WORLD OF MUSIC

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 20 February 1926, Page 11

WORLD OF MUSIC

HAWEBA MUNICIPAL BAND A GREAT ADVANCE. For a very long time the members of the Hawcra Municipal Band have been up against the difficulty of endeavouring to secure the best results from very indifferent instruments. It was this handicap facing the enthusiastic conductor, Mr. Fox, which led to the Carnival that resulted in the very large sum of money being raised in the town and country districts, through the agency of energetic committees, a sum which enabled tin; order for new instruments to be sent Home through Dominion houses who specialise in band instruments. The consummation of the efforts by these committees is now evidenced by the arrival in Hawcra of the instruments.

They certainly are a very fine and handsome set of instruments and have been much admired. They are the best that could be procured and will serve the band for many years. Mr. Fox was exceedingly well pleased with the general workmanship of the instruments and looks for very marked improvements in the tone secured by the band. He is confident that the enthusiasm shown by the band which even under the adverse conditions of having poor instruments has been very great, will be strengthened and increased.

The future of the band will be watched with deep interest by all. As a fact the new instruments have arrived just at the right time for the band is looking forward in a month or two to competing in the contest at Wanganui where it is expected- they will meet practically all the bauds of the Coast. The conductor will now be able to push on with the formation of the junior band, comprising young men anxious to learn to qualify for the baud. It will be a very valuable addition to the organisation. He will have the valuable co-operation of Mr. Gould, assistant conductor, in the training of the young players. ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY. Matters continue to progress most satisfactorily and as the weeks go by members are getting ever keener and more delighted with the big 1812 overture and the other fine works now under rehearsal for the opening concert of the season. I; promises exceptionally well and will be quite the best orchestral achievement, in the history of music in Hawcra. OPERATIC SOCIETY. The committee of the operatic Society are in the throes of the usual proplem that faces them every year, after the beginning of the season, the selection of a work for the year. They have had a number under consideration and have not yet made a selection. The choice appeared to be between a Gilbert and Sullivan opera or a musical comedy. Nothing could be better or more popular than the Gilbert and Sullivan, but it is a specialty in production and demands much more of any society than a musical comedy. And it is to be feared that such a work is a little beyond them and that even if produced really well it would not draw audiences for five nights. It really demands a larger population from which to draw houses. But in any case Gilbert and Sullivan will not be released for amateur production.

There are four musical comedies under consideration, it is understood, “The Arcadians,’’ “The Runaway Girl,” The Quaker Girl,” and “Gay. Pa.risi.onne.” Any one of them would be very popular and all have been performed with great success in other

centres. With the advent once more of New Plymouth .Society, Hawcra lifive to be the more careful in selection because the iield from which they drew houses will b'e more limited. The decision of the committee will be awaited with very great interest and members will be keen to get to work.

IN NEW PLYMOUTH. After a period of hibernation the ! operatic society in New Plymouth has been re-formed and the interest created thereby and the enthusiasm shown at ■ the meeting held this week bid fair for . the future of the society. New rules have been set out and a list of operas and musical comedies from which a selection is to be made. Mr. It. W. Kenand has been appointed conductor and practices will begin at once, after voices have been tested. ANOTHER GALLI-CURCI? “And I think that in January, 1930, my co-directors will have the great satisfaction of having found another Galli-Curci and Toti Dal Monte.” Such were the -words with which Mr. E. J. Tait (Williamson, Tait, Ltd.) concluded a thrilling story for the Press. “Several weeks ago,” he relates, ‘ ‘ Mr. E. .T. Roberts, musical director at the Criterion Theatre, heard a young girl sing through the walls of an apart meat house. He was so enraptured that he ascertained who she was, and invited her to his house so that his wife (Miss Olive Godwin) might hear her in order to confirm his own opinion. “He then came to me, telling me of this remarkable voice, with the result that he arranged an audition at Her Majesty's Theatre. This took place in the presence of Mr. Andrew MacCunn, myself, and one or two other members of the Williamson-Tait organisation “All of us were tremendously impressed. “Thinking we might have been overenthusiastic, we asked for another audition. “At this she sang ‘Caro Nome,’ the Shadow Song from ‘ Dinorah,’ the Mad Scene from ‘Lucia,' and ‘Una Voce’ from ‘Borbiere,' finishing up a halfhour’s wondrous performance by singing the scales —amazingly! “Not in 25 years’ experience can Air. AfacCunn or I remember havingbeen so impressed by any young singer. “She has a coloratura soprano, with an extraordinary compass—just on three octaves. She sang a low B natural and an arpeggio up to A flat in alt.; and her teacher informs us that she sings A natural and the low A natural. “Her voice l is of striking purity, without any appearance of effort or straining in her production. “Considering the fact, that she has just turned 15 years of age, the volume of tone that; she produces is quite remarkable. “The clarity and bird-like quality of her high register makes listening to her a pure delight. “Her technique is amazingly well advanced for a student so young; and we feel quite confident that the tone is of that pure quality which will gain strength —ns time goes on—in the right • direction.”

The fortunate singer’s name is Winnie Amelita Baquie.