A MUSICAL VISITOR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 319, 5 October 1908, Page 9

A MUSICAL VISITOR.

HICH TEACHING STANDARD. ■ Mr. Henry Saint-George, examiner for the Trinity Collego (London) musical examinations, who is at present conducting tlio an- '■ nual examinations in New Zealand, has practically completed the North Island series, and ho leaves for tlio South Island 011 Wednesday. ..In a chat with a Dominion representative on Saturday, ho remarked that this was his first visit to this part of the world, and he was greatly impressed with tlio fact that wo wero much more English in manner than, tlio Canadians. His tour commenced at St. Johns, Newfoundland, and it would end at Lnunooston, tlio entire trip occupying about soven months. "A thing that has pleased mo very, much here," said Mr. Saint-George, "is the very high standard of teaching in New Zealand. •1 do not want, to draw distinctions between. ' any parts, but, speaking generally, the standard is exceptional." Has tlio public taste in England undergone any cliango recontly? "Yes," ho replied. "There has been a great improvement in taste throughout the Old Country, and I'may say that the Trinity Collego has bad & good deal to do'with it, ' <because wo have, put such classics before tlio students. The tasto in instrumental, music—which did not exist at 0110 time—lias dovcloped considerably. Pooplo are turning from tho old and weary ballad concerts." Is Micro anything new in song-writing or pianoforte music? "Thero is nothing new in tho way of pianoforte composition," .replied the visitor, certainly nothing' striking, nor anything startling in tho song line, although, of course, thero are tho usual number of successful songs. My own particular instrument is the violin, and I greatly regret that there woro no liioro violin candidates, considering tho excellent teaching, Tlio proportion of candidates was usually about three for tho violiii to about ISO for the piano, thero being an unduo preponderance." Tho examiner added that ho brings two violins with him, ono a I'ique, of Paris, made in 1809, and tho other a' G. P. llngcerius, of Cremona, nindo in 1736, both lienirr ;,j splendid condition. Tho latter has "the Croniona varnish, which lias been a lost secret for tho last century. Mr. Samt-lieorgo expects to return to New Zealand next year. Ho hns written L ! ' ool; W , r st ready for !ho press, entitled, "The Fiddlo: Its Selection, Preservation ' and Manipulation." .

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