MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1180, 15 July 1911, Page 9

MUSIC.

(Br Tredle Clef.) Elgar's Second Symphony. Those who heard the 0110 performance of 15'ir Edward Elgar's first symphony by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, under Ilerr Slapolfski, will bo interested in tho English composer's new symphony which was performed for the first time at the London Musical Festival 011 May 24. The new work has been scored for si normal modern orchestra, without resort to any of the new instruments —the sarrusoplione, the heckelphone, and all the rest of them. The Symphony is dedicated "to the memory of his late Majesty' King Edward VII." It is in the usual four movements, though the third bears the title of "Rondo'' instead of tho customary "Scherzo."

According to the London "Musical Times" the new symphony is not written upon any programme. The only clue Elgar gives as to the moods in which it had birth is the quota lion of the first two lines of Shelley's "Invocation": Rarely, rarely contest thou, Spirit ol' liclight; though anyone who tries t'o correlate tho symphony with that poem as a whole will find himself baffled. The dominant tone of tho poem is one of despondency, merging into hope at the end; the speaker is a man regretting that he is now too rarely visited by the old, pure delight of soul. The prevailing note of tho symphony, on tho other hand, is joyousness— though this, mood, of course, has to submit to various temperings. The music seems to correspond most closely with the last four stanzas of the poem, in which Shollev speaks of his love for "all that thou iovest, 'spirit of Delight"—the fresh earth, the starry night, the autumn evening, tho goldeu morn, the snow, the wsrnc, winds and storms, and "tvannuil solitude," and Lovo itself, and finally - . . '. Above other things, Spirit, 1 lovo thee — Tnou art love, and life! 0 come! Make onco more my heart thy own. The symphony will be found to offer a complete psychological contrast to tho earlier one. It is untroubled by any of the darker problems oi' t'lie soul. For the most part it sings and dances in sheer delight with life; and even in the beautiful slow movement, thoughtful as it is, there is nothing of tho tense, nervous emotion of the Adagio of the first, symphony. In tho "Oxford History *of Music" Professor Wooldridge speaks; of "jocundity and sweetness" as being the characteristics ol' the best English music from the earliest times. "Jocundity and sweetness"—no two words could "better describe tho main qualities of this second symphony of Ji'lgar's. Making Records. Teople have very little idea of all the trouble and difficulty which is attached to the taking of records for grama phone purposes, and it may be interesting to learn something of the drawbacks attendant on tho process. According to Mr. John Lemmone, who tells of Madame Melba's experiences in this connection, the diva had to attend at the special hall erected by the company for five days, remaining there from 11 a.m. till 5 p.m. First of all test records had to be nindc to get an idea of the tempo and duration of tho song. These preliminaries over, the work of getting the master record had to ba undertaken. To effect this successfully, it is necessary to have almost absolute exemption from any sound foreign to that of the singing voice. A noise in the street or the. striking cf a clock is finite enough to spoil the whole effect of the record, and, sometimes, five or sixattempts would have to be made ere a really satisfactory result was gained. Mr. Lent mono himself, whose flute records turned out very successful, ami are very p-jpular in America, has received numerour letters from lovers of music there tell-, ing him of tho enjoyment his records have given them.

Leonard Borwick in Melbourne. "The Argus" thus refers to Leonard Borwick, the brilliant pianist, who recently made a strikingly successful first nppcaranco in Melbourne:—"Many of the world's greatest pianists have been heard in the Town llall—Hallo, Paderowski, liambourg. Mine. Cnrreno, Kathorino Goodson—and, to that list of distinguished names, another must now bo added-worthv to rank with the best of them. 1 Mr. Leonard Borwick gave his first recital there laSt night, and made good all (he claims that have been advanced for him liv his European critics." . "The Ago" also declares:—"To smile (he piano with the force of a sledge-hammer is onsv enough; to paw it in the ineffable velvety way is likewise easy, but, to bring out of its tiny keys, big frame, awl le.igllis cf wire things which shape into tlio (Treat living forms of art is hard. Yet hard as it is, it is not 100 hard for Leonard Borwick. He is, in (ruth, an artist, ami one of mark.'' "La Fanciulla del West." "The Girl of the Golden West" was produced in Italian \'"l.n Fanciulla del West") for the iirst time in England at Covejit Garden en May '20, when Signor Puccini himself conducted. The mining camp, iu a_ forest-clearing at the foot of tile snow-clad Sierras, with (he miners lolloping their horses al'ler tho oullawed Johnson, was generally admired in the picturesque staging of (he melodrama. The flory tells nf Minnie's love for the gambler, of the blood which feil from that: wounded lover through the ceiling of her room, and betrayed him to Sheriff IJanco, who ultimately ploys cards for the possestiie girl and for (he life or death of (he fugitive. Playgoers here will remember (lie American drama, as it was staged for Miss Tittcll Bruno. The music, is said to be strong in construction and colouring, but the action is carried on bv a continuous recitative, and the arias aro more declaratory than lyrical. There are snatches, but only snatches, of luscious strains; and, generally, Ihe press critics seem lo be disappointed. The characters talk as easily and naturally as in real life over a vivacious orchestral nbbligalo, but the inspired airs of "La Holiemo" and "Mme. llutcHly" are declared tn be wanting. Mile. Destinn ami Signer Ha--i both ,'iclcd ami sang with "overpowering intensity," winning triumph.