MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 57, 30 November 1907, Page 13

MUSIC.

(Br Treble Clef.) Home Hews. The London correspondent of tho "Sydney Herald" writes on October 18: —- Madame Ada Crossley scored an immense triurpjih at tho Leeds Festival oil Saturday last ill Bach's colossal Mass in B minor-, a work seldom heard nowadays owing to its onoromus difficulties. Sir Charles Stanford conducted. Rarely has this sublime musio noon heard to perfection, but Saturday's intcrprotation was one of tho finest on record. Iho great Australian contralto—who is described by the critics as "gradually becoming a second Madame Patey, both in-voice and appearance"—distinguished herself iu the contralto solos, singing throughout with appropriate dignity and refinement and artistic perception. In the afternoon Mf. 1 ercy Grainger' was the solo pianist, and played Grieg's pianoforte concerto in A minor with gredt brilliancy and finish. On Monday Madame Ada Crossley commenced her tour of tho provinces, accompanied by the hearty wishes of her large circle of English and Australian friends for success.- Mr. Porcy Grainger, who is included m the concert company, left ve'stcrday for Denmark, having been specially' engaged for the Grieg memorial concert'. at Copenhagen to-morrow. Of all British pianists, the young Australian is the one who has been most closely associated'.with the late Norwegian composer and his works, and a special compliment has thus been paid to Austrajia by the committee in selecting i'orcy Grainger on this occasion. ' Saturday was romarkable for tho' fact that two rival ballad concerts were held, both of which attracted crowded audiences. At the Queen's Hall; where the Chappell ballad concert was held, a distinct success was achieved by Miss Beatrico Miranda, the young Melbourne. dramatic t soprano; whose rendering of "All', fors e lui" was one of the best itenis that afternoon. Miss Miranda, who'is''a' younger sister of Lalla Miranda, is studying with Madamo Minna Fischer, and promises to add further lustro to tho already bright array of artists from Australia. " filiss Lalla Miranda arrived in London last Friday, and has been busy rehearsing for her approaching appearance at Covent Garden, which will bo made. to-morrow in "Rigoletto," when the gifted Australian dramatio Boprano, who has won such an enviable position on the Continent, will 'bo heard in ono of her finest characters, Gilda. Sev.cn years ago she appeared at Covent Gardon with pro nounced success. ■ , ■ ■ ■ ■;..:. "The Nativity." The now sacred cautata. "The Nativity." composed by Dr. W. E., Thomas, of [Auckland; and recently produced, successfully iu that city, is" laid out for four solo .voices, . chorus,' and Orchestra. It is. (says the Auckland "Star") .very singable, 1 ahd its directness of expression admittedly reflects the spirit of the text. It consists of. eleven choruses, and the samo number ofrecitatiros, two soprano solos, two contralto airii, two tenor numbers, with two short solos for tonor with chorus, ono solo for baritone, One quartet, and two instrumental pieces, making in all nineteen numbers. The music is tasteful, bright, and pleasing, and often impressive, Written in a flowing and melodious stylo, easy to read, and interesting to sing; the instrumentation is ingenious and . picturesque,'. without being , unduly intrioato. aijd .the part-writing is flowing and: well within the range of avorago vocalists. : The various numbers are widely contrasted, and in many of the pieces much dramatic power is displayed, and. the work contains sufficient variety to keep tho interest up to the end. The various solos aro melodious and attractive, and comparatively simple in de- ■ sign. Specially tuneful and flowing is tho contralto air "Fear Not," and very pleasing, is tho tonor solo "Afar o'er-Bothleheni's Flocksj" and picturesque aiid stately in style is the , solo "From Orient; Lands." ; ; The most prominent of the ljefcifatives arc; "O House of Jacob,"-"And the Angel," And She Brought Forth," and "In Ramah." The choruses are a special feature of the composition, the first important onoiebmpg "Now the. Morning Li^ht," 1 which is-an'ad-mirable "setting, graceful and melodious in character, aiid i,t is worked, up to an effective climax. "Rejoice, O ■ ■Bethlehem'-' is treated in a vigorous style, and excellent use is made of the tune "Voni Emmanuel," which is given to the basses against a pleasing theme, sung by the other voices. This same'melody is also elaborately set in conjunction with a solo and duet for contralto and tenor; "When .to.- the Temple ! Courts,which is most improssivc and highly oti'.ective. ' "Now, the Glorious. Anthem" ;is ,a chorus which is written withs niuch, .knowledge of. effect, and is very pleasing to-listen to. "Now. the Welcome News" reveals excellent part-writing. The music of "Down from the Heights" admirably expresses the words; while the.chorus is richly and solidly harmonised, and scholarly writing is displayed iji the fugual part. All impressive sotting- is "Wild - tho Lamentation," and specially tuneful and reposeful is the' solo part "But Afar from Betlilehem." nig "Souud the Messago" is set •in. atriumphant and grandiose manner,, which forms, a most ■ effective conclusion to ; the work. The ovortu.ro and 'short intermezzo are capably written, and the quartet "When the Temple Rites", is ail attractive antheni. The composition a performance," and the work was enthusiastically i»pi. plauded. At the termination of the concert this composer was ovated, and enthusiastically cheered. A. similar, compliment was: paid to the librettist, Mr. Scott. The solo work was entrusted to. Madiiiiic ,Chambers (soprano),' Mrs. .Sutherland""(contralto)',. Mr. \V. .AupinuH (tenor), and-,Mr...T. B. Howe (baritone).: _ ; ".'^ It Grieg had not' Died. - :,'Au . interesting sidelight - till tho business acunieti of famous composets' is thrown' by. an. autograph letter of Grieg written to R; B.'Johnston, the well-known musjcal manager' of New York, only a short time before the death;of the composer of "Peer Gynt." As will be a«?ii, Grieg was willing to visit America oil the stipulation, that the. neat sum :of £15,000 would accrue to.him free.and clear for 30 recitals. The letter, which is, dated Copenhagen, May 16, 1907, reaos as follows:— Dear Sir, —I have been obliged to refuse all .invitations to visit America because;. of . .my dclieato health, and now I am growing old, J am afraid it will be too late. Still,- if: you aro able to make me the following proposal:— . i- Thirty concerts within about rtliroe months at . £000 per concert. Deposituni deli.vered by C. F. Peters, editor of "Music" in Leipzig, boforo my leaving Europa. ■ :.v. Accompaniment by your manager. All expenses for t-hroo persons from Europo arid back again paid. Then I will consider tho matter. EDWARD GIUEG.".;: . For a Sore Throat. •' ' ■ Fpr..a. sore throat Madame Marcliesi jd;vises a romedy in use in the French army, no other than a gargle of kitchen salt am :hot waten In the caso of a very bad throa a little, vinegar should bo added to tho sal. ■and water. A singer affected with hoarse, noss, but whoso vocal chords aro not af footed, may recover herself almost directi* ■ by the heroic romedy of drinking soup modi, insufl'erably hot with cayenne pepper. It i just liko applying a mustard ponltico to thi throat internally, but it must never be uset if the vocal chords are affected, else it- miglii do irreparable mischief. . • A Lucky Mistake. - A good story is going tho rounds in Melbounio concerning a business man froni out. back who failed to carry out 1 the of his music-loving wife in rogard to absorb-' ing German opera. On arriving in M6l- - ho heard no talk iii' : business circles about "Lohengrin" and "The' Valkyrie," but a great deal about "The Girls of Gottcnborg,"; tho doings of Max Moddclkopf, and tho drollories of Mitzi and Elsa. "Elsa" especially appealed to his bewildered brain ' as a namo familiar through tho aentlie.tio doliverances of his wife upon German folklore iii- relation to Wagnerian music-drama; So ho rushed off to "German opera" in all' good faith—but instead of at the Princess's Theatre, ho saw that as presonted by the "Royal Comics." His only'consolation now is that ho had ono evening's thorough on- - joyment in, exchange for the awful tune he oxporienced after a prolonged game at crosspurposes .ivith his indienant mouse.