUS.)

NEW PLYMOUTH CHORAL SOCIETY

The New Plymouth Chor»\l Society has started rehearsals for its December performance of Handel's "Messiah."

COMEDY HARMONISTS.

Judging from private advices received from music-lovers in the Commonwealth, the "Comedy Harmonists," who are to appear at two charity concerts in Auckland shortly, will appeal not only to "hoi polloi" hut also to those who appreciate the classics, for they are said to sing German lieder very tastefully indeed.

SHORTAGE OP TENORS CHRONIC. Tenors have been for several generations a cause of trouble in English choral music (remarks the "British Musician") partly owing to their fewness in numbers, partly owing to the exceptional difficulty of their parts. We have all too often been distressed to see 10 weak tenors striving valiantly against 30 powerful baenea, 50 powerful sopranos and 25 strong altos. Now because of the flhortajje of tenors, the proposed Sheffield of 1930 has had to be abandoned. (There were, in addition, considerable losses on the festivals of 1033 and 103 G.) VIENNA BOY CHOIR. By the last American mail, the writer received a postcard from Madame Murse, the charming Austrian lady who accompanied the Vienna Boy Choir on its Xew Zealand tour about two years ajro, in which she says, "I have been with the Boys' Choir in Central America, and am on my way back from Mexico, which » an amazing country. I am going to England for a few weeks before returning to Australia." Madame also sent her kind regards to her friends in the Dominion.

WELLINGTON "MESSIAH? DATE. The Royal Wellington Choral Union has altered the date of its annual "Messiah" concert to December 6. This alteration will enable Mr. Leslie Russell, the well-known Auckland tenor, to accept an invitation to take the tenor solos in this performance. Mr. Russell will have a very busy week about that time. After singing on the Oth. in Wellington he visits Hamilton to sing in "Messiah" there on the Bth. The next night be sings again in the same work at the Pitt Street Methodist Church; two nights later, on the 12th., he takes the tenor solos in the festival performance given in the Auckland Town Hall by the combined choirs of the Auckland and Wellington choral societies.

"MESSIAH" ARRANGEMENTS. The following soloists have been selected for the festivi! performance to be given by the combined Auckland and Wellington choirs in the Town Hall on Jlth December:

Soprano, Miss Ada Lynn; Contralto, Miss Ethel Friend (late of Australia); Tenor, Mr. Leslie Russell; Bass, Mr. Stewart Harvey. In addition to members of the Royal Wellington Choi.il Union, the Auckland Choral Society will also have the assistance of members of Royal Auckland Choir and the Commercial Traveller's Choir. With ail these forces available, this forthcoming performance undoubtedly should be a memorable one.

Mr. Stanley Oliver, the conductor of the Royal Wellington Choral Union, will act as guest conductor, an innovation which ehould give additional interest to the performance.

SOYAL AUCKLAND CHOIR. Assisting the Royal Auckland Choir at its final concert of the season to be given in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on December 2 will be Miss Patricia McLeod, coloratura soprano, a quartet of boys, and Colin Horsley, the boy pianist from Wanganui. This gifted 17-year-old player was heard by Benno Moiseiwitsch last August, who commented very favourably upon young Horsley's digital dexterity but was not at all enthusiastic about the lad's interpretation of the piano arrangement of Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor," which .was one of the compositions played at the audition. H» interpretation, he said, was far too sentimental and "sloppy." However, an effort is being made to raise funds to send this gifted boy abroad for a course of study, and, should this be successful, the youngster, who is decidedly above the average as regards brains—apart from his musical ability— will undoubtedly have his aesthetic standards raised by contact with the great world of music abroad. He has plenty of time ahead of him.

VIENNESE WALTZES. According to Ruth Feiner in her book,

"Sunset at Xoon," Viennese waltzes are heard everywhere in the world except Vienna!

ORCHESTRAL BROADCASTS.

Advices from America state that Toscanini intends to form an orchestra there for the sole purpose of playing for broadcast concerts.

LEWIS EADY LIBRARY. The increased attendances at the music section of the Public Library (Lewis Kady Library) are an encouraging indication that students of music are becoming more and more aware of the exceptional facilities for study and musical research afforded by this valuable department of the library. Here there are available not only text books coverinjr many branches of music, but also full scores of operas, chamber music compositions, pianoforte music, miniature scores of symphonic works etc., all of which may be hired out for a nominal fee. It is to be hoped that, in time, orchestral scores of symphonic works and concertos by the great masters, such as Beethoven, Brahms and others, will be added to this collection. Those might encourage our instrumental organisations, present and future, to reach a higher standard in the choice of works at their concerts. Here is a chance for some generous donor to do something for music in Auckland. "JUDITH SILVER." "You are now to hear a recital given by Judith Silver, New Zealand soprano," was the announcement made in the Empire broadcast from Daventtry at five minutes past eight, Friday evening, November 5. The singer was the exAuckland soprano, Miss Alma McOruer, who has been living in London during the past six years. Miss McOruer, who has adopted the "nomine de radio" of "Judith Silver" *ang six son.'fj, "A Pastoral" (Carey, arranged by Wilson),

".Spring Song" (Parry), "Still the Lark Frnds Repose" (Linley), "Shy One" (Rebecca Clarke), "Vanity Fair" (Clutsam) and "Fairy Lullaby" (Quilter). The winger's voice came through very well indeed and sounded as sweet and fresh as ever. In a letter received here recently Miss McOruer remarks, "1 am getting quite a lot of work and am studying hard learning modern works and am finding it all very interesting." She also writes, "When I was in New Zealand Mr. (Jeorge Lyttleton wrote music to the words of 'The Fairies Have Never a Penny to Spend.' I was rather anxious to broadcast it on November 5, but the 8.8.C. want so many statements of permission that I must wait until I have collected all. It is charming and I like singing it. so I am hoping I will get an opportunity later to snig it to Xew Zealand."