MUSIC WEEK

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 36, 11 August 1930, Page 15

MUSIC WEEK

A FINE CONCLUSION

SIR HUGH ALLEN HELPS

INSPIRING EFFORT

After seven full days of music, real music of a very wido range, fellington's Music Week, tlio capital city's contribution to a Doniinion-wido festival of music, was brought to a conclusion on Saturday night By a superb concert in the Town Hall. This was Saturday's only musical event, and full and careful preparation had been made J>y the special festival choir and or«hestra. Together with • band and great organ and leading vocalists they . provided a concert of a type which could not but cause the greatest enthusiasm, and which provided a perfectly satisfactory close to the week. The public's appreciation of this concert, and of those of the last day or two, did much to atone for the apparent apathy, which, owing partly to the tad weather, seemed to prevail in the earlier part of the week. The promoters of Music Week must have felt that their hard-working efforts had not been all in vain, and that the objects of the festival had been, in part at any rate, attained. On * Saturday night, unfortunately, the wet weather again adversely affected the attendance. But despite the rain, a very fair audience was present for the occasion, and all were highlyappreciative of the programme. Their Excellencies the Governor-General and Lady Bledisloe, were there, , and the Government House party included the distinguished musician, Sir Hugh' Allen, Director of the Eoyal College of Music, London. ■ That Sir Hugh Allen should address the audience and actually take part in. •the programme by conducting the final item was an unrehearsed and unanticipated incident, and all the more welcome for that. It had been .intended .that Mr. Bobert Parker, C.M.G., should lave conducted Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" from "The Messiah" as a fitting finale to Musio Week. , That he should have done so would have been entirely appropriate, seeing that Wellington's veteran musician was responsible for the conduct of the three previous musical festivals held in Wellington, the first in 1888 and the last in 1903. -And to the organisers) of whom he- was one, of the present festival his advice and help have been invaluable. But unfortunately Mr. Parker could not be present, and what was loss in one direction was turned to gain in another, in that Sir Hugh 'Allen very kindly stepped into the breach. Prior to taking the baton, he addressed the audience briefly but tellingly. SIB HUGH ALLEN'S REMARKS. It was a curious thing, said Sir Hugh Allen, who was introduced by Mr. Ernest Dawson, that the last thing he had done before leaving England was to conduct a musical festival < at Oxford. To be present at Wellington's musical festival gave him great pleasure, and Wellington had done an. important thing by holding such a festival. As it was' with the human body, so it was with music j^ach/could only remain healthy by exercise. Unless people made their own music," the future of the art was in danger. Those who came and listened were doing their part just as much as' those .who actually performed. If the real thing, actually performance, was' neglected and mechanised music allowed to take its place, music was going to suffer. Referring to the afternoon's football match, Sir Hugh Allen, with a twinkle in Ms eye, suggested that the chorus that evening should be looked upon as being quite as important as the football team, and; he humorously added that he thonght that those who had not attended the concerts should be severely reprimanded and their lives made a burden to them. "You are the salt of the earth," he said, addressing the .chorus, "and you are,doing something for the cause of music without which music is going to suffer." Taking up the baton, he concluded by saying that;he would now address himself to his "new found friends," and orchestra, and choir alike indeed found in him a very friendly conductor, and they responded by giving him of their very best in Handel's ■ stately and. magnificent " Hallelujah Chorus." THE FINAL CONCERT. "A very full two bobs' worth," was one of the many verdicts passed on Saturday night's concert, and as many people heard the concert for a humble . shilling, or for nothing, the Value they got was certainly very large. The' programme ,may have appeared to some rather <4h the "heavy" side, but with a whole week of similar music beforehand, it was a culmination. at which none could legitimately cavil.' This concert was particularly interesting, owing to the fact that quite a number of conductors in. turn took charge during the programme, and the contrast in styles was illuminating. The concert opened with Elgar's setting of the National Anthem. Miss Amy Woodward was the soloist, and had the support of the festival choir and orchestra. Mr. H. Temple White conducted and Mr. C. W. Kerry played the organ. Although, o£ course, naturally very familiar to everyone, the National Anthem must, to many of those 'present, have taken on » fresh dignity and beauty by being heard in this setting. The full combination, choir, orchestra, and organ, reinforced by the Port 'Nicholson Band, then presented Sullivan's "Te Deum Landamas.". This was Sir Arthur Sullivan's last finished work, and was composed to serve as a great hymn of praise at the thanksgiving service at the conclusion of the second South African War. It was first sung in St. Paul's Cathedral at the thanksgiving service in June, 1902, but Sir Arthur Sullivan had died shortly before. De- _ yotional and inspiring, this "Te Deum" fulfils the purpose for which it was written, and the choir on Saturday night made the most of it. Indeed, their singing in this and other items was something to bo long remembered. The orchestra, although good at times, did jiot rise to the same high pitch of excellence as the choir. Miss Amy Woodward was then heard again in "Softly Sighing" from Weber's "Der Freischutz." The orchestral accompaniment ;was conducted by Mr. Frank Crowther, and soloist and orchestra alike gave a most pleasing rendering of this classical item. The audience became really thoroughly appreciative when- the orchestra, under tho baton of Mr. George Ellwood, played Mendelssohn's popular "Buy Bias" overture. Encores were not the order of the evening owing to tho nature of tho programme, but Mr, Ellwood was vociferously recalled. Elgar 's "Land of Hope and Glory" broughtthe first half of tho programme to a close. Miss Nora Greene, tho soloist, received adequate support from choir and orchestra, conducted by Mr. Frank Crowther.

The finest musical treat' of tho evening, and one abont which there was no mistaking the appreciation of the audience, was the opening item of tho lecond half of the programme. This was that concerto of Beethoven's known •8 "The Emperor." Mr. John Bishop was the solo pianist, and Mr. George Ellwood conducted the orchestra. This concerto for piano and orchestra is one Of the finest in existence, and In the piano paTt Mr. Bishop rose to great

heights. Had the orchestra been as good as the soloist, tho concerto would have been an outstanding feature of the week's music; as it was, it was distinctly good. The choir was very happy in the next item, which was "The Challenge of Thor," from Elgar's "King Glaf." Mr. Ernest Jenncr conducted and found ready response. Mr. E. J. Hill was to havo sung next, but lie was unable to appear. Sir Hugh Allen conducted choir and orchestra for the final "Hallelujah Chorus,", This well-known and triumphant chorus from Handel's "Messiah" was tackled in resolute spirit, a fino volume of sound characterising the vocal part. Tho final playing of the National Anthem was conducted by Mr. John Bishop. OVEB A THOUSAND PEKFOKMEES. During the concert Mr. Ernest Dawson, on behalf of the committee, gracefull; thanked all those who had laboured so hard to make a success of Music Week. "During tho week," ho said, "wo have had the great joy of seeing the musical forces of the city unified in a way which has been unique in the history of Wellington. The success of the concerts has been due to the co-opera-tion of those who took part in the various performances." No fewer than 1250 performers had contributed to the week's festival, providing a wonderfully wide held of music. From the best conductor of all down to the smallest school child who had taken part, all were responsible for the success of the week, and were deserving of gratitude. Tho art of music, he was sure, would receive an impetus as a result of the festival. He concluded by reference to what had been tho aims of Music Week, and enlarged upon the need for encouraging people to learn to sing and play.