MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1431, 4 May 1912, Page 9

MUSIC.

(Bi Tkebii CiefJ An Outburst. No one who knows him intimately would accuse Mr. J, Maughan Barnett, conductor of the Municipal Orchestra, of being possessed of an indulgent temperament, least of ail those who have suiig or played under him. He is a highly strung," sensitive,- and conscientious musician, with definite, ideas, and idea Is only restricted by his temperament. His outburst at Tuesday's concert was quite natural, and he will have many sympathisers in the attitude which lie has been forced to take up by the apathy of the Wellington public in regard to the orchestral concerts. They have been good concerts—as good, if not belter, than one would hear anywhere in New Zealand, and but a degrco inferior to some of the leading orchestral concerts in Australia. For this, thanks to Mr. Barnett. By his energy and enthusiasm he was able to secure a guarantee against loss last year, and that guarantee was renewed 'this year, but what is the use of that if an orchestra has, time after time, to tuno its lyre before a few hundred people in a hall capable of seating 2500. Let anyone .put themselves in Mr. Barnelt's position, ami consider whether his threat to throw the whole thing up was not natural enough. It is a serious reitection on tho Wellington public that any ono picture show in Wellington entertains more people in any one night than the Municipal Orchestra can attract to a concert. For years Wellington was without an orchestra at all—we starved for the radiant joy that wells out from strings, woodwinds, am! brasses in happy association; wo lived on memories of orchestras that were; and our ignorance to tho ecstatic delights of a Beethoven symphony or tho nervous thrill of a Tscliaikowski ruasterpieco deepened in the silence of neglect. Then came Mr. Barnett with an idea. He had to fight, too. to carry it through. But he won, and the orchestra was created, and has done increasingly good work—with what encouragement ? As far as one can judge—and looking at the position from a grossly commercial aspect—the only hope for tho Municipal Orchestra is to give its concerts after church hour's on a Sunday. Then, and only then, will they be assured of -audiences of encouraging dimensions. Tho real music-loving public of Wellington— a city of over 70,0(10 inhabitants—consists of about 300 or 400 people.

A Monument for Guilmaht. There is now circulating amongst organists all over the world an appeal (in French) for subscriptions to the Guilmant Monument. It reminds tho reader that Alexander Guilmant, "tho bestknown, and most popular organist in tho world, expired at his property at Mendon, on March 28, 1911, and that, as Professor at the Paris Conservatoire, as founder of the concerts at the Trocaiicro and The Schoia, as on eminent composer, and as a marvellous executant, ho lias left behind for all his admirers, friends, and pupils, the memory oi a great and generous artist." The proposal is to erect a monument in the deceased organist's honour in the Trocadero Concert Hall, Paris, and a committee has been formed, which includes the names of Saiut-Saciis, Massenet, Dubois, Wider, Fan re, anst other members of the illustrious institute. Guilmant, who visited England several times and toured America on many occasions, proposed coining io Australia, as ho had an old friend and pupil here (savs the "Sydney Morning Herald") in tho laic Leon Caron (20 years conductor of (he Royal Comic Opera Compunv), and corresponded with- the late Chevalier Wiegand, and Mr. J. Edward Svkes, the last-named raying him '■'■ visit in Paris slmrilv before the French organist's death. The Sydney City Council discussed terms for a series of concerts in the Town Hall, in i'.lltt, at the suggeslion of Mr. Arthur Mason, then city or-' gnuist, but it could not he arranged. Guilmant then wrote an affectionate letter to M. Caron, in which he explained that he was not eager about Australia, as he had oulv just completed an exhausting tour of Ihe l.'nited States. Gin mant and Caron were both born at Ikiuloguc-sur-mer. and the great organist taught fhe violinist compaction, and helped lo scud him to Iha Paris Conservatoire, where lie was partly supported by au allowance nf 2HOII I'ruiics a year 'mm (he Boulogne Municipal Council. Guilmant is known lo (lie avernue concert-goer chiefly by his beautiful "Marchc runebrc et Chant Seraphimic."

Walter Damroseh. tho well-known leader of the New York Symphony Orchestra, has written a c-umic opera entitled "The Dove of Peace." Tho libretto is by Wallace Irwin. The opera has been purchased by a syndicate, ami will Ik seen next Qtaobcr at tho Broadway Theatre, New Yorfct