A NEW MAORI SONATA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 76, 1 April 1910, Page 2

A NEW MAORI SONATA.

Mr. Alfred Hill, who is now on a visit to Sydney, has (says the Telegraph) composed a sonata for violin and pianoforte which is likely lo attract great attention, not only from its musical qualities, but because it represents a well-de-fined scheme to use in this way the folklore of the Maoris, just as Dvorak incorporated in his "New World" symphony some of the negro melodies of America. The first theme of the new work is an old Maori lament, beginning "Whaka ronga c te tau," and sung by the Wanganui natives at the funeral of Mr. Seddon, the late Premier of New Zealand. This i$ played as the leading subject of the first movement, and contiasting with it is a melody sung during a Maori game, the two being scored in a telling climax. The two lovely themes of the second movement — an adagio — are delightfully interwoven. One is a lament-, but of different character to the first one, and was obtained by the composer from the chief Te Heu Heu, who lives at Taupo. A Maori will sit for hours crooning this theme till worked up almost to a frenzy in his grief. With it is a love-song of the Rotorua tribes. In the last movement the characteristic and graceful melody of the poi dance leveals itself, associated with a song from the Cook Islands;- and the two rhythms, one in three-four and the other in two-four time, continue simultaneously, and are finally heard in a brilliant presto. An opportunity will be given t> the Sydney public to hear thic sonata at Mr. Laurence Godfrey Smith's recital next month. At the invitation of Mr. Cyril Monk, a party of musical people listened to it the other evening, and were greatly charmed with its sentiment, the skilful use made of the subjects, and the vigour of the first and third movements.

There was only one candidate in for each of the sections in the Hawtrey Estate, consequently they were allotted by the Lands Board without balloting yesterday in the following order : — Section 1, block 1, Charles Gifford ; section 4, block 1, Charles Woodward ; section 9, block 1, William . E. Bateman ; section 2, block 3. Thomas Lynch ; section 3, block 3, Margaret Slater : section 21, block 3, Michael Kelly ; sections 2 and 4, block 4, William Walker. The following sections in the Manganui survey district were also allotted without opSosition ;— 'Section 4, block 6, Heniy laddenj section 1, block 6, H. H. H-atragtoa.