MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1222, 2 September 1911, Page 9

MUSIC.

(Br Treble ClefJ

Wellington Competitions, To me ther-e is 11a argument in tlio question—"Are musical competitions of value? A section of our leaders of music in Wellington aro out of tuno with the competitions that aro to commence here at the end of next month, chietly, I think, because they imagine that such functions tend to cheap™ the art of which they are the ornaments. Very unwisely they have used the old stock argument about cramming. It cannot for a moment l:o applied to the AVellington competitions, seem.? that intending competitors were Riven nearly four months to preparo for tho particular effort I hoy have in mind to make. Four months is surely lons enough to study and practice a sons, a comparatively simple pianoforte piece, or a recitation. If it is not. then the persons concerned should realise that .they aro not far enough advance! for competitions. To so a stop farther, competitors in the future will have a whole year to prepare ,f or;n selection" studies, and the chances are that the syllabus will bo issued six months before the date of tho competition. Competition is everywhere —it cannot be argued out of existent®. !,o it in (ho industries, art's, or sciences; be it in the big musical conservatories of the. Old World or tho little priv.it" schools in the quiet back streets of Wellington. Musical and elocutionary contests are nnod, inasmuch as they give real talent its proper place, and similarly place in their proper place those win may have, through Hie ilatterv of (heir immed ; a(" friends, been led to form an erroneous idea of their ability. Com petitions, besides being a sound regulation, is (lis best encouragement of talent, ard 'he or she who wins in a fair field, wi'h n" favour in such a field as is promised in tho New Zealand competitions nextmonth, may have cause for gratification, as there is a prospect of something a thousand entries being received. It is „ofcilile for a competitor to win a sectional contest without conspicuous talent. In such cases, it rests with the judges as to whether any award at all shall bo made, so that a proner perspective is nr. ran-ed and a r"od sland-rd a«ured. 111i"ndin» eo'iip"<i(or« are notifed tl'nt entries cl"=e with the secretary. Mr. ,T. iivlccs, Featherston Etrcet, on September i . Prof. Marshall-Hall on Leonard Berwick. Writing to the Mell-nurn" "Argus" recently, Professor Marshall-Wat! said: Sir.—May we add a few words to y.-uir appreciative critique of Mr. Leonard TWwiek's playi"- last liiylif? T tlmroiHilv agreo with tin writer (hat Mr. ftonriclc is one of the most delightful cf tho many distinguished pianists who have visited lis of recent years. M"reev"\ be mss"«"s a style and a charm so peculiarly his nvn. and withal so attractive, th ■>t: not to haye heard him is to have missed something in life—in mental life—net to lie found o'sewliero. The subtle atmosn'mre in which Mr. Borwielc at once envelopes his audience. seems to me to arise from his felicitous presentment of music, not as an actual occurrence realistic and but rather as a beautiful v;= : on, deep'-,-fo't. but never transgress'')!" the nnro«i<p peletto—for instance. Marl: Mr. Horwick lures the tone from the p : anoforte, rather than strikes it. A"d wlnt telle! Hew full of enlinp nf delicri-" 1 diH-iiictions ef nerves, rhv'hmicnl n- ficulafien. of opening the Bac'l- - tho customer stiff touch which reminds one of s^idie r s eroun'''n': arms pmre than nnvHiinn but: wliieh sterns almost a tradition anioni pianists, the melody floated from (1'" instrument •as from a clarinet cr tt"te. The sam* perfection of legato made tl>e "rus f le of an"el wings" in Chopin's Scherzo a nc.vor-to-be-forTotten event: and the Inst movement of th» "Wa'diistein" a. dream of doliiht. This fascinatinT artist has (lie trift of persuadimr his audimice, who without effort of their own find themse'-es listening to his calm, craft'y disseminated rhymes and insnntimr tone. Ue seems ta caress and comfort the mind, and to present to it all sorts of beautiful, intcrestins tilings. so that, if forjrets itself in its own peculiar cares, and su venders itself to enjoyment of the strangoly-swet visions which the madeal fimrers of the musician con.iure from the instrument before him.—Tours, etc., G. W. L. Hall.Mclba's Basso. Mmc. Mclba's arrival has been quickly followed by that of Sir. Edmund Burke, the principal basso of her operatic party, who left the other artists and (ravelled tho Mcolt-an to-morrow), and travelled overland from Adelaide. This year's Mephisto will require a deal of mnkinijup for that malignant character, as lie is a frank-faced, handsome young Irish- ' Canadian, of splc.ndid height and athletic figure. Originally, Mr. Burlce, whoso parents belong (o Gahvay, was intended for the bar, and spent six years at tho Ji'Gill University, Montreal, three to graduate in Arts, and three in Law, during which limo he eouducted the Universiiy Glee Club. Finally he made such an impression wlien siuging the part of ' Elijah.. with the Montreal 'Philharmonic Society that he was; advised to follow ' music as a profession. This led to .shuly ' at the Uovnl College of Jl'usie. London, I during 191)2 and 100:1, after which the ' lyric aspirant was (aught for IS month; ! in I'aris bv if. Fournete, famous in his ' day as Mephisto. Mr. Burke's stage debut was in the south of France, at Montpcllier. and (hen at Marseilles, and he was called upon to ting four opera.' ' during bis first week. Audiences in i that part of Freneeare Gery and obstreperous, and as they assume to know all ! the operas backwards, with all the (raoi- [■ t.ional readings, are accustomed to ap- - pland and hiss a newcomer in the course I of the same aria! On one occasion the 1 •.(age fireman at Lyons had to cool •/.eat of an aesthetically offended _ audience by directing the hose at' tho pit! It seems that Mr. Burl:*} was not (lie otn fender. The victim of the riot, was a r tenor! The Irish basso's contagious 1 sense of humour .prompted him (o ren mark with a twinkle in his eye (hat In: t "survived" time months' experience in . hern France, and then enjoyed a de- □ lighti'ul engageineut at the onera bouses of Kolterdani, Anislerdum. and T,a Hague, Whilst there he was cugnired for Covont Garden, siaging first as the High Priesi ill "Samsou and Delilah.' and later.mak- ? in:: a success as ilephi-in, which he ha.< s sniig oil various ocea-ions this year, am ■t apjK'aving ai.-o in "i.a Hnnrjambula" a.m ~ "I.es ltugucnot-." Seaniia and t!'.e l\inv i- in "Lohengrin" are in this artist's repel'. ? toire. snd to all he will evidently brint an effective stage prcjeiico.