THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 220, 17 September 1938, Page 16

THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

NOTES OF THE DAY.

FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(By ORPHEUS.)

A recital is to be given in the Lewis Eady Hall on September 27 by the students of Madame Aileen and Mr. Dennis Johns.

In response to numerous requests, the Dorian Choir will give a repeat performance of Hoist's "Hymn of Jesus." This will take place in the Pitt Street Methodist Church on September 27.

The date of the combined performance of the "Messiah" by the Auckland Choral Society and the Royal Wellington Choral Union, at Wellington, has been fixed for Saturday, December 10. The performance will be under the direction of Mr. Colin Muston, who will act as guest conductor. "FORTE." After being repeatedly veiled at by Dr. Hans von Bulow to play "forte," during a rehearsal the kettledrummer played louder, only to be yelled at "forte." The tympani player threw down his sticks and said he couldn't play any louder. "I am not asking you to play louder," replied the irascible conductor. "The score calls for 'forte/ and you are playing 'fortissimo.' " PLAYING FROM MEMORY. Franz Liszt was the first virtuoso to dispense with the music when playing at a concert. This fashion has spread considerably since those days. Even players who could not,»even by any stretch of the imagination, be termed "virtuosi" play from memory at recitals nowadays. Occasionally one sees at minor concerts soloists who, evidently distrustful of a, perhaps, fickle memory, perform with the music before them. This aid, howMer, is not necessarily any sort "f guartee for a note perfect rendition; it sometimes seems to have a reverse effect unfortunately. SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT. An interesting entertaiiiipeiit is to be given by the boys of the Mount Albert Grammar School in His Majesty's Theatre on September 22, 2.'! and 24. This will consist of three parts, Part I.: A one-act play, "Alison's Lad," produced by Alan McSkimining and the school dramatic club, l'art II.: Gymnastic displays, etc. Part III.: A musical comedy, "The Girl from Tennessee," composed, written and produced by Mr. Frank Price. This is in two acts and five scenes and is written in the usual musical play style, a mixture of music, drama, humour and colourful costumes. There are some 70 voices and an orchestra of about 24 in the show, and every part, including those of girls, is filled by boys.

JUVENILE CHOIR. An attractive programme has been arranged for the Auckland Juvenile Choir's second concert of the season, which takes place in the Lewie Eady Hall on Thursday evening, September 22. Four of the numbers to be sung by the choir are arrangements by Miss Ida Holmes, the conductor and founder of the combination. The following composers will be represented on the programme: Lully, Hurlstone, Handel, Holmes, Mozart, Besly, Beethoven, Liszt and Strauses. The instrumental side of the programme will be provided by a trio, Leela Bloy (violin), Lalla Hemus ('cello), and Phyllis Bloy (piano). Miss Aileen Warren will be accompanist. « SAMSON." A performance of Handel's oratorio, "Samson," is to be given by the Pitt Street Church Methodist choir on October 20. The following cast of soloists has been chosen: Samson (tenor), Leslie Russell; Harapha (baritone), Stewart Harvey; Manoah (bass), James Leighton; Micah (baritone), Robert Simmers; Delilah (soprano), Gwenda Weir; Philistine woman (soprano), Julie Williams; Israelitish woman (soprano), Winifred' Hill. The organist will be Mr. Trevor Sparling, while Mr. Albert Bryant will conduct. The choir will be augmented for \he performance. It is interesting to note that Handel's score indicates that the role of Micah, a male friend of Samson, is to be sung by an alto voice (probably a male alto); on this occasion, a baritone takes the part. DEANNA DURBIN'S TEACHERS. How Deanna Durbin rose eo suddenly to fame, and how, incidentally, her first teacher, Ralph Thomas, a Los Angeles professor of singing, missed the credit of having developed her voice, together with the attendant favourable publicity associated with her remarkable success, was told to the writer recently by Mr. Frederick Shipman, a noted Canadian impresario. It appears that for three years Mr. Thomas had the young Canadian singer under his tuition. Considering, however, that she was still rather too young to make her debut, lie had planned to give her another year's training before making a public appearance. Evidently bitten by the ever prevalent "microbe of impatience," i and having the usual and very human desire to take a short cut to success, Miss Durbin changed over to another Los Angeles teacher of singing, Andres de Segurola, who offered the tempting inducement that he would be able to launch her into the "pictures" at once. He made good his promise, and with what measure of success is now recorded on the silver screen. At the same time, much sympathy may be felt for the teacher who did three years unacknowledged training of this phenomenal girl's voice. In the years to come, by the way, it may be interesting to watch whether Deanna will repeat her success of the screen upon the very more stern testing ground of the stage, away from microphones and amplifiers with their potentialities for flattering voices which may be lacking in needful Volume.