THOUGHTS ABOUT MUSIC

Evening Star, Issue 25068, 8 January 1944, Page 3

THOUGHTS ABOUT MUSIC

(Hy L.D.A.) Regular readers of this column may pernapd recall references made in the past to wiat giited young Uariganui pianist, Colin jj.<j#a.e.v, who Icii -New Zealand iu llWtt to talie up a scholarship at the Royal College of Music, London. From time to tune word ol Ins progress has reached me, and I have been most gratified to learn that the success I predicted for him, even before his departure, is now an accomplished tact. Iu a letter to me. dated October II last, and written at Wolverhampton, not far from Birmiiigiiam, Horsley says; " Thanks for your letter. J'm so sorry I could not reply sooner, but 1 have been extremely busy. Recently 1 have given piano recitals iu Leicester, Liverpool, and Manchester, and yesterday, iu the latter city, 1 played the Brahms ' Second Concerto.' with the Halle Orchestra, conducted by Dr Malcolm Sargent. I had a wonderful reception and a critique in the ' Manchester Guardian ' newspaper of which i am very proud, and will send you a copy."

"It has been very enjoyable, but rather tiring," the writer continues, " as the amount of travelling involved leaves little time for rest. You may gather this much from my present itinerary. I am to give three recitals in Wolverhampton and Birmingham, and, on Trafalgar Day 1 am engaged for a ' command ' performance at the Albert Hall, London, which the Queen and Princesses will attend, and Sir Adrian Boult will conduct the orchestra; while a few days later I have to fulfil concert dates in Edinburgh and Glasgow. • Besides all this, I am scheduled to broadcast from two northern stations next week, so my hands are literally full. However, I hope to spend a quiet Christmas in London with friends—always supposing the German planes are not too troublesome. Please give my very best wishes and regards to all New Zealand friends."

I think it is safe to say that no •Vow Zealand-born pianist has previously equalled the achievements of Colin Horsley, who is even now barely '2l years of age. To be invited to play a Brahms piano concerto with the famous Halle Orchestra of Manchester is in itself a rare distinction which only first-rate pianists can hope to attain, while an engagement at a Royal Command performance speaks for itself. I am particularly happy to realise that Colin Horsley's extraordinary musical genius has so far exempted him from overseas service, for obviously he is doing far more useful work in giving Eleasure to thousands of listeners than e could possibly do as a soldier. Some time ago I expressed the view that outstanding talent- of any sort should not be needlessly sacrificed to the Moloch of War. There was far too much of that sort of thing in 1914-18. It is a sad reflection that many brilliant musicians, artists, and literary men who were then offered up on the altar of patriotism, would have served a much better purpose had they been allowed to live.

■■. Strange coincidences have always fascinated me—even .when they are indubitably the result of pure chance. One such happening has just come under my notice. Musicians generally are familiar with the fact that Sir George Grove, the founder and first editor of that monumental work' of reference, ' Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians,' when he paid his historical visit to Vienna # in. 1867. accompanied by Arthur Sullivan, discovered a lot of previously unknown music by Schubert, which had lain hidden iu a musty old cupboard ever since the composer's' death 40 years earlier. Amongst this music was the original ■ MSS of the splendid. ' Fantasia in C Major/ better known as the ' Wanderer.' which had disappeared after the work was printed in 1823. Now here is coincidence No. 1. Sir George Grove was born at Penn. in Buckinghamshire. Last Sunday the ' Wanderer ' was broadcast, from 2YA by the well-known pianist, Henri Penn. Coincidence lies in the circumstance that last Sunday was the eightieth anniversary of the work's first public performance before a British audience, for it was introduced into England, by Charles Halle at St. James Hall. London, on January 2, 1864.

For the benefit of those who did not hear Henri Penn's bfroadcast, T must express the hope.* that at no distant date he may be induced to repeat it from Dunedin's studios, for a finer performance of this stupendously difficult music has.never been heard in New Zealand—at least, not in my time. I. have to go back to my early days in London, when Moriz Rosenthal, the great Austrian pianist, was in his prime, for a performance comparable with Penn's. This is tantamount to an assertion that Henri Perm is one of the finest.pianists I have ever heard anywhere—and I do assert it. Here is an artist of the very first rank, who should be playing a great deal more frequently in public than he does; and most assuredly he ought to be a priceless asset to our broadcasting authorities. 1 happen to know that Penn's repertoire is practically limitless; he has at his fingertips the whole library of musical literature; moreover, he is an amazing sight reader. Not long ago he played at first sight in my presence Debussy's enormously intricate ' L'lsle Joyeuso.' and played it in correct tempo, flawlessly and without hesitation. Probably not a dozen pianists in the whole world could equal such a feat. I lift my hat to Henri Penn.