MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1216, 26 August 1911, Page 9

MUSIC.

(By Tuedle Clef.)

Sousa's Versatility. John Philip Sousa is net only tho conductor of Sousa's Band and the composer of a hundred marches. His talents are as diverso as tho winds, and they blow as high at times. For instance, we in New Zealand know nothing of Sousa's comic operas, of which ho is the author of half a, dozen—two of them at least big successes—"The Brido Elect" and "El Capitau." The book of. the latter was written by Charles Klein, tlie author of "The Lion and tho Monsa" and other successful plays. It is always'being played somewhere in America, and it is a great wonder that ; we hayo not had it in this part Of the world. Other operas of Sousa's are "Chris," "The Charlatan" (produced in Europe as "The' Mystical Miss"), "The Free Lance," "Desire?,": "Tho Smugglers," and "The, Queen of. Hearts." On his return to New York at the conclusion of the present ■ tour, Sousa intends to produce another opera entitled "The Glass-Blowers," for which ho predicts as great a success as "E Capitan" and "The Bride Elect." Sousa is also an author of some note. His "Fifth String" is now in its twentyseventh edition, a:id "Pipetown Sandy" is a steady seller always. It is a book for boys, told with that fascinating blend of dry, American homoiir and Mark Twainish philosophy. "Round the Year With Sousa" is another quaint publication repleto witli Sousa "Say-So's," and with the year of the birth of all: the prominent composers on their birthdays. He was decorated with the Victorian Order ■ by tho late Khg Edward, and has had many orders bestowed on his pleasing person by European rulers.

Memories of Madame Schumann. Of Madame Schumann, the foremost woman pianist of her time, Mr. Leonard Borwick (now in Sydney), who became her pupil in 1883, retains ■cherished-memories. Musical history records the achievements of this great woman, and her devotion to her husband, whose music, she made known bv her own interpretations. 'Though she played so much of (ho music of Robert Schumann," 'he says, "she was really many-sided. She gave, for example, the greatest version of Beethoven that I have ever heard. Then she had ihe tradition:- of Chopin's music, for she had mot him, and had heard him plav. Madame Schumann had a huge hand for a woman—big, and with broad fingers, and ?:he obtained a magnificent tone -from tlio piano. She was, indeed, a remarkable woman, and an artist to the finger-tips. She had the highest ideals of her'arl, just as Dr. Joachim had % lie was a great man, just as Madame Schumann was a great woman." When Mr. Borwick went to Ihe Tloch Conservatoire, Mdlle. Janoiha, one of the most famous of Madame Schumann's pupils, was just concluding her course of study. The visiting pianist has won high praise, not only from the London criljcs, but also in Germany, France, Italy, Xorwav, Sweden, and Denmark, for his refinement and stvle, as well as for his polish of technique. Jle is now visiting Australia for the first time, for, though he has a brother living in Victoria, the distance from Europe had previously deterred him from l;;i. vi-yagi, until n was r.UKger-b-'d that he should include America v.-ilh Australia. This is a nlan he has agreed upin. so that, when he concludes hie four of the Commonwealth he will set out for Pan Francisco, and after seme recitals there will go direct to Now York nnd thence ,-eturn to London. The grave, hitherto unknown, of a great Englishman, William Blake, the author of "Songs of Innocence," has been located in Biinhill Fields, London. It has nhrave ] K ei known thai Blake, who died in August, 1527, found a gravc-a pauper's crave—in the old burial ground of Bunliill Fields, but ils exact position has hilherlo been in doubt. In lliis "God's A'it" of Nonconformity rest Defoe, Bunyun. Dr. Isaac Walls, and other Iriglish celebrities. Disgusted Fisherman (emptying his bait inlo Hie .•ticanil: "Hanged il I'll wail on you any longer. Here, help yourselves."