WORLD OF MUSIC.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 February 1925, Page 12

WORLD OF MUSIC.

NOTES'. 1 The Society of Musicians jn Wanganui is doing good' work. At a general meeting last week business relating to the registration of the society was dealt with, and a lengthy, set of rules passed. Mr. Bed wood, L..R.A.M., was. selected to the treasureship, and a splendid start, from a financial point of view, was made, by the vice-president, Mr. James Crichton, who* handed in five years’ subscription in advance. Miss Jpsie Betts reported .upon the recent conferehce of musicians in Wellington, in a clear and able manner. Mr. Gordon Moßeth expressed the society’s thanks for Miss Betts’ address and also for her representation of the society at the conference. A further batch of new members were enrolled, and a strong membership was assured. It is proposed to hold a musieo-social gathering shortly after Easter.

Mr. Percy Grainger, the famous Australian pianist, lias beeu achieving further laurels in America recently Playing at San Ei ■ancisco on the if th Novemlier, befoi% an audience of 9000 at the Exposition. Auditorium, he met with a success which, according to the San Francisco Bulletin, “almost equalled in fervour the demonstrations given Paderewski and de Paehmann last season.” f~Le was also pianist with symphony orchestra, under Alfred. Hertz in the Greig Concerto in Ai Minor. Mr. Grainger lias also been earning high praise from the critics in other cities in the States, including Minneapolis, New York and Boston.

Miss Bosnia Bm-kman is in the midst of a heavy season. Besides appearing this season with the British National Opera Company, she and Mr. D’Oisly are to appear in the grand opera season at- Vienna.

Ben Davies recently completed his forty-fifth year as a tenor soloist for tlie ‘‘Messiah.’’ The Daily Mail reports that with the exception of a few forced high notes the veteran tenor is as splendid as ever in. his favourite oratorio. i . THE PIPE ORGAN. This great instrument lias been aptlytermed “the king of instruments.” and when one hears a recital or even the playing at a church service the fact is impressed on one’s mind that, in the organ is comprised practically every instrument on which a.t will the performer who has control of his instrument has at his command, so as to give almost; the impression of a whole orchestra, or at least all the instruments which are represented on the sto.p registration of the instrument on which he is playing. And therein, of course, lies alike one of its greatest difficulties and its most striking charms. Unlike the great conductor, drawing from the players under his control by his magnetic personality the. best that is in them, the gifted organist has the best the organ can give in the pipes and reeds of the instrument, and it is his musical taste, combined with his own powers of execution, that decide what the combined result- may be. According to his taste, so is the artistic effect, and many a player, not a. great executant, is yet able by his innate sense of what is most fitting to secure effects that are a joy to tlie listener and his playing much appreciated by his audiences. Such results would be practically impossible on any other single instrument, where the player has. as it were, to make his effects. And in this respect the organist has a great advantage over all others. The marvellous effects to be secured on a really large and well construeted organ are. impossible to be imagined by anyone who has not had the opportunity of. hearing a great organist on a first-class organ. But, on the other hand, it is wonderful what a master c'nn draw from an indifferent instrument. The late W. H. .Tude Avfts an organist who had .this gift in outstanding measure. Truly the organ is a great instrument, and anyone who has the love for music can get from it pleasure such as perhaps no other will give him.

Tn Hawera the people are extremely fortunate in having three, quite good instruments in the churches. They are used every week, and are a powerful help to the. music of the churches. From time to time an organist in one or other of them gives a series of recitals. Tie gives his hearers selections culled from the best masters, which, no doubt, arc an education and a pleasure. But the support generally accorded even by the people of bis own church is very indifferent, and the organist is apt’ to become discouraged. He certainly deserves a great deal more, for he gives of his time, his energy and his talents. Such a series is now being given by Mr Clement Howe at the Presbyterian Church, and in bis selections are to" bo works of every nation and of every age, front the best, masters. > We hope tlie people of his church specially and the town generally will give him the support lie deserves, and that, even if it is at times discouraging, he will not be deterred from continuing, realising that he, is doing a good work, even if only comparatively few appreciate his efforts as they should.

THE MUNICIPAL BAND. Growing in numbers every week, full of enthusiasm and desire to exeel, this company of instrumentalists are making a name for themselves wherever they go, and are showing an improvement that is quite noteworthy. At Ngaere last week they created verygreat enthusiasm by their excellent playing, and were encouraged to plav bevond the time actually allotted to them. And still the people wanted more. Their conductor, besides being a first rate cornetist, is a musician of outstanding ability in his particular sphere of work. He has, too, the ability to fire and enthuse his members to .great and continued efforts. The result is already amply apparent and will continue to increase in effect as the weeks go by, and also as they are given greater opportunity by securing better instruments. • That is an undoubted need. On that depends not a little of their ultimate success and the standard to which they can. reach. THE MALE CHOIR. . Good steady work is being done by the choir under their new conductor, Mr Howe, in view of the first concert of the year. They have a lot of new work under practice, and could do with more good voices. The committee wkmld always be glad to hear of new members, especially first tenors. The year promises to be one of exceptional interest, and the first concert will be awaited with great anticipation. But the choir will need to work and work hard to back up the enthusiasm of the conductor. Individual effort will accomplish a great deal, and this will be of immense value to society and' conductor. The resultant effect it is hardly possible to overrate. If they all give of their best the people of town, and district, will give them support commensurate with their effort, for the public is very quick to measure the interest and enthusiasm of members of a musical organisation.

STRATFORD OPERATIC SOCIETY,

The annual meeting this week showed.that the year has been very successful, 65 active inembers being on the list. The committee state, inter alia,, that the success of the society rests on individual members. The need of a larger membership is stressed, and members are urged to take this in hand themselves. It has been decided to alter the name to the Amateur Operatic Society. The next work to be produced will be “Miss Hook of Holland,” and it is hoped to give an extra performance in New Plymouth. The principle of musical reciprocity is strongly supported by the Wellington Choral Union, and of this two practical demonstrations have been given to Taranaki.; The idea was mooted and, to a certain extent, carried into effect by the Male Choir some years ago. The results, are certainly good and far reaching.

BAND CONTEST. A SUGGESTION. The band contest in Auckland, with' its array of first-class bands, has prompted the suggestion that the revival noticeable in, tlie brass bands of South Taranaki might be further aided by a band contest at the most convenient centre, probably Ha.wera. There are 1a number of bands in this district, somewhere 1 about the same standard, and all are showing a keenness to progress that speaks well for the future. The suggestion to bring them together on one day to compete in a quickstep .in the afternoon and. test selections and own choice in the evening, or perhaps afternoon ijdso, seems a means of inspiring, them' to further efforts. Tlie rehearsing for military and musical events would be of the greatest value to the bands and serve to foster very much the interest and enthusiasm of members. The scheme looks feasible, and it is worth consideration by the various bands. Possibly a circular could lie issued with a view to arranging a meeting preliminary to going any further with the scheme.