THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 280, 26 November 1938, Page 22

THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

NOTES OF THE DAY. FROM FAR AND NEAR. (By ORPHEUS.) The organist for the performance of "Messiah" to be given by the Pitt Street Methodist Church Choir, augmented for the occasion. on December 15, will be Mr. Stanley Jackson. A concert is to be {riven by members of the junior branch of the Auckland Society of Musicians in the Overseas Club rooms on Monday evening:. November 28. There will l>e 42 performers in all. their apes running from eight to 17. i The next concert to be given by the Auckland Lyric Harmonists Choir will take place in tlie Town Hall Concert Chamber on December 15 when a programme of Christmas carols will be presented under the direction of Mr. Claude Laurie. "MESSIAH" BARITONE. Mr. •). Russell Laurenson. who will sing the baritone solos in the combined festival performance of Handel's "Messiah"' at Wellington on December 1(1. is also to take part in the Auckland Choral Society's annual performance, which will be given in the Auckland Town Hall on the following Saturday evening. December 17. DORIAN CHOIR. Bach's Christmas Oratorio is to be performed by the Auckland Dorian Choir in the. Town Hall Concert Chamber on December 8 for its final concert of the year. The solos will be taken by Muriel Collicoat. soprano. Dorothy Cren. contralto. Roger Errington. tenor, and Robert Simmers, bass. Mrs. R. Reed will play the accompaniments. This, it is claimed, will be the first time this work has been given in Auckland. RECITATIVES. Speaking recently in Brisbane upon the subject of how recitatives slionld be delivered. Dr. Malcolm Sargent remarked that it was customary to sing them in strict tempo: but he would have it performed rather in the tempo of the spoken word. That, he went on to say, made a great deal of difference, but it was very difficult to do and required very careful handling. AUSTRALIAN ORCHESTRAS. Hope that the Australian Broadcasting Commission would continue its support, and build up larger State orchestras was expressed by Dr. Malcolm Sargent, the eminent English conductor, in an interview. given in Adelaide recently. Dr. Sargent said concerts, which were not conducted for profit, might be helped by a Government subsidy, or taxation could be remitted. Dr. Sargent has been invited to return to Australia next year for another season, but said his plans were indefinite.

INTERESTING ORGAN RECITAL. Three pupils of Mr. Albert Bryant, Miss Doris Hoare, Messrs. Keith Ronald and Leslie Greenstreet. presented on the Pitt Street Church organ, last Tuesday evening, most interesting programmes which included works by great composers of the past, as well as some by present-day writers for the instrument. The playing throughout was marked by clean execution and tasteful selection of stops, all three giving performances which reflected great credit upon their tuition. Miss Winifred Hill also sang, with much taste, several sacred solos. OPERATIC HISTORY MADE. By going straight from Trinity College of Music to a leading role at Cov\it Garden. Oscar Xatzke. late of Auckland, created a record in that he is the fir-t student ever to have achieved such an honour. It is also said that Oscar i> the youngest basso —he is now 2ii vearof age —to have sung in principal pariin grand opera there. The critics, without exception, have hailed liiin as a "find." "Here at last." writes one. "i> a genuine bass voice, rich in colouring, noble in enunciation."' As the Australian Broadcasting Commission has engaged hint for a tour of their stationearly in the coming year, which meanthat he is certain to sing in X.'w '/.<■, land. too. we shall soon have an opportunity of hearing for ourselves how far he has progressed i>; his ch<»en art. CELEBRITIES FOR AUSTRALIA. Professor Bernard Heinze. Onnond Profes-or of Mu-i<- at the Meliiouns? University, is at present abroad r-eek-ing celebrities for Australian Broadcasting Commission contracts. Already lie has visited thirteen countries and lias met many world-famous artists. As a result if his negotiations it will not he long, he anticipates, before all the famous artists will <ro to Australia under the auspices of the Australian Broadcasting Commission. It is also very likely that one of the world's greatest symphony orchestras will gn to Australia similarly. Jt is sincerely to lie h iped that the Dominion also will benefit from these negotiations. Professor Heinze. who is returning by way of the United States, should l>e passing through Auckland on the Monterey, December 23. "N.Z. CENTENNIAL MARCH." Musicians and others, who consider that they have a flair for composition, will be interested to learn that Messrs. Chas. Begg and Company. Limited, in conjunction with the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition Company, -are offering a cash prize of 20 guineas for a march to be given the above title. The march, which it is to be published by Chas. Begg and Company, Limited, will receive official recognition from the exhibition directors, and it is expected that it will be played and featured at official exhibition functions. All entries, which close on January 31, 1939, must b« accompanied by an official entry form obtainable at any branch of Begg. and Company. It has been;, suggested r that a composition with plenty of pomp in it would" be ideally - suitable ■in • the- circumstances.