Mimes and Music.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 155, 21 November 1896, Page 2

Mimes and Music.

Messrs. A. F. Hill and Arthur H. Adams's, cantata. " Hinemoa" was performed on Wednesday last for the first time at the concert in connection with the inaugural celebration of the Wellington Industrial Exhibition. From time to time t have alluded to this work, of such signal merit both musically and in a literary sense, so that my readers are aware that, in effect, it is the Maori legend of Hinemoa, poetically and dramatically treated, and set to original music for voices and orohestra. The composition captured the large and critical audience assembled to listen to it from the outset, and the enthusiasm at times was great in the extreme. The main theme of ths work —the " Magic Flute" melody—fascinated the listeners with its weird charm. The cleverly descriptive lake music was also muoh admired, but the great descriptive power shown in the "Ra-ha" ohorus—a Maori war-dance in musio with voice accessories—simply carried the audience away, and caused the talented composer to receive a perfect ovation. Mr. Adams's literary work in the chape of the poem itself was also the theme of general commendation, and deservedly so. The performance, which was under the auspices of Mr. Maughan Barnett's Musioal Sooiety, was, in short, a brilliant success. Two other original compositions were also produced for the first time on the above occasion —indeed, were specially written for it. These were—A concert overture by Mr. Maughan Barnett; and a setting of Psalm 8, "O Lord our Governor," by Mr. Robert-. Parker. Both- of these were splendidly presented—the latter being sung by the members of the Festival Ohorus Sooiety. (The Ghinatown > Company are coming! Mr. St. Clair writes me that they will arrive in Wellington direot from Sydney at the beginning of Deoember. They will only play in Wellington and Auckland, as they return to America by the December mail boat. The Company have done enormous business on the other side; and only the other day at Bendigo the "genial Joseph "—otherwise Mr. St Olair—was fined for permitting overorowding in the theatre. The Potter-Bellew Company will follow " Chinatown," opening first in Auckland. The English and American variety people brought out by Mr. Arthur Garner for his new Palace Theatre, whioh is to open on Boxing Night, will fill in time at the Melbourne Princess Theatre, opening there" to-night. Mr. Walter Baker, the big handsome hero* of all Mr. Bland Holt's recent melodramas, has had an offer from Mr. Nat Goodwin of a 40 weeks' engagement in New York or London. He is considering it, and awaiting details by mail. In the meantime, Mr. Baker has bought the rights ot a drama written by a Syduey man—Mr. Bernard Espinasse —who is author of several other pieces, including a smart curtainraiser named "In the Dark," whioh Mr. Brough has possession of. Mr. Harry Jewett, last here with the Majeroni Company, who has been for some ' time in America, has now joined Richard Mansfield's crack company, for leading business. Miss Edith Crane, of the American "Trilby" Company, joins Mr. Maurice Barrymore's Company at New York for the coming season. The Broughs coined money in Melbourne, as in Sydney, with their latest comedy, "A Mother of Three." "The New Woman,'' a comedy in whioh mere man "takes a back Beat," was privately, played by a party of lady amateurs in Nelson last weok. Women only were privileged to see the performance, whioh is said to have been most amusing and remarkable for the excellence of the aoting, particularly of one young woman in the character of an old man, part of whose duty it was to nurse the baby. ' Mr; Sims Reeves was interviewed at Johannesburg on 18th September last, when he judiciously alternated his jarring remarks with a little antidotal " soft soap, of which, however, there was not enough to conceal the fact that his South African experiences have not been altogether pleasant. Mr. and Mrs. Reeves left Capetown for London on 7th October. But he previously stated that he yet intended to carry out his scheme for a tour in both America and the Australasian colonies. Mr. H. G. Harrison White and Miss Colbourne Baber (Mrs. White) are settled in Paris, where the soprano is studying hard under Mme. Marchesi, • the course including the traditional rendering of Italian arias, Frenoh music, oratorio, and, above all, Mozart music, for which Marchesi declares Mrs. White to have just the right class of pure soprano voice. Mr. and Mrs. White are deriving no muoh advantage from their studies in Paris that they consider it probable that their stay there will last into next year, and that their absence from Australia will be a little longer than was at first intended Brahms, the well-known composer, recently sent a cheque for £600 to the Sooiety of the Friends of Music, Vienna, to be devoted to any purpose which the Society may think will best advance the interests of music. Sir Alexander Mackenzie has written the music for the next Savoy opera, due some time this month. Why complain of the want of songs to sing when melodies like the following will presently, according to an English oontemporary, be in print?—"Granny'sVacant Tooth," now being sung at all the popular London music-halls. A sequel to "Blossoms on My Father's Nose," by the author of." Father's Pants are Out of Pawn." "I Breathed Upon Her and She Died." This song is a masterpiece. An air of onions pervades it that is irresistible. Can be sung in whisky minor or beer flat. '' Baby's Footsteps in the Soup," a sweet lullaby, with refrain, by the composer of "The Shirt She Couldn't Wash." Lieutenant Dan Godfrey, the distinguished bandmaster, will shortly (in conformity with the established rule) retire from his position of conductor of the G_renadier guards' Band—a band which he has made world-famous. It is reported that he is about to form a band of his own, drawing his players from the large number of old military bandsmen who at present find their best opening in orchestral work after leaving the service. Lieutenant Godfrey began his career in the Guards' Band 40 years ago, his first official appearance of bandmaster being on the occasion of the return of the Grenadiers to London from the Crimea. But the connection of his family with the Household Brigade dates from 1813, two years before Waterloo, when his father, Charles Godfrey, joined the Coldstream Regiment as a bassoou-player. He was very soon appointed bandmaster. His threo sons have jjucoessfully followed in his footsteps; and at one period the three regimental bands of tho Household Infantry were under their command. —Ospheus.

The Pope expects groat results from the recently-ioiued Encyclical on the union of the Churches. His Holiness thinks its effect will be some time in making itself felt, but it will be none the less deciaivo for all that. The Encyclical was chiefly intended as a reply to Mr. Gladstone and Lord Halifax, who had both made advances to the Pope with the object of finding a ground for effecting a reconciliation and union between the Churches. As they both seemed to think this union could be brought about by a kind of .federation, the Pope judged it necessary, in order to dissipate any misunderstanding, to reoall to mind and reaffirm the doctrines of the Catholic faith, convinced that by so doing the object both had in view would be better attained tb»m if he had allowed any doubt* to exist upon the aubJMt.