MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 134, 29 February 1908, Page 12

MUSIC.

[BY Treble CLEF.]

An Opinion. Speaking at the Conference at Harrow gato of the Incorporate Society of Musicians, l)i\ Sawyer; Brighton, said that the" modern composers-of orchestral music had not properly grasped' the situation. "The reason why so muph modern orchestra niusic doeo not succeed," ~lie'stated, ; "is that it'is'often pretentious without being grand, gloomy and heavy without touching one's heart's motion, and lacking in beauty and sincerity." On the subject of vboap training ho said, "At the top of the tree in England we find singing masters whose ability cannot bo excelled by any on the Continent,-and the idea that it is necessary* to go abroad to 'learn singing is absolutely'wrong. \\ye"have but to point to tho fact ' that young English singers trained in London are now to bo found singing in nearly every German opera houso to prove the; value of London teaching;• vi'hile the impressariq of one great opera house abroad lately. begged to have a number of English singers sent to' hinr becauso, he said, 'They 1 had really been taught' vo sing ■properly.' " ■ - , ;

Organ Musfo and Songs, i As regards organ music, the organist'of the present day stood head and shoulders over his predecessor as an executant. Young: organists' had developed tone colour iu such a manner as to have added a fresh, interest to ,the listener.The -improvement in the skill of, the. performer and .the' development', of the aesthetic, side in'the matter, of tone colour and sentiment had given a great impetus to organ music, and stamped tho present era of' that music as healthy and progressive. Coming to songs, -Dri Sawyer 'said that;the last ten, sho\ved a; greaV; awakoning; but . it ; c6ultr;not' bo' |I dciiied ; th'at| gross' extravagirtce ''hi'/'oxpressioiiTand 'liarnipuy'iiad ■beon cbmniittpd '. which' deformed ':• many modern;, songs. - With our younger Euglisli composers the harmony was made more and more tho paramount; thing, and tho melodio side'had beijn opntinually put'into - 'tho background. This was a growing weakness that should' be checked. In this connection he spoke of the "reams of rankish rubbish" in all departments)of,music, and asked'why \vas it done, and how was it done. " Milk and water, woro quite. vigorous and strong compared with it.!; 'One could riot understand how a publisher could miike it pay. Had ho some occult, way of foisting. it'om a longWhile a of trash'was' brought'-, out for piano and for organ, yet' in songs that'the, greatest bulk of .this';-, fqeblc twaddlo was ■ published. It pity' that, their' society .could 'with the really good things published. : Was it not possible';-tpi:getc v a^pmall committee ■' of their export they might: send any. really'.gw'dfiuusic:?that they' discovered, 'and' then,' after' th'eifvstanding' sponsor for it^worth, a list, of'.'such music should apptiar from time to time'in their journal ?

Molb'a on Colonial.Music. ■ , . In the' course of an_ interview a' few daya ago, Madame MelbV I want ■ - tb''soe a permanent orchestra; it ' would bo './ 'a ysplcudidthing for, music in' Australia- if *, my: wish .''were; realised. . An' orchestra of. 1 'skilled .musicians; npf. amateur's/ 1 although many amateurs' 1 might bo included. It should give jojib. concert' every week' for sis 'months ou(; of the year, and rehearse-all the rest of. the'week.' Imagine the enthusiasm for tho finest music that such an organisation cruld ■ work up..": Those concerts, 1 am quite cer- v tain, would oasily pay for thomselvcs iii a , very;'short space of tini'ol, Australians have sufficient appreciation of what' is beautiful ii\ music ..to' ensure iii- : this', matter.!* - Notes. Everybody knows the", words of the song -I. ! Arise from Dreams of Tlioe, I *', but not evoryono (says aii exchange) is awaro that Shelley ;'wrote\ them, and that tho motrical ' swing- .ofvthem ' was. suggested by the duet "Ah,, portions','! from .Mozart's "La - Clernenza. di Tito.!' ' ; : . A movement is on foot in London to' , shorten concerts, especially orchestral' con-, certs, to a, maximum 'length'.of two hours.Dr. Richt'er has.arranged t|ie programmes, of tho , London Symphony Orchesti'a on' this basis, and his'action seems to be generally approved. The fact is, that ;to listen to -really ' good music involves a 'continuous' effort of; concentrated attention which cannot 1 bo vftry long l maintained: .

A commission is'to be' held (also a congress) in order to decide on the: festivities to take plauQ during tho celebration of tho hundrcdtli anniversary of tho foundation of,the Verdi Conservatory of Music, so: named only after the death of Vmli, : Everyone knows that the conservatory' was 'founded by Eugene Beauharnais, in 1808. . Musicians of note and critics from all over tho world will be'invited, if not to take part, at least to attend tho festivities. Sonzogno has already opened a concour among the: ex-pupils: of this institution, ono for a tliemo/and variations for grand orchestra, tlio .other for a psalm! for "Voices alone. Tho administration of the building of tho Duomo has also a ; concour for tho best suite for two organs.. Ono of tho' professors will compile and publish the history of tho' conservatory, and a largo' printing houso will print an illustrated 'catalogue of tho musical museum attached. ' Tiio commemoration promises to be very interesting and solemn. ' J Mr. John Lemmono (Sydney) hap; rocoived a letter from Padcrewski's iiianagor in America. Tho ' world's' greatest, pianist is touring the United States at a period of extraordinarily financial low. water—a time when scorop of. other artists, and many of them of high calibre, aro going to the: wall beneath the strain. Nevertheless, Padcrewski's success is greater than any other ofihia previous six visits, and his wizard-liko hold on tlio nooplo he has' , inoro than, wrested his title from a legion of lessor rivals as. tlio greatest modern master of tho pianoforte. It is not generally known that Paderowski- is coming to' Australia again— that is, jf he-lives long enough. He was really pledged to : Mr, Lcinmono to nip.Ue an Australasian tour next year, Tlio actual date has not heon settled, however, although tho visit should be during next year. >