MUSIC

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2908, 21 October 1916, Page 13

MUSIC

(By "Treble-Clef.") Paul Dufault Again. Concert lovers will be glad to hear of the coming return to New Zealand of tho French-Canadian tenor, Mr'. Paul Dufault, whose Australian tour has been such a triumphant success. Mr. Dufault has visited. Sydney and Melbourne twice, Brisbane, Adelaide, and many provincial towns, ami almost everywhere has the charm and culture of this areat interpretative artist found tho fullest appreciation. Mr. Dufault is to leave Sydney for New Zealand at the end of the month, and will leavo Auckland for Vancouver by the Niagara on November 28, as he wishes to bo in New York by- Christmas. Wagner and the War. Somebody in Rotterdam nnist.havemuch sparo time and a fertile imagination, for hero is a special cable which was widely reprinted in. the American dailies [—"Several members of a German opera company returning homo after a. prolonged Wagnerian through Holland were arrested on the charge of smuggling. The charge was based on these discoveries: 'One woman had a sido of bacon around her waist; a hollow spear carried by one of tho singers was filled with margarine; Alberieli's helmet was filled with butter; Brunn'liilde's bosom bulged with soap, her pillow was stuffed with sausage's"; Fafncr, the dragon, was stuffed with flour; Siegfried's back was padded with twenty-two pounds of fa. Tie Dutch Customs authorities confiscated all these foodstuffs.'"

| The Orchestral Organ. What is the music of the future to bo? Whither are mechanics driving us? Can the art survive the staggering shocks of automatically-made music? Such questions will occur to many when they hear tho new orchestral organ, which is to supplant' orchestras in the picture theatres.' As a. keen lover of good music, one must deprecate tho coming of tho automatic band (for fiiat is what it is), whilst' profoundly admiring tho ingenuity and resource that liavo been brought into play in creating such an amazing continuation of musical forces. The "Austral" organ, as sot up on tho stago of Everybody's Theatre (and which is later on to be erected in the Empress Theatro is an instrument with a front 'elevation of about 20ft., with a front elevation of about 20ft. It is roughly divided | into three sections, a twomanual keyboard in tho centre (the lower one plays a piano) with an array of switches, press buttons, and pedals that make ono giddy to con-, template. By a series of littlo tablets that rcspoiisively* pull out or knock in ; the operator can get the dosired registration, violin, flute, clarinet, full or part brass, piccolo, bugle, 'cello, etc. Then as an aid to effect there are pedals which place drums, xylophone, bells, motor horn, an imitation of the noise of a railway train, storm noises, at tbo disposal of tho operator. 'The organ (pneumatic in principle, with an electric blower) is encased in tho right-hand "compartment," and shows a row of gilt pipes, and tho effects are contained in a simi- 1 lar compartment to the left. What cannot bo done by pressing a button is not worth mentioning, First of all, the "Austral" can be played by hand, or by inserting a perforated paper record, it will perform just as cheerfully "on its own," giving a range of music that covers every motion reflected on the screen. It will dash from Chopin's "Marche Funobro" (played as tho dead body of a hero passes in the picture), to a laughing lilting "rag" when a gay carabot scene in being displayed. Then as the starving woman dies in tho snow clutching her ragbaby, tho organ (eliminating other more earthly sounds) will play "Rock of Ages," and will evon start the sobs for the audience. By pressing a button the record will stop, and the operator can continue to play himself. Thon, if he tires; he merely presses a button labelled "play," and off goes tho machine again, resuming its "record" musio where it left off. Thero nro places for two records, and it is possible forjone to bo re-wound and replaced, while the othor is delivering the goods. Thoro will bo differences of opinion as to the tono colours | employed, and as to whothor such music will in_ time pall on sensitive oars, but there is no denying tho astonishing ingenuity of this latest American device for "potting" music. With a gramophonej a playor-piano, and an "Austral" organ, the futuro of tho professional musician docs not altogether presont % cloudless horizon.