N.Z. STUDENT WRITES OF MUSIC IN SAN FRANCISCO

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28450, 3 December 1957, Page 2

N.Z. STUDENT WRITES OF MUSIC IN SAN FRANCISCO

“Some of the characteristic liveliness of Americans is to be seen in recent musical developments in San Francisco,’’ writes Miss Margaret Nielsen, a graduate in music from the University of Canterbury, who is on a Government bursary, studying comnosition and pianoforte at the Mills College Graduate School, California. “With the intention of making San Francisco “the Juilliard of the West’ the new director of the San Francisco ’the Juilliard of Music announced recently Rians for expansion. It will be established in new quarters and. at the same time, decentralised witlf four or more branches in outlying districts. “The new dean of the Conservatory is Sidney Griller, the Londoner whose name has become so well known in chamber music circles. Under him will function an expanded staff whose diversity of interest should ensure that the symphony orchestra, the opera school, choral society and numerous smaller media will flourish and make a ready contribution to the musical life of the city,’’ says Miss Nielsen.

M San Francisco is a city of exciting contours, vivid personalities and friendliness. Trams, cable cars, steep hills and fast traffic all give one a reminiscent impression of Wellington, but the environs dispel this. In all directions San Francisco appears to be one big glorified exit. From this metronolis one can travel by road bv air, bv boat and by bridge to others, equally big but not quite *>o impressive. City’s “Bedroom”

“Oakland is the chief of the neighbouring cities and it is there that I live. It is San Francisco’s ‘bedroom,’ and I iniagine that the colossal volume of traffic which crosses the Oakland harbour bridge at the close of each working day represents not only Oakland’s half million souls but also a good proportion of the 800.000 with which the better-known city is credited. In all there are four cities between which there is no visual boundary. As well as the two already mentioned, there is Berkeley, in which is found one of the major branches of the University of California and Richmond, which has some claim to fame because it quadrupled its population in the decade, 1940-50 “Progressive dinners are a feature of the social life. Last evening we started off at 6.45 p m to have the ‘juice course.* largely tomato to which was added assorted nuts and other even more mysterious compounds. At 8 p.m we shifted to another house for the salad course and at 9.30 p.m.. after further travel, we were attacking the main course. Although there were enormous quantities for the gourmet, it was a little forbidding • to the unimaginative New Zealander to contemplate a salad whose basic ingredients were grapes and ham.” says Miss Nielsen. “As a post-graduate student at Mills College I am beginning to establish a routine. My work in piano, composition and analysis is started but I feel it is too earlv to make worthwhile comment on what is being done. While in civilian life one endeavours to adjust oneself to nickels dimes qnd dollars, there is also in professional life the conversion of note values in music. A quarter note (crotchet), and eight note 'quaver), a sixty-fourth note 'hemi-demi-semi-quaver), a tone 'note)—all these and others make it confusing when one tries to think quickly. Visits to Concerts “Already I have heard two wonderful concerts by the Griller String Quartet and William Prim-

rose In addition to a Mozart Quintet and two by Darius Milhaud (who is professor of composition at Mills College) I had the treat of hearing, at one sitting, both the sextets of Jonannes Brahms. A recital by Fischer-

Deskau is next on my list,” says Miss Nielsen.

“Mills College itself is composed of fairly old buildings, the architecture of which is a generalised Mediterranean appropriate to the climate and terrain of California. There is a* firm dignity about it all. The music department is large judged by our standards. In addition to offices and lecture rooms there are 50 practice rooms, a big library and an impressive collection of records close to a group of listening booths. The auditorium has its pipe organ and two grand pianos. It is used regularly for concerts, and has been the scene of many first performances of Darius Milhaud’s music.

“University students in Canterbury would be at home nere in at least one respect. Student concessions to concerts are equally liberal. My season ticket for the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra Forum concerts cost me 18 dollars for as many concerts.

“During the series I will hear Vi toria de Los Angeles, Yehudi Menuhin, Rodulf Serkin, Segovia and Robert Casadesus as soloists. Stravinsky and Bruno Walter as conductors, and, above all, some great music ranging from an allStravinsky programme to “Judas Maccabeus” and the Eroica Symphony,” says Miss Nielsen.

ENGAGEMENTS (Engagement Notices must be signed by both parties.)

Anderson—Preston: Mr and Mrs I. J. Preston, Hokitika, have much pleasure in announcing the engagement of their only daughter, Janet Frances, to Richard Austin, son of Mr and Mrs W. S. Anderson. Glasgow.

Duncum—Chamberlain: The engagement is announced of Margaret Anne, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs H. G. Chamberlain, “The Grove,” Leeston, to James George, only son of Mr and Mrs G. H. Duncum, Tirau, Waikato. Henderson —Pawsey: Mr and Mrs E. J. Pawsey, Bushside, No 1 Ashburton, have much pleasure in announcing the engagement of their second daughter, Muriel Alice, to Douglas Edward, second son of Mr and Mrs J. Henderson, Epworth, Temuka.