MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 193, 9 May 1908, Page 12

MUSIC.

[Bt Tuedi.e Clef.]

Value of Culture. In the turmoil of a busy city life there are fen- opportunities to indulge and invigorate tho artistic senses. The theatres, unfortunately, fail sadly at the present day to fulfil their rightful functions in this respect. Wo have our oratorio and instrumental c'oncorts, which must always be welcome, hut they necessarily are few and far between. It is therefore becoming a great treat to those who have any appreciation at, all for art to be ablo to spend a quiet hour at the Town Hall on the evenings* of the weekly recitals. It is an occasion to which many look eagerly forward. Those who attend once, come again, and the ranks, it is noticable, are being gradually swelled. One may not he prepared to concede all that Matthew Arnold claims , can be effected in civic life by "Culture"; but tho cultivation of the artistic sense should and must have its place in every successful community. For this reason it is to be hoped, that nothing in the future may bo allowed to interfere with - our weekly performances. That the Town Hall may not be crowded should not weigh against the fact that large numbers of people feel the keen benefit' of regular attendance. As a means- of still further' increasing that enjoyment it might .bo suggested that tlie ' life stories ,of the composers whose works are mostly drawn upon by Mr. Mauglian Barnett should be studied. It is easier to understand the poetry of music if, tho heart of tho writer is revealed to the one who listens. ' ' '

in Bach's Time. "It does .not seem that a concluding 'voluntary' was usual in the time of Bach, writes C. F. A. Williams in his life of that great musician. "The organ solo portions of ..tho'service'were all called 'Preludes.' The prolude was played at tho beginning of the service and before the chorales. With us it. is customary to simply play through the tune of a hymn or chant, in order to let tho congregation know what they are to, sing, and to give them time, to find their places in the books. In. Germany ail artistic and somewhat elaborate prelude,, in which the organist is expected to show his skill, precedes each chorale. A hymn was sung between the epistle and gospel, in plaoe of the .'Gradual' ot the Roman service, arid here the most elaborate prelude was introduced, based on the melody of the hymn. Before the 'church music' which takes , tho'place of the modern antheih, an, extempore prelude was played to allow the instruments -to be tuned. This was in the form of a fantasia | in which the. performer had to remain longest iii the key which most coincided with the strings to ,be tuned. The preludo had to stop on a sign from the" conductor that the instrumentalists were ready. It was supposed to-have some connection with the piece that ,was to~ follow, but the unhappy effusions of incompetent organists led to occasional remonstrance from the Church authorities."" Notes. Messrs. J. and N. Tait purpose arranging an .Australian tour for Signora Revqllo, the brilliant Spanish soprano whom they are bringing out 1 in the Melbourne Town Hall, on June 6. Clara Butt. Madame Butt and her husband departed homewards ,in the: Mongolia two weeks ago. The closing days were in every way a fitting finale, for at ner ; big popular concert in the Exhibition Building, Sydney, the .'Saturday before,.she left quite 10,000 paid for admission, and the huge hall in all its transepts, seemed, one, .vast sea ,of faces. V On .the. sailing.,(lay, thousands cheered.-,her as;tlie big '■ ship jjiiiov9<j,. off, arjd, Marine, stood on tho ..deck : almost' Hidden, among-the flowers her many, friends had brought her. Madame Butt did not, onco break faith with her public and every singlo one of her 71.concerts (in' r itsolf a'-record number) was given" on tlie. advertised' date; . Bands and Unionism. 1 English trado unionists, having come to the' conclusion that army bandsmen, being in the!pay of the country, should hot take engagements outside the army, sent a depu.'tationyto the Secretary of State, for, War, to urge him to put a stop to the competition with civilian musicians'. 1 . Similar representations were , made' to the Admiralty. ' The reply was that both departments had agreed, that no naval or military bands should perform through'the agency of the public Press or musical agents, or should take engagements through the medium of 'any agent whatever.. Those who wanted a military band would liave to go to the band itself. ,' r , ■- ~. Notes.

According to the "Etude" there is_ a suburb of a large American city which boasts of a Do Koven, a ..Foster, and a MacDowell; place, each one, named for; an American composer. They" do some: things better in Mexico, as the following dispatch to the "Mexican Herald", from Guanajuato shows: a nuisance of long standing is to be abated. The baud organs in,, this city .will have to move on. . According ,to the latest order of the authorities, organ grinders must not turn their musical , cylinders more than; five minutes in any . one locality., An impression prevailed here th'af; organ grinders wero. employed by the Government to •' furnish music to the populace, mid; for that reason, among others/ the people were loath to ask them to inove on lest they show disrespect for authority and lack of appreciation: :of benevolent intentions. This delusion has now been dispelled, and no one is compelled to suffer in silence more than five minutes.