HOMAGE TO BEETHOVEN

Evening Star, Issue 19588, 21 June 1927, Page 10

HOMAGE TO BEETHOVEN

DUNEDIN JOINS IN THE SALUTE

Ludwig van Beethoven, born at Bonn on December 16, _l7<o. died at' Vienna on March 20, 1837. Ho was not precocious. He had readied the ago of 31 when he produced Ins first sym- i phony. But during a period ol nearly 30 years ho was digging out the rich , ore from his mind, and Ins mintage, ■ good currency in the musical world, is just as bright as at any time in tho 100 years. Nobody suggests that his instrumental music is even beginning to grow antiijuated. The great players dare not ignore it. So Beethoven is one of the imperishable names. It is questionable whether any other name would be strong enough to warrant a centenary tribute such as I the world is paying this year._ In music, at any rate, the honoring is unique. . . Dunedin has justified Us position in I music by stepping up in a worthy manner. The Society of Musicians of Otago took the initiative in organising a concert made up of Beethoven’s works, and last night this tribute was paid in stylo to .be remembered, with a house ” booked full and a series of per- i formatters that afforded much pleasure. _ j Counting all in, no fewer than H i musicians took part, and if one could number the men and _ women entitled to so rank who were in the_ audience, being prevented from participating by tho necessity to bring the programme within reasonable limits, the assemblage would surely constitute a record. Beethoven achieved many great conquests in his lifetime, and the honors paid i to him since nro innumerable and varied, but it may perhaps be permissible to reckon amongst bis minor triumphs that his name sufficed to dissolve the differences of practically all tho j musicians in this corner of tho cartn — ; for the time being, at any rate. | For the occasion the stage had to bo , extended. The Male Choir sat at the rear, most of the men remaining in i position all through, and there was at times a bit of a job to contrive the exits and entrances of others engaged, though, thanks to good management behind, no confusion ensued. ‘God Save the King’ having been sung in unison by the Male Choir, with the Orchestral Society supplying the band part, Dr Galway the concert proper opened with ‘Creation’s Hymn ’ as arranged as a part song by Hans Sachs. In this the voices were somewhat forced, and subscribers to the Male Choir concerts noticed that it was a disadvantage that the men were standing so far back ; nevertheless the hymn was sung well, its nobility covering the drawback. Then the Dunedin | Orchestral Society, conducted by Mr James Coombs, gave a broad and spirited performance of tho ‘ Egmont Overture, ’ features of which were the compactness of the upper strings, the conversation between clarinet and flute in the triple-time movement, and the . accordance of tho finale, led into by l some pretty work from the horns. | Miss Mabclle Esquilant sang_‘ In Quest a j i’oraba ’ most ailistically. Though fol- j lowing immediately an orchestral piece , m which strength was called for and exuberance allowable, Miss Esquilant at cnco created the proper atmosphere for tho sad song, and her singing was marked by a sense of duty to tho composer rather than to a showing off of voice power and beauty. Tho audience ! noted these good points about the favorite contralto’s contribution. Tho trio tor piano (Mr C. A. Martin) violin (Mr J. A. Wallace), and ’cello (Mr Harold Beck) in G flat, one of Beethoven’s 1 very early productions, proved to be a delight. Though it opened a little timidly, tho three players at once struck form and gave a pciTormauco mil of thought and beautiful execution. Tho adagio may be deemed onq of the triumphs of the concert. In it was heard Gcrardy-like work on the ’cello that fitted in well with tho sure violin playing and the consolidating certainty of tho piano. A perfect understanding between the three was a great help to the whole trio, and particularly important in the handing from one to another in the concluding presto. Mr John Leech was in good voice lor tho ‘Sacrificial Song.’ He took it very quietly, making points oi purity of tone and evenness, and the people recognised tiro appropriateness of that treatment. Miss Mary Fraser essayed a big responsibility in playing the 1) minor sonata , fop piano. The first' movement of that ■ sonata is so simple in theme that its real beauty has to come from interpre--1 tation; yet Miss Frazer made this interesting, and she went on to a charming delivery of tho adagio, giving the rein , to all sorts of poetic fancies and the 1 rosolvings thereof. The second part commenced with the first movement of the ‘ Eroica Symphony’ bv the Dunedin Philharmonic Society, Signor Squarise conducting. The treatment was on bold lines, very graphic, full of body. The eight first violins were, perhaps, n little lacking in weight for the full orchestra , at strength, but at mezzo forte their oneness was delightful, and the five ’cellos

were a great Lelp. Signor Squarise evidently ■ felt sale-in letting his orchos tra “ go ” in tlio tornado passages, and ho got the required effects. Miss Me cl a Paine lias seldom sung hotter than in lire song ‘ Contritip,’ her voice being unfailingly certain in all respects; whilst the change from penitence to gladness was made great use of. The audience clapped till they were tired of the presentation of the quartet in E flat by Messrs C. A. Martin, J. A. Wallace, 11. Ninimo, and Harold Beck. It was a glorious and unbroken success, the allegro charmingly airy and graceful, the andante masterful and worthy of the greatest praise. Mr Ernest Drake followed with the once-faraihar song ‘ Adelaide,’ to which ho did full justice, his lovely voice and wise methods suiting it; and the concert ended with a majestic delivery of ‘ Hallelujah ’ (from ‘The Mount of Olivos’) hy the Male Choir, the fngal passages hold firmly, the finale a dignified and irresistible setting forth of Beethoven at his greatest. Such a wind-np would atone for a weak concert. It clothed tins concert with glory. At the conclusion Dr Galway, on helm If of the Council of the Society .of Musicians, thanked the performers and ail who had otherwise helped. To those general acknowledgments may he added —wo arc sure the doctor will not obiect a special “ thank you ” to Mr Martin for his aid in tackling the accompaniments single-handed, as well as taking part in the chamber music. H was a test of endurance ns well ns ability.