THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 23, 28 January 1939, Page 14

THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

NOTES OF THE DAY.

FROM FAR AND NEAR. (By ORPHEUS.) The teacher was trying to make El«ie understand subtraction. "You have ten lingers," she said, "but supposing three were missing. What would you have then?" "No more practice," said Elsie. Lawrence Tibbett has recently been appearing With the Chicago City Opera Company, and, judging bv Felix Borowski's criticisms in the ''Christian Science Monitor," has been meeting with great 'success. He writes: "Power, too, coloured Lawrence Tibbett's reading of lago, TTjo 'Credo' was sung with appropriate malignity, but Mr. Tibbett made It clear in other situations that line vocalism as as effective characterisation lay well within his grasp."

A LOSS TO MUSIC. By the passing-on of Miss Minnie Jensen a few days ago, music in this city is the poorer for a sincere and very loveable musician, one always ready to help and lend her talents, as a most capable player of the double-bass, to the cause of music. The uncomplaining manner in which she bore her sufferings is exemplified in the following incident. A friend spoke to Miss Jensen recently about her approaching release from the bondage of ner illness and suggested that she would soon be joining the musicians fn the freer sphere of the spirit world. She responded eheerfullv with the words: "I shall ask them for the double-bass part, which 1 will plav for them." 1 J AUCKLAND MALE ALTO. According to private letters received recently, MfC Bert Skeels, the wellknown Auckland singer, is meeting with considerable success in London, where he is now attached to both St. Paul's and Westminster Cathedrals. Considering that he has been in London barely fifteen mojiths, this is a most creditable achievement. In addition, Mr. Skeels haa also become a popular concert artist and towards the end of last year was billed a« the star turn at a concert given at the Odeon Cinema, Redhill, being an outstanding success, the I critica commenting most favourably upon his gifts as a male alto. Writing to Ufa people, Mr. Skeels remarks that hia Voice has improved in quality considerably, and that he ia looking to the future with confidence. SIS GRANVILLE BANTOCK. When passing through Auckland recently, the eminent British composer. Sir Granville Bantock, was the guest of the committee of the Music Lovers' Club, of which body he is a patron. In order to appreciate the famous composer's work at its true value, it must not be forgotten that he Was one of the earliest pointers of contemporary British music, and in hia many and vairlMl compositions he has much to tkf which sa to the time of writing, had never before been said in such an independent and unfettered manner. In the course of conversation, Sir Granville Bantock emphasised the fact that the British composer had at last come into hia own, while in the conducting field his position—once precarious—was at present unassailable. "BATSHE" AND "CRYDGE." Soma rather unorthodox pronunciations were beard at a concert by the writer last week. Sitting behind him waa a lady who read from the programme the names of the various composers and the titles of the compositions IB a loud clear Voice, right through the evening. There was nt possible doubt about her enunciation, it was decidedly distinct. Pronunciation was her weak aait.

"Praelodlum," by Bach, wa* interpreted as "something by Bayshc"; a composition by a celebrated Norwegian composer was described, somewhat sketehily, aa "a piece by Grydge." But that was not all. On the stage, a young baritone with quite a good voice seemed to ba suffering from "vowel-trouble." First, he sang the word "late" an if it rhymed with "light." Then he Italianised tha *V* in "tarry" (delay) so that the word sounded as "tah-ree" (rhyming with "starry"). His "pitch," notwithstanding, was above suspicion!

MISS AIM A McGRUBR. In an interesting letter, dated January 3, Miss Alma McGruer, the exAuckland soprano, informs the writer that she has been asked by the 8.8.C. to give a Rachmaninoff recital to Australia and New Zealand on February 6at 8.25 a.m. (London). Miss McGruer goes on to say: "I have chosen *How Fair this Spot.' 'The Silent Night,' *Before My Window,' 'Tha Little Island,' and 'The Lilacs.' I am so glad tbey have asked me, because they usually want me to do very light programmes. I have been doing quite a bit lately with orchestras. I must say I like singing to an orchestra, It seems to lift one up so much." Continuing her account of her musical life In London, she writes: "I am also for some lecture recitals and, of course, doing some of the usual light (very light) concert work. This I like least—hut it certainly pays best of all. I am still working hard at oratorio and love it heat of aIL Of all music it is so satisfying." Miss McGruer mentions that the weather at the time of writing was very cold and raw and then says: "How nice this air mail is. It seems to bring New Zealand much closer. I wish we could also briag some of her swnmer heat." (ill.)) BOTAL CHOBAL SOCIETY. The following is the Royal Choral Society's programme for its 1939-39 (sixty-eighth) eeaaon:—"Elijah" (Mendelssohn), November 20; Carole, December 17; "Messiah" (Handel), January T» *The Creation" (Haydn), January 28j "Ihe Canterbury Pilgriine" (Dyson), March 25; "The Kingdom" (Elgar), Ash Wednesday, February 22, at 8 p.m.; "Messiah" (Handel), Good Friday, April 7. These concert* are given la' tha Royal Albert Hall with the London ' Philharmonic Orchestra, and under tho conduetorsfcip of Dr. Malcolm Sargent. Only one of these performances, that of "The Kingdom," k> given in tho evening. The first five take place on a Saturday afternoon, at 2.30; tho Good Friday performance of "Messiah" alao la held at the same hour. In view of. the great popularity of Handel's masterpieces, the Auckland Choral Society might well consider the desirability of following the example offered by the London society and give Ea#ter performances of this work in future. Tho subscription for the eerias of she concerts (excluding the extra "Messiah** concert) Is as follows:— Stalls, £1 17/6; arena, £1 10/; balcony# £1 I/. It is interesting to note that this aessoti Is the Royal Choral Society s sixty-eighth season. This vear Choral Society begins its eighty-third seasoa