MUSIC AND THE FILM

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 144, 14 December 1935, Page 6

MUSIC AND THE FILM

• : - ■ v ;■ RETURN OFvTHeIoRCHESTRA

The advent of th'ejsound-picture to the cinema in most centres in New £ealand;-as elsewhere meant the exit,ofrthe instrumentalist, even in places where during,day, sessions music, was supplied by a solitary pianoforter'^Tiie. result Was'-disastrous for inUsiciani.S'-a'nd the public, whether it iiK'e&|ft. or"not, had to be contented wiffi^ mechanical music, synchronising ;witii.'ilthe i picture. But in the opinion of ;55|p5A>' D. musical director qt.ihe"De Lu*¥Theatre?tffe'':oiiSli"estJra' is coming back to the.pictures; in! fact, it. has,>already, ; come back to that popular* picture theatre, .and is now well established in popular favour—going by the Cordiality with which last night's musical numbers were , received. ~: ',-.•■ s : The programme present9cl:. was mirable for the purpose', as the items played should prov.e.3 The opening piece was Schubert's "Marche Militaire," which, was given with spirit. It was received with great applause, for it is an essentially popular piece, especially as a,(pj[an'ofoi;te solo, as regular attendants:: at, concerts will be aware. Equal in was: the graphic descriptivje3piece: "In a PersianMarket," by Arthur'Ketelby. c This; also received sound arid; artistic!^treatment by the orchestra, which * gave plenty of proof of its excellent balance and ensemble playing; little solo passages giving bright notes of colour to the-Whole were artistically played by the; instrumentalists to whom\ they were allotted; The selection of this number- hr the programme - showed sound judgment,.'and its performance was evidence of competent musicianship. The audience expressed its approval with gustb v Other finely-ren-dered. numbers . Were ; .'.'La Serenata" (Saxone) and: the brilliant Italian military' piece "A Frangesa." Mr. Austin's task as musical director not only includes that of conducting the orchestra; but of providing and arranging ■■ programmes in keeping with the-subjects, throwij"', on the screen. Among his recent orchestral successes which .have been emphatically approved by., the audiences have been Grieg's ■ Day," "Kaymond" overture (Thbma's), "You're in. Love" (Frim'J), "Orpheus in the Underworld" (Offenbach) and- "Ballet Egyptien" (Luigini). He has in rehearsal for the great picture : "The . Crusades,!!, selections from "Tannhauser". and %akme" :(Delibes),. while recently, in England Mr. Austin made a close study of the subject of music for the cinema and of the public demand for the very best' of music. His orchestra for the De Luxe is. constituted-as follows:—Four first violins, second violin, viola, 'cello, double bass; flute,' and piccolo, two clarinets,'trumpet, trombone, and tympani, supplemented by" the' grand pianoforte (which Mr. Austin plays, and from which he conducts) and the great Wurlitzer organ.