MUSIC AND RECORDS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 59, 2 December 1933, Page 19

MUSIC AND RECORDS

(By

C.J.M.)

Stray Notes. A Reminder.—The Royal Wellington Choral Union’s “Messiah” concert takes place on Wednesday next, December 6. Mr. Harold Prescott will be principal tenor at the Duuediu Choral Society’s performance of “The Messiah.” The following soloists have been selected for . the Auckland Choral Society’s annual performance of “Messiah” on December 14: —Miss Jean Morrison (soprano), Madame Irene Ainslie (contralto), Mr. Joseph Battersby (tenor), and Mr. Harold Davis (bass). At the Royal Wellington Choral Union’s performance of “The Messiah” on Wednesday, the orchestra will be placed in a different position from its usual one —on the platform between the conductor and the chorus. On this occasion it will be so arranged that it will be practically surrounded by the chorus.

Miss Myra Sawyer, the Wellington soprano, is at present fulfilling concert engagements in Dunedin, where she has captured the musical critics. She is variously described as “one of the finest sopranos that has boon heard on a local concert platform,” “the Dominion's most outstanding soprano,” “whose singing will remain as one of the vivid experiences in years.” A writer in the Dunedin “Evening Star,” dealing with the musical training .of the young, refers thus to the singing of the 'Wellington Boys’ Choir at their recent inaugural concert: “In Wellington a very successful debut was recently made by a boys’ choir of sixty voices, inaugurated, developed, and conducted by Mr. H. Temple White, well known in Dunedin for his work as adjudicator at the Competitions Festival. Mr. White has an aptitude for vocal training not excelled by anyone in this country, and it was a real treat to hear, under his compelling guidance, what someone has called “the cold, chaste jiurity of boys’ voices ringing resonantly heavenwards.” George Ellwood’s Locum Tenons. Mr. Hamilton Dickson, who has recently arrived from Sydney to take over Mr. George Ellwood’s teaching connection in Wellington during the latter’s sojourn in Europe, is a pupil of the distinguished composerconductor, Mr. Alfred Hill, and has also studied voice training under Mr. Roland Foster, principal singing professor in the Cpnservatorium of Music, Sydney, and well known throughout Australia and New Zealand as an out-

standing musical adjudicator and critic. Mr. Dickson has had wide musical experience, and was ’cellist with the Sydney Professional Orchestra and New South Wales State Conservatorium Orchestra, soloist 2FC and 2BL broadcasting stations, solo baritone St. Jude’s Choir (Sydney) and appointed by Mr. Roland Foster as assistant adjudicator in the vocal sections at the Sydney Eisteddfod. Mr. Dickson is also a composer, his works including solos for pianoforte, ’cello, songs, and two operettas, both of which have been produced.

At Mr. Ellwood’s students’ recital, held last Monday in the Concert Chamber, an "Arietta” by Mr. Dickson was performed by 46 'eelli conducted by the composer, who has also conducted performances in Australia. Mr. Dickson will commence teaching in Wellington at the beginning of next year, and as well as those subjects taught bv Mr. Ellwood, Mr. Dickson will give' lessons in singing and voice production. Symphony Orchestra For Auckland. The musical world of Auckland has to a certain extent been taken by storm by the arrival of Mr. Eric Mareo. a musician of considerable English and continental experience, who, setting out to form a full symphony orchestra, has in the short space of about three weeks gathered together a combination of 45 instrumentalists, representing a very large proportion of the leading professional talent of the city. Mr, Mareo was born in England, studied at the Guildhall School of Music for five years in Berlin and Paris. His career since then has been exceptionally varied. For 12 years he has conducted orchestras of all types, ranging from grand opera to pantomime. His experience in this connection has included work for gramophone recordings, sound-films and broadcasting while, as a solo pianist, he has also made a number of recordings tor player-pianos. His musical activities extend as far as composition. He stated during the week that he bad written over 700 works, many of which had been recorded for the gramophone. These have been published under eight names: “Evan Marsden.” “Eric Dolman.” “Guy Franklyn,” “Gary Foster,” “Leo Verney,” “Edgar Martell.” “Oscar Hammer,” and his own name. He is at present working on an opera which he hopes will be produced in England toward the end of next year. Among other aspects of Mr. Mareo’s versatility it might be mentioned that a series of “Studies for the Left Hand,” which he had written for a friend who had lost his right hand in the war, have been published in a Braille version. They can be read by the right, hand and played simultaneously with the left. Ancient History-

By the courtesy ot Mr. IV. E. Caldow, secretary of jthe Royal Choral Union, I have had lent to me for perusal a bound volume of the “Musical Herald,” containing the first numbers, beginning with the week ended May 9, 1546. The inaugural number is of four pages, and contained the following amusing extract from a French journal, headed “Making Notes”: —

The late illustrious Cherubini, the director of the Conservatoire, after having had an interview with the Duke of Orleans (the eldest son of Louis Phillipe, whose untimely death was so much and justly lamented), on some matter of importance relative to the affairs of that establishment, found it necessary to consider the subject before giving his advice. “My dear Master,” said the Prince. “I shall be at the opera to-night, and you can then tell me what you think on this matter.”

Iu the evening Cherubini felt unwell ami unable to go out. He thero fore wrote a letter, and desired one of his servants to deliver it to the Prince’s aide-de-camp. The messenger repaired to, the opera house, and, was shown into the Prince’s box, in which he found a gentlenlan sitting by himself. “Are you his Royal Highness’s aide-de-camp?”

“Yes,” said the Duke, smiliug. After having read Cherubini’s letter, the Duke looked at the messenger, in whose physiognomy he was struck with a whimsical expression of discontent. . "You are iu JI. Cherubinis service? “Yes, sir.”

“Don’t vou like your place?” “■Why. sir. I should like it very well, but unluckily I have no taste for music.” “What, you are a musician, then? "No, but I make notes.” “Make notes 1”

“Yes, A.’s and B.’s. I am condemned to be eternally making notes. I wish I had something else to do.” The curtain rose, and the box filled with company. The old servant took his leave: but the Duke, much amused, and somewhat curious, did not forget the conversation.

“M. Cherubini." he said to the composer some days afterward, “why do voii employ your servant in making notes?”

"What, your Royal Highness—has he been talking to you?” “Yes —but what is the meaning of so odd an employment?” “Why, my lord, this old servant of mine is very useful to me. I don’t compose at the pianoforte: I write at my table and have somebody at the piano to touch for me any note that I call for. It is the old Italian method.” “Vastl- well.” said the Prince, laughing, "but why choose this old i> an for a duty which he by no means seems to relish?”

“■Why, your Royal Highness, 'tis the lex ta'lionis. When this old fellow and I first met. it was in the stirring times of. the ninety-three. We musicians wore forced to teach the people patriotic songs. My worthy friend, who had a voice like a bear, made me play over the ‘Marseillaise’ to him for eight days. So I swore to be revenged if ever I found an opportunity.” “And you have found it?” said the Prince. "Yes;: it so happened that, fifteen years afterward, he applied to me to take him ns :i servant. Aha ( said I), comrade, yon forced me to accompauy you when you had the upper hand: so sit down there, and make notes for me when I want them.” The Prince was amused with the story: but. like a generous confidant, he got Cheruhiiil to give his old domestic some employment more to Ills liking than ins everlasting task of nuikij}? notes.”