MUSIC MEMORIES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 264, 4 August 1936, Page 2

MUSIC MEMORIES

Dvorak’s ‘Stabat Mater’

ONLY WELLINGTON PERFORMANCE Concerts on s.s. Rimutaka This is the fourteenth article written liy Mr. G. A. Kennedy, of Hataitai, dealing" with liis memories of music and musicians of half a century ago. The previous articles appeared in ‘‘The Dominion” on April 23. 29, May <f, 10. 2<i. ■Tune 2. 13, 15, 23, 25 and 29. and July 8 and 15. The Festival Choral Society gave a concert in the Opera House on June 29, 1896, the programme consisting of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 in D major, and Dvorak’s “Stabat Mater." This latter lovely work, described by one of the leading English critics as “absolutely original and absolutely great,” had not previously been heard ip Wellington and. as far as I know, has not been performed since. The principals were Miss May Sullivan, Miss Isabel Mee, Mr. M. C. Rowe and Mr. Barry Coney. Mr. Parker conducted.

The principal item on the programme of the Orchestral Society’s first concert of tlie seventh season was Schubert’s “Unfinished Symphony.” In addition to this the orchestra played the overture to Smetana’s comic opera, “The Bartered Bride.” The ballet, music to Calderon’s fantastic drama, “Love Above All Charms,” the "Sylvia" suite (Delibes), and the fantasia, “L’Etoile du Nord” (Meyerbeer). Miss Phoebe Parsons sang “Ave Veruin" (Mozart), being accompanied by Mr. Spackman (violin). Mr. Barry Coney (piano), Mr. Alfred Hill (organ), and Mr. Woodmass (contrabass). Mr. Alfred Hill conducted, and Mr. Hotop led the orchestra. Nervous Breakdown. 1 suffered a severe nervous break-, down about this time, caused largely, I am afraid, by niy devotion to music, and was ordered by my doctor to take a trip to England. I sailed in the old Rimutaka (Captain Greenstreet), from Lyttelton, on August 12, 1896. On board ship in those days, as indeed everywhere else, people had largely to eater for their own amusement. One of the first things done was to form an entertainment committee, of which I was appointed organiser. We got up a small glee club and used to sing “Oh, Hush Thee, by Baby,” “Oh, Who Will o’er the Downs so Free,” and other old favourites, copies of which were found on board. The entertainments originated 'in the second class, in which I was travelling, but we always got what help we could from the first class, and all the' passengers of both classes attended the concerts.

One day on coming into my cabin I found on the table a green envelope addressed to me, on opening which I found the following missive written on corresponding green paper:— S.S. Rimutaka, September 5, 1896.

“Mr. Kennedy. Dear Sir.—As a steerage concert is about to be organised, and that will be held on the first saloon deck on Wednesday next, you will greatly oblige if you are kind enough to act on the piano as an accompaniment to the vocal talent that will likely be forthcoming. Hoping you will oblige, I beg to remain, yours faithfully. S. L. Simons. P.S. —Another thing I will thank you for if it will onlj’ be possible for you to arrange (i.e.) to give me facilities to look through music that is to be got at for the occasion.”

I recognised in the writer of this composition a little dark chap of Jewish extraction, who had been taking a leading part in the activities of the third-class passengers. As I had a certain facility in "vamping” accompaniments and dance music, I thought lie had about struck the right note in describing this accomplishment of mine as “acting upon the piano as an accompaniment.” Of course, I replied that I would be happy “to oblige’* as far as lay in my power, and a rehearsal was arranged to be held in the music room while the first-class passengers were having dinner. On going up I found a mixed “concert party,” drawn from the steerage passengers—stewards, cooks and firemen—and we proceeded to business. “Now,” I said, “who comes first? What are you going to.slug? Got the music?” “No, haven’t got any music." “Oh, well, just hum it over.” Having made a note of the approximate key wo proceeded to the next. “What aro you going to sing?” “Awkward Squad.” “Got your music?” “No, no music.” “Just hum it through,” and so on through a list of 15 items. Any Old Key. On the appoiuted evening all the passengers were gathered on deck and then the fun began. My preparations as regards the “pitch” of the songs snug by the various performers turned out quite abortive, for it did not follow that the second verse of a song should be pitched in' the same key as the first; indeed th e contrary was generally the case, and I was left floundering about in m.v endeavours co ■‘find’’ the vocalist again while he continued calmly on his way. A Dr. Coates, who was on board and was returning to England with bis wifo and two daughters after being settle:! at the Hutt for some years, came up to me afterward aiid said: “Kennedy, we've had a grand evening., but we got more amusement in watching your face than in all the evening’s entertainment put together.” I asked him if m y hair had turned grey in the course of the evening, and was much relieved at being assured on the authority of a medical man, that there was nn"perceptible change.