WORLD of MUSIC

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 4 July 1925, Page 7

WORLD of MUSIC

PERSONAL. Mr Lowell Patton, who was in New Zealand with Chautauqua, writes by last mail of having enjoyed nine operas in one week at Cleveland, l -S.A. it was the occasion of the Spring Music Festival, during which the Metropolitan ’Opera company gave "Atnca.ua,” “.I* aust, ‘‘l nn a to) e, .1 «.tgliacci." ‘.Falstafl. "t oq d'Or,” “Traviata,” "Parsifal,” and "dales of Hoffman.”- What a musical feast! Mr Patton states that the operas were :,ive„ in the new Auditorium which seats 21.(XX) people, and the artists seemed to be inspired with such a huge audience. Hie whole production was wonderful, and the cast excel.ent.

0 KCHESTRAL SOt IKTY. Affairs are going along fairly well with the Orchestral Society in Hawera, but some members could with advantage show more zeal in the matter oi practice, d hey should realise that, as was stated at the meeting when the orchestra was re-formed, they have an unusual opportunity to progres s and do good work. But no conductor will continue to give of his best without stint, as does Mr. Fox. unless the members show that they reciprocate. Their first concert is fixed for July 16 and it promises to lie exceptionally interesting. The committee has seemed the services of Miss lores a McEnroe, the popular Wellington soprano, fresh from her visit to the Continent. This, then, will be an opportunity the musical people of Hawera do not often get, and it is hoped they will support the society as it deserves in its efforts to raise the standard of music in Hawera. On this programme also will be Mr. C'arson, of Eltham, a. popular basso, who has a capital voice and a good knowledge of singing. Mr. Carson is a singer whom we should hear ottener. He is a distinct acquisition to any programme.

MALE CHOIR. The practising lor "Hiawatha, the oreat' work of Coleridge Taylor, is going ahead satisfactorily, and members are beginning to get a good working knowledge of their parts! The chorus will probably be about twenty strong, and with a good orchestra will be able to give a capital performance

MUNICIPAL RAND. The Municipal Band continues to improve, and its work earns fiom critical listeners ungrudging approval. There is no doubt the band is getting effects and performing work which not long since would have been thought impossible. The tone of the playing is improving all the time. The bandsmen are a distinct credit to the conductor and to the town.

AMATEUR THEATRICALS. A SUCCESSFUL PERFORMER. NEW ARRIVAL IN HA AVER A. A recent arrival in Hawera, whose advent should be welcomed in musical circles, is Mr. A\ . J. \\ oollett. secretary of the New Zealand Federation oi Operatic Societies, who hails from Palmerston North, wheie his activities in the amateur operatic and theatrical sphere have made him a prominent and popular figure. It will he remembered that as secretary of the federation since its inception some four years ago. All’. AYoollett was one of tliose wild were responsible for the negotiations which resulted’ m the substantial reduction in royalty fees secured by amateur companies throughout the Dominion. Among other offices Air. Woollett has held that of stage manager of the competitions festival since their inauguration in Palmerston North, and for some years lias acted in the same capacity for various school operatics and concJerts. Endowed with the personality which appeals from behind the footlights he also, possesses a tenor voice, which has earned .distinction and has successfully appeared in the tenor roles in such productions as' "The Pirates of Pengaree,” " Pinafore.” "The Mikado. "San Toy,” "Our Miss Gibbs,” "Dorothy,” "Le Cloche de Cornvilie,” and others. In support of charitable and school institutions Sir. \A nollett has also written and prod noted three reviews, "The Giiq Behind the Powder,” “Gee AYliiz.” and “Bone Dry." all of which as breezy entertainments achieved pronounced success with the Palmerston North public and received favouraide press comment. Air. Woollett’s theatrical and musical abilities should make him a valuable acquisition to the ranks of Hawera enthusiasts, whose work in providing entertainment is always accorded much appreciation, and it is to be hoped he may be induced to join their ranks.

MUSIC FOR CHILDREN. A very interesting and important departure is being made Dy tlie \\ aiiganui Orcliestiai Society, widen is giving an afternoon ior the children ol Standards J.V., \., ami Vi., of the Wanganui schools at the Opera House on Thursday next, at 3.10 p.m. ’J he orchestra will play six items, the meaning of widen will be explained bv the conductor (Mr. \\ ill .Hutchens, Mils. Rac.;, to the children. Demonstrations will be given by the various instruments to illustrate their, tone colour. The Headmasters’ -Association is making the arrangements lor ache present, and the movement, is one that should commend itself as having uommodating 1200 children who will an important place in the education of the children. A similar movement has been -inaugurated in Sydney. A ,Sydney paper states that the first orchestral matinees by the Conscrvatorium Orchestra attracted a large audience of young people, ior whom these concerts are specially designed, while yet appealing to adults. MIXED ENOUGH. The visitor to the village church took the old verger to task at the close of the morning service. “Yon told me they had a ‘mixed’ choir here. Why, they’re all males.” “Yes, sir, I lyiovv that. Rut it’s mixed al] the same. Some of ’em can sing and some of ’em can’t.”

TWO NEW ZEALANDERS. SPLKNDI DAP PRECIATJ ON. The opinion is expressed by the musical critic of the Daily Telegraph that a violin-cello recital is perhaps more difficult to sustain than any otuer kind, both lor the recitalist and the audience. Ihe idiom, according to a London correspondent writing on May

10, is one which can he \ erv- scon exploited to the uttermost, and then there is nothing left but to go through the various permutations and combinations of its potentialities. "When, therefore a ’cellist can incite an audience as Mr. Arnold Trowell did recently at the Wigmore Hall,’’ he continues, "we are compelled to recognise in him more than ordinary qualities. Mr. Trowell not only plays the ’cello, but is a musician in that sense of the word which the more sensitive among us would like to. have applied to ourselves. He has very dehiiite pre-conceptions —aloof and unyielding they are — and he can give them clear and fine effect in every succeeding phrase. He thinks in terms of phrases, and adjusts their iliter-re-.ation .'so surely that iiis muffle 3s born© along by its own movement, so to say. The 'Boccherini Concerto in B flat and the Brahms Sonata in E minor were both performances wherein eloquence was an essential quality’ and not fabricated by gesture of flourish. L n the Adagio of the Concerto and the last movement of the Brahms Sonata Mr. Trowell’s lull, rich, and rounded tone emboldened him to break through his austere regard of control for a space, and then it was that lie came near to rhapsody. For the remainder, however, he, quenched all signs of familiarity, and gave tribute to the abstract.” Mr. Charlton Keith played the pianoforte parts. By her very successful pianoforte recital at the Wigmore Hall recently Miss Esther Fisher enhanced greatly the reputation which she already holds in London as a very talented pianist. 'There was a very' good audience .at the Wigmore Hall, and keen appreciation was expressed of her playing. Her programme was an interesting one. the composers selected being Brahms, Schumann. Chopin, and Debussy. Artistic depth and colour characterised her playing of all five movements of Brnhm’s Sonata in F minor, Opus o, while light and shade were well defined in her Schumann group (Kriesleriana. Op. IG} of eight Fantasies, especially in the quicker movements. The Chopin Berceuse was delightfully played, while great delicacy and sureness marked her playing of Debussy’s "L’l-sle Joyeuse.” In response to insistent requests for more, Miss Fisher responded with more encores. She was very charmingly dressed in flesh pink georgette, her swathed sash being finished with a deep silver fringe.

THE WORLD MUST SING. BIRDS HAVE NO MONOPOLY. Not only the birds sing in springtime. This' is also the busiest time of the vear for the writers, the publishers. and the singers of popular songs (write Layton and Johnsston. famous cabaret singers. in the Liverpool Evening Express). For between them they arc deciding what ditties they are' going, to make that mysterious thing the Great Public sing and whistle and dance to at every restaur:int. cabaret and holiday picnic during the summer. Do not for a moment run away with the idea that the Public sings I just whit it likes. The Public is induced to hum the new season’s tunes exact! v as a schoolboy is made to repent his A.B.C. This is done by ..what is known as the gentle are of plugging. Plugging songs lips reached an extraordihary pitch of perfection m America. The actual writers are so steeped in their subject that they' tuin out a -song a day. Some are bad, some indifferent, but when they strike a winner, and the contract’ has been signed, the publisher issues immediately-' black and white copies to 20 or 30 turns on the road which are likely to gauge pretty accurately the reaction of the public to the new song.

MUSIC ON BOARD SHIP. The science oi sound magnification, already familiar through its utilisation at great public assemblies, where it enables very large audiences to hear the voice of a single speaker, has now been jmt to good use on hoard ship, to relay music played hv the hand to passengers in every part of the vessel. By means of the "ship’s orchestra repeater,” a Marconi installation, music played in a saloon can be perfectly reproduced in other parts of the ship, thus making it possible for dancing to take i place on the decks, or for conceits to lje enjoyed by many more people than could actually assemble to hear them at first Hand. The satisfactory operation of this installation, and its value as a means of increasing the enjoyment of passengers on a sea voyage have been demonstrated in the recent trips of the Canadian Pacific liner Montclare, the White liner Cedric, and the 11.M.5. Arlanza. The Afarconi apparatus employed incorporated the latest technical dir*provements. which have rendered the magnification of sound not only remarkable for its volume, hut also for its flawless quality.