MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11110, 6 May 1911, Page 9

MUSIC.

(By Treble Cut.) The Sheffield Choir. The visit of tho famous Sheffield Clioir grows near. The choir, wh:ch is at Brandon (West Canada) this evening, is duo to leave Vancouver lor Sydney on May IS), and will arrive at Brisbane on Juno 10, and at Sydney on Juno 13. After a week in Sydney tho choir leaves for Auckland on Juno 21, arrives on Juno 25, and commences its tour of tho Dominion next evening. The ■Wellington season will bo i'roiii Juno 29 to July 1 inclusive—three concerts and a matinee. The matinee is to bo given on July 1. Prices for the concerts will bu:—Reserved seats (single), 10s.; unreserved, ss. Season tickets (which are made transferable) for tho throe evening performances, will cost 21s.

Caint-Sacns on Bae:>. "What the illiterate in music; call, not without ' contempt, 'accempanimtnts,' or, ironically, science, is the flesh and blood of music; is, in a word, its substance." "Beautiful melodies and beautiful harmonics," ho continues, '"arc equally tliu product of inspiration; but who cannot see that it requires a much more powerfully organised brain to conceive beautiful harmonies? . . . Wliy is it that men of genius who originate beautiful melodies are only the men wno conceive, beautiful harmonies, and that no mediocre professor and ssiviiiit thought of writing, e.g., tho Oro suplex acclinis of Mozart's 'Requiem,' wliich is nothing but a sequence of chords? . . . The power U crcato a complicated work will always be a mark of superior organisation. And, in the same way, tho lovo of h: itiful harmonics indicates si public wliich has arrived at a high degree of culture"; whereas, simple melodies or "'tune" can bo appreciated by any street arab.

Mascagni's Naw Opera. According to latest reports, Mascagni's "Isabcau" will have its debut next May in tho Theatre Koliseo, in Buenos Ayres. As we havo previously told our readers, the South American countries have wonderfully fine opera houses. With tho Latin temperatment predominating, opera beeoir.es a kind of national pastime. Thus far Mascagni, notwithstanding his numerous works, stands as a "one opera" composer. None of his later works have confirmed the promise of ability shown in his tuneful "Cav;.!!crin Rusticana." This opera is the one which, according to the reports of Lic-bler and Co., of Now York (one of the most nliable of all American theatrical firms), caused thorn to lose a fortune owing to Mascagni's unwillingness to comply with what would seem very reasonable requests. Tho Licbler Company engaged an entire opera troupe at great expense, entered upon extensive advertising plans, secured the Xow Theatre for the debut, and did everything possible to bring success t-o the production. In fact, Mascagni had everything dene for him that a composer ■ could naturally expect. On top of this he brought in some now requisitions which resulted disastrously for tho enterprise. This cannot. fail to injure tho prospects of European composers who look to American managers to assist them in winning American dollars.

NotOS. Mine. Tclrazzini tells au amusing ctory of her younger days, wiien ana Tip.d her sister, also a great and famous singer, wore touring and sharing ranter humble, rooms. Alter thanking a landlady who had been more kind and considerate than most, tho good laay astonished them by looking up from her washtub and saying, with benign condescension : "That's all right, my clears. I'm always good to theatricals, for 1 never know what my own children may come to." Richard Strauss recently made a trip up in a balloon. Many of his critics contend that this is the first time he has soared to any extent, thrugli hehas often been "up in tho air ,, before. An attempt has been made in London to popularise grand opera by giving "Tannhauser" in tabloid form as a feature of vaudeville Mr. Thomas Boccham was responsible for it, uut the public did Jiot favour tho project. Tho positions of honour as members of the Royal Prussian Academy of .'.I'D vacated by the deaths of Karl Reinccke and 1 ,, . A. Gevaert have been filled by the appointment of Max Schillings anil Giovanni Sgambati. A considerable number of the leading British inn sic nor, arc (Totting together to arrange a World's Congress of Musicians in London. A prominent part in tho matter has been tak:'ii by Mr. Arthur Balfour, formerly Prime Minister of England, and Sir Hubert Parry and Sir Alexander MaclCenxic are also interesting ihemfi'lves in the idea, it is expected that many Americans will attend the conference. The origin of "The Old Hundredth' , has been traced back to the French Protestant Psalter of Beza, published at Geneva, in lu/il. "it also appeared in ihe year IoGI in tho Anglo-Geneva Psalter, and in the same year Has published in another edition of that work which was published in London. Nobody has discovered tho name of the composer, but since it first appeared in a French publication, it does not seem natural to ascribe the tuuo to au English or. German coinposcr.