WORLD OF MUSIC

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 29 August 1925, Page 16

WORLD OF MUSIC

NOTES. Air. Runnicles, judge at the competitions, was very complimentary to the Hawera community on the possession of .so many .societies, useful to any town and district. He said it was remarkable to -see so many avenues of music being explored by enthusiasts, and he envied tlie societies the talent they had. It was quite .striking to see so much good material for the leaders on which to work. He considered that tlie standard of choral work here compared more than favourably with other towns.

It is of interest to note that the ‘la.te Mr. Andrew Black, whose memory is cherished in this country, as well as in England, sang the baritone solos at the first full performance of the work given by the Royal Chora! Society in London. His concerts in Hawera and other partis of tlie Dominion will be recalled with delight by many residents.

The Gisborne Amateur Operative Society (are .staging “A Runaway Gill ’ in October. The chorus work (.says the Herald) in the production will also be a very strong feature, ais in addition to bright and tuneful singing, there will be plenty of dancing and movement.

HAWERA’,S FIRST COMPETITIONS

It is of interest to reoaill the first ■competitions held in Hawera four short years ago and contrast its prospectus with that of to-da.y. It is a contrast of sixteen entries—eleven children’s choir and five male quartettes. It was arranged primarily to encourage choral work among the children'.s choir. The miaile quiajrrtetteis were introduced to add interest in the Male Choir.

THE ART OF JUDGING. I The ideals o‘f Mr. Runnicles, who judged iat the Hawera competitions, on moist sections in the world of music are distinctly progressive and original. He delves deep in the field of research and believes also in encouraging originality and thought amongst the young. Talking on the question of judging, lie said “.that an adjudicator must .slink his own ego and keep his mind on an ideal interpretation of the work chosen, and compare what was presented with and mark it ini the light of that ideal. Mr, Runnicles also .said that a judge should always do everything in his power to encourage students of musical and progress, and also see that any criticism he may offer is kindly and helpful. In this way the value of institutions like the competitions will be increased, and they will be a medium of improvement in the world of art. The judge, said Mr. Runnicles, can do a very great deal in this direction.

MUNICIPAL BAND As with. the societies, the Hawera Band: goes ahead all the tame and the playing of members improves every month. The enthusiasm is well maintained and all 'are working with their eyes on the great. end they have in view, the securing oif a set of new instruments. No (band can do its (best or members get real satisfaction and be encouraged to go "ahead and work for improvement steadily unless they have the best “foots. ” Is is therefore 'up to- everyone in the community to take a part in helping an institution that is of the utmost value to any town. A feature of the competitions was the great array of brasses in the class for band instruments. This sensed to bring out a lot of young bandsmen, and the competition was very keen. To encourage the young men Mr. Pox gave medalsi for “under 16” and “under 18,” and this certainly added: to the zeist of the competitors. The band will be going to the New Plymouth Band Carnival on November 7 and will take pairt in the quickstep and the “own selection” class. It will iserve ais an additional inducement to the memibens to practice. If they could get new instruments they could, probably consider the North Island Contest.

‘ ‘HIAWATHA. ’ 5 The work of rehearsal has been pushed ahead vigoirouisly and the chorus .and orchestra, are practically up to concert pitch. The date is fixed for September 4. Tlhe Royal Philharmonic Society of Sydney will mark its 250th concert by a performance oif “Hiawatha.. This, says the Sydney Morning Herald, will revive interest in the genius of the composer of that famous work, Samuel CfolerLdgeKTaylor, whose, untimely death, at the age of 37, ended a career rich in promise of future high achievement. The first part of the trilogy, ‘‘Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast,” wa.s originally performed at the Royal Gal lege of 'Music, London, in November. 1898, and was immediately successful, so tlilalb performances of the second and third parte, “The Death of Minnehaha” and “Hiawatha’is Departure” soon followed. Extrema difficulty confronted Color idge-Ta,y lor in his of preserving the idiom of Longfellow’s poem; but we ail know Low well he succeeded, for the music reveals vividly not only the mystic charm of the story in its waive .aimpLit-iity and unaffecitied expression, but also the poignancy cif its tragedy. The aria. “Onaway, Awake,” justly holds ia high place in the world’s literature for tlig tenor voice. HYMNS ANCIENT AND MODERIN. ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST PITBLIOATION.

■Though. it was before 1875 that the most popular of hymnals, The Hymns Ancient land Modern, was first published, the present year is being; celebrated as a, kind of jubilee, which will be actually a recolleotoion otf the great Work done many yeans ago by a band of earnest men, by whose cdllabonabive efforts that marvellously fine collection was made. The work demanded great care, much research and perseverance to see that everything about the volume was as near perfection as possible. Before this first comparaitively sifuall collection wars published, practically every parish was using its own collection, and many were very indifferent. It is said that about five /hundred collections were scattered all over the Old Country, and many a grand old hymn

would bo tinkered with to' suit the . poetical and theological whims of the various compilers. The present collection, of course, grew by gradual steps, and was periodically added to and altered before; finality was reached. Its popularity must be gauged by the fact that it is estimated some hundreds of miUioais of copies have been circulated, and that it has been translated into hundreds of tongues all over the would. “THE TOREADOR). ’ Affairs are going exceedingly well, for the opera to be staged this .year by the Operatic Society, and it is .proving most popular. The producer (Mr. Theo. Tresize) is due to arrive this week, -and thenceforward preparations will march fast. The prospects are excellent. SCHOOL BAND, The band trained by Mr. Pox at the Hawera School continues to- make capital progress, and they have on occasions shown their usefulness. It is an institution -which is of the utmost value to a, school and is certain to liave a vesry strong influence for good on the- boys. ' MUSICAL PRODIGIES. Of. all the great composers Mozart Avias probably the only one avlio really was a musical prodigy, but most of them] took to music at a ■ very early age. Mozart -shoiwed a marked love for music .alt 3, and AA’as .soon playing and composing. At 6 he undertook his first European tour ais am infant prodigy. At 7 he was charming Paris, and the next year (1764) London lionised him. Compositions of his 1 17th year isfoiil delight uis. Before his death at 35 he had enriched the Avorld with hundreds of pieces of a pure loveliness that nothing in the Avliole of art surpasses. Handel, in deflnance of an unmusical father, had taught himself something

about the organ at 7, and might liave figured as .a prodigy if liis father had, like Mozart’s father, Avanted to exploit him. Mendelssohn played public AAilien he was 9, but the AMagner’s gifts seemed at first literary rather than musical.

ORCIHESTRIAL SOCIETY

The second concert of the season is now approaching, and members are showing that enthusiasm Avliich is essentials to success and development. The .programme arranged is a particularly good one, as will be seen by the following last:—Overture, “Z arnpo.” ; “The Tales of Hoffmann”; Jarnfeldt’d “Poraeludium”; Sclavonic Rha\-isody”, (Ikdedmain); “The Butterfly” (Bendix); “Ina Monastery Garden’'’ (assisted by d male choir) Ketelby.