THOUGHTS ABOUT MUSIC

Evening Star, Issue 24919, 17 July 1943, Page 3

THOUGHTS ABOUT MUSIC

(By L.D.A.) An American paper has some interesting reference to the Grainger Museum, in the University of Melbourne, founded by Percy Grainger as a home for documents relating to all phases of composition by. masters all over the world. As the Japanese hordes crept closer to the Australian mainland, i" those grave days before General Douglas Mac-Arthur aided in organising the defence of that continent, there were times when it seemed as if the rich contents of the museum would have to be moved inland and hidden. " Indeed," said Grainger in a recent chat, " I had foreseen such an emergency, and have made photostat copies of all its contents, keeping one at.'niy home in White Plains, another in Seattle. So we are prepared for any contingency!"

"The museum is designed.-In show-how composition came about. It includes many MSS. and letters to and from composers about their works—6,ooo letters from Scandinavian musicians alone, including Grieg—works of Arnold Bax, Voughan Williams, Cvril Scott, John Alden Carpenter, and others, sometimes showing several- versions of the same composition. I have had this project in mind for some 40 ye,ars. It would bo verv useful to have exact evidence on composers" wavs of working, the influence on them, and the like. It, would be helpful to correct the sort of loose statements and generalisations that are repeated from one reference to another, such- as ' Debussy owes his inspiration to Russian music,' or ' Gershwin was influenced 'by. negro music. I should like to get verification on. these matters and from the composers themselves."

Mr Grainger said he felt strongly that " since we 6pend so much time and money on music mpking it ought to mean more to us than just entertainment. Especially in the present period of world struggle -H ought to be linked in the minds of American people with their own national feelings,Americans should feel a thrill-of pride when they hear really eloquent works of the United States. I feel that quite a few compositions express this spirit as-well' as Grieg does that of Norway." . . # * » *' Mr Gramger gave as examples the late Rubin Goldmark's ' Gettysburg ' requiem, John Alden Carpenter's ' Song of Faith for chorus and orchestra, Roy Harris's' American Creed ] for orchestra,' and the '-Seventh Realm ' a quintet for strings, and the piano by Arthur Fickeusher, the last of which he thought " most important of all." '■• . . " Grieg's music expresses national aims in a symbolic wav, rather than directly., ; So sonie of our music—not necessarily the most obvious patriotic airs—enshrines our country spirit. An American in a foreign land hearin" ' Carrv Me Back to 01* Virginny ' would probablv feel that it summed ;up the.'United States for him. Most people regard music as a sort of cosmopolitan artistic.exercise. That would bo splendid if it really included all climes, and ages. But it-usually,means only about four or five countries .on the Continent of Europe, leaving-, out.' Scandinavia, Britain. Holland, au'd so forth. ,

Mr Grainger has in 'mind another project of considerable scope and . significance—the formation of an international music, society to give all the peoples, of the,world a chance to hear one another's., music. Re■rardin" the United States Government project to broadcast American and other United Nations' music ',in- 'recordings throughout the world via the Office of War Information, he believes that is 1 a step in the right direction. ;■ •' ■' , '. "Records can make, an-excellent beginning," he said. " For instance, the music of'many races is only superficially known. If we had complete archives of this sort composers covtld use authentic themes of the periods portrayed. For the general public it is important to know what rare native instruments are like and how the natives play on them." - . > -. ' J • • .-• ■«.•_■

Readers of this column, are aware that I seldom comment upon singing unless it is of a superlative quality—and ' that is rare indeed" outside' of standard'../recordings* Therefore, if I draw attention to the' voice of Miss Beryl Gough. of Christchurch, it is because I firmly believe it to be something very much out of the ordinary;. This young lady—who, incidentally, is by occupation at present a hospital nurse—recently gave ..a broadcast from 3YA. and among.her items was the well-known ' Voices of Spring,' by Strauss, of which Militza Korjiis "has made a briliant recording. Miss Gb.ugh's performance, however, appealed to me as being more musical and infiuitely more charuling than the latter—in fact, I feel that, given opportunity, her voice should prove an asset to Now Zealand's music.