New host for ‘Opus’

Press, 19 February 1983, Page 13

New host for ‘Opus’

New students of the Music Department at Auckland University can be forgiven for thinking that they have seen their lecturers somewhere before. Two members of the staff have more in common than just their professional association. One has appeared regularly as the presenter of Two's Sunday afternoon classical music programme ••Opus”, and the other is about to take his place. Last year's presenter is the newly-appointed head of the music department. Heath Lees, who will be seen later -this year hosting “Kaleidoscope." One of his colleagues. Douglas Hews. Associate Professor of Music at Auckland University, is the man who has been chosen to front this year's “Opus” series. Professor Mews has a long distinguished academic career in music, and will retire at the end of this year, he is thoroughly absorbed in all aspects of music — “music is my hobby and my profession" — and retirement simply means that he will have more time to indulge his hobby, composing. Professor Mews already has a long list of compositions to his credit, with works for orchestra and

chamber groups, as well as solo pieces for cello, piano, flute, organ and voice. Most recently he has written commissioned music for the free bass accordian. which he describes as a “very subtle instrument". His works have been performed in England. Holland. Hungary. Canada, the U.S.A, and Australia. When not using his spare time to compose. Professor Mews tinkers with his model N-guage railways, which are on such a tiny scale that the rails are only 9mm apart. Since August.’ he has also taken up a hobby that he has not pursued for years — meccano. He has already completed a mechano-oper-ated glockenspiel and a working model A.R.A.-type Mercedes yellow bus. For the last 12 years, he has been musical director at St Patrick’s Cathedral and has composed many church pieces for choirs, including Auckland's Dorian and Tongan choirs. A 1982 composition, “The Circle of a Girl’s Arm," commissioned for the Dorian Choir, is due to be performed this year. King's College, The North Shore Orchestra, and a visiting Dutch Organist, Bernard Bartelink, are also schedule to perform commissioned

works by Professor Mews this year. An organist and pianist himself. Professor Mews has given organ recitals in England, Holland. Germany and Canada as well as New Zealand. He has also been heard on Radio New Zealand, speaking on “Composer of the Week" and other musical series. A former professor and examiner for the Trinity College of Music, he nowacts as instrumental adjudicator at the main competitions in New Zealand. Professor Mews has a rare accent which he claims is impossible to identify. It has its origins in Newfoundland

where Mews lived until he was 16. when he left for London to study for a Bachelor of Music, and went on to complete, his doctorate. The next seven years were spent in the British Army, and during his time in the campaigns in France, the Western Desert. Italy. Holland and Germany, he met thousands of New Zealanders. After the war. he was to get better acquainted with New Zealand when he came here in 1956 as the visiting examiner from Trinity College. After 17 years at Trinity..he spent five years in the Music Department at Colchester Technical College in Essex, before being appointed to Auckland University in 1969. Now. 13 years later. he feels "very thoroughly New Zealand."

Professor Mews feels that Sunday afternoon is an excellent time for a programme such as “Opus" because then people are slowing down and are on a more receptive wavelength. “The films of music shown in “Opus" are so often marvellous packages of sound, picture and enjoyment! What a combination of pleasures for Sunday afternoon — and what a good excuse not to mow the lawn!" he says.