THOUGHTS ABOUT MUSIC

Evening Star, Issue 21900, 11 December 1934, Page 3

THOUGHTS ABOUT MUSIC

[By L.D.A.]

“ Miuic gire* tone to the unlT*r§«: «ing« to the mind: flight to the /imagination: a charm to sadueas: gaiety aad life to everything.”—Plato. Though I have only been in London, at the time of writing, a little, over two months, I have-already had so many interesting musical experiences that readers of this column may like to be informed of them. Naturally my first pilgrimage was to the Queen’s Hall, where the fortieth season of the promenade concerts was in full string. It is hot easy to describe these worldfamous orchestral functions. To begin with, the term “ promenade ” in this connection is a complete misnomer. During the whole season of eight weeks, -comprising forty-nine concerts, of which I attended thirty, there was scarcely ever standing room, let alone room for promenading, so at Queen’s Hall the expression has become a pleasant synonym for remaining on one’s feet, unable to move in any direction, for nearly three hours, nightly. Under ordinary circumstances this would be so irksome as to be almost unbearable, but the vast standing audiences at the “Proms” do not appear in the least degree incommoded by this nightly ordeal. So absorbed are they in the marvellous musical 'fare put- before them that the question of fatigue no more occurs to them than it does to the “ deus ex machina,” Sir Henry Wood himself, who seems perpetually fresh, no matter how much work is thrust upon him. . « * * » ■ What the amount of this work really is may be faintly gleaned from the following few particulars: — . There are, of course, preliminary roll e'hrsals before the promenade concerts begin, but, it is not generally known that, in addition to several extended practices prior to the inauguration of the regular season, a , three-hour rehearsal is held every morning while the series lasts —that is to say, conductor and orchestra are working six hours daily over a period of two months, and Sir Henry Wood has been doing this for forty years! _ > .But the tale is only half told. Besides these herculean labours, when September'arrives Sir Henry has to direct orchestral classes at the Royal Academy of Music twice weekly, and as soon as'the “ Prom.” season ends he is hard at work' with' rehearsals for 8.8. C. symphony concerts and a host of other musical events in various cities and the English provincial towns, not forgetting many engagements abroad. One would naturally suppose that all these activities would satisfy the most, energetic temperament, but anybody who thinks that does not know Sir Henry Wood. It is my inestimable privilege to be numbered "among his personal friends, and I have visited him several times at his delightful country residence near Riokmansworth, about twenty miles from London, where are to be seen many more evidences of his exhaustless industry. ■ » ’ * , * < * Appletree Farm House, as this charming old-world dwelling is called, dates hack over three hundred years, and Sir Henfv, who is an expert carpenter, has with his own. hands restored those portions of ~ the;, building which had deteriorateci (tlirough 'Ahe passing of centuries; he has pub in new windows and doors, built summer houses in'different parts of the extensive grounds, and in many other ways has improved the property greatly, without in the slightest degree deviating from its original style; nowhere is there a single note of anachronism., r One of the huge barns* in,the garden has been most ingeniously and effectively turned into a reception room and studio, the walls of which are hung with pictures that reveal yet another side of this amazingly versatile man, and that he is an artist of distinction cannot be doubted by any good judge of painting. In fact, it is hardly too much to say that if all else failed Sir Henry could earn a handsome income by means of his brush and palette. Amateur carpenters may be to -learn that the window frames in this studio were constructed out of old railway “ sleepers,” which are of toughest oak, and all hand-sawn. * * ♦ » In my conversations with Sir Henry 1 found him to be very pleased and not a little surprised at my accounts of cultural progress in New Zealand, so much so that after a lot of discussion he seemed most favourably impressed by my suggestion that he should tour the dominion, and. of course, Australia, taking out with him as many as possible of the Queen’s Hall orches: trnl players, and supplementing these with tiie cream of Now Zealand’s instrumental talent —the combination o[ about sixty to perform in all the main centres and in a number of the smaller towns. The details of this projected tour were worked out,and- perfected by another New Zealander whom I had introduced to Sir Henry Wood —viz., Mr George Ellwood, the well-known ’cellist of Wellington, who, 1 in conjunction with Mr J. Nevin Tait, of Messrs J. and N. Tait, the London representatives of J. 0. Williamson Ltd., had practically finalised all arrangements, when _ a disastrous motor accident, : involving Lady Wood and her younger daughter, nipped everything in the bud for the time being. But it is as certain as anything can be in this mutable world that the tour as originally planned will eventuate in the autumn of 1935—(0f course I mean the Mew Zealand autumn) — starting at Auckland early in March. Several circumstances have combined ! to place Sir Henry Wood in the limelight this year more than usually. First, ob course, the celebration of the fortieth season of the Promenade Concerts captured the public’s imagination. Then came the revelation that he had successfully hoaxed his audience. This was amusingly, described in a London paper as follows; —

“Sir Henry Wood has been pulling the leg of the musical public for five years. He has a dual identity. Resides being one of the most famous conductors, he is Paid Klenovsky, whose orchestral transcriptions of Bach’s works have been acclaimed all over the world. Generally speaking, British musicians get little recognition for their work, so Sir Henry thought h’e would play a joke on the snobs. In 1929 he produced, at Queen’s Hall, Bach’s organ ‘ Toccata and Fugue,’ as allegedly transcribed for full orchestra by one Paul Klenovsky, formerly of Moscow, The Queen’s Hall pundits were enthralled. They implored Sir Henry to play it again and again. Then they wanted to know, more about Paul. So Sir Henry wrote this note on the programme: fit is a pity this young man died, for his transcription shows the hand of a master in every bar.’ Other equally linttranscriptions ihade their appearance in due course. Music-lovers shook their heads sadly over the tragically pre-

mature death of this genius. And now Sir Henry has let the cat out of tho bag.”- * * * » Queen’s Hall audiences have shown no resentment/at being so neatly thus taken in. On the contrary, the warriith of the receptions tendered the famous conductor this season has eclipsed all records as-regards orchestral concerts. On the final night of the ’ 1 Proms.,” for -which Sir Henry very kindly sent me, a seat, the scene of excitement and enthusiasm ate the close simply beggars description. For half an hour tne vast audience applauded, cheered, and shouted, in token of their esteem and affection for the man who has done more for the 'advancement of orchestral music in England than anyone in history. Mingled with this demonstration was, an unmistakable note of sympathy on account of the accident to Lady Wood, who was more seriously hurt than first reported, but is now. I lam glad to say. making a good recovery. The Promenade Conceits have no parallel anywhere in the world. Sir Henry Wood is a supreme master of the baton, and his readings of the greatest music for the orchestra are always imbued with authority and the fire and feeling of a front-rank artist. If the projected tour of the Antipodes comes off according to schedule, I predict that New Zealand musicJovers are going to have the time of their lives—something that will stir them from their usual concert apathy. I have never yet seen a New Zealand audience really enthusiastic over orchestral music. Perhaps the occasion does not often arise. But it' will do so in 1935.