WORLD OE MUSIC

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 18 September 1926, Page 7

WORLD OE MUSIC

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN

It was an outstanding pleasure to hear and see once more even one of tho.se wonderful creations. of the two fellow-workers, Gilbert and Sullivan, the series of comic operas which fastened on the popular imagination .-so •;<ion as they appeared, and have held it ever since. Indeed one wonders whether it will ever be otherwise. And the report from the centres of the extraordinary demand for seats, and the evident joy of the audiences, seems to answer in the negative. The music is so beautiful, so melodious, and: the effects secured so really good; the libretto is so original, so apt. and .so full of point, and always dealing with some current topic or •institution, approving that which js good, laughing at what is foolish, and reproving what is bad; that they make a most fascinating ensemble which completely captures the listener. No wonder they have lasted, and appeal- certain to endure. /The pity of it is that people in these smaller centres get. so- little. One performance, while a sheer delight, just whets the appetite for more.

“THE RUNAWAY GIRL.”

Monday evening will see the opening of the season for the Haweia Amateurs in the fascinating and clever musical comedy, “The Runaway Girl.” The rehearsals have been most satisfactory, and the cast of characters is acknowledged as one of the best yet formed for the society. All the business of the opera is going remarkably well under the able direction of Mrs. .J. Huime, of Christchurch, who has proved very popular with the whole of the members. Everything 'points to this: Velection made by the committee being an even greater favourite with audiences than anything the society has yet put on the Ijoards. The season will last five nights. ‘‘OBERON.” Another attractive performance is promised by the choral work selected by the Male Choir for their annual work With a choir and orchestra as strong as, if not stronger than, anything yet organised in Haweia, “Oberon” is bound to be a success. The practices show that extraordinarily good progress has been made under the careful training of the conductor, Mr. H. C. A. Fox, both by chorus and by orchestra, and the whole work is shaping really well. It promises to be the outstanding event in the history of the choir. ORCH KSTRAL SOCIETY. The coining concert of the Orchestral Society will comprise a first rate programme with a. number of attractive works to be played for the first time in Haweia. The reputation made by the society, especially at the last concert, will he upheld by this concert. MUNICIPAL BAND. The band contest early in the new year has given the conductor and committee of the band much thought, and wili give all of the members a strenuous time so soon as the other concerts in which the conductor is interested are over. They will then kettle down to real solid practice and training, the lesult of which will soon make itself manifest. Meantime the committee is leaving no stone unturned in. its efforts to secure a fund for the expenses of taking the band to the contest and bringing them back. The next few months will be a decided epoch in the historv of the band

THE “ALESSIAH

Palmerston North is to have a performance of Handel’s “Alessiah” there shortly. Tlie local choral body is being joined by a body of 200 singers' from the Wellington Choral Society. Similar colloboration has taken place between the Wellington body and societies in Hastings. Hawera. Stratford, and New Plymouth. 'Die Palmerston North Orchestral Society is to include in its next programme Greig’.s “Peer Gynt” Suite ami Beethoven’s “Egmont Overture.”

CONC ERTS OF THE FUTURE, t

“i believe that concerts wili become more intimate, smaller affairs; that a recital evening of the future will be an evening of music and interpretation, and that only men of great talent will sitrvive. ’’ —Leopold Godowsky.

MUSIC INCREASES EFFICIENCY IN THE FACTORY.

GLRLS TOIL HARDER ' WHEN LISTENING TO STRAINS FROM GRAMOPHONE.

This is the heading given to an illustration of ' girls working in the Westinghbuse factory (U.S.A.). The writer adds: Robbed hair and well coiffured, clad in short sleeves, pretty dresses, sitting before their machines in flexible backed chairs, working and —listening to the strains of a tuneful, melody coming from- a radio loud speaker connected with a Victrbia, *but working intently. The plan to give the girl workers music was accidental and not premeditated. according to superintendent Miller. “We were testing out some radio equipment necessary lor use with t ictrola.s and the workers in the testing section of the factory were listening to tubsic all day,.” he said. ‘‘After a whilst, the workers in other parts of the factory appointed delegates to ask the management if music .could not be provided in their part of the factory. After investigating, we found that those in the testing section of the factory seemed to he in better spirits, work was running more smoothly, and, in many eases, their dispositions had changed for the better. Arrangements were then made to have music set up in all the large workrooms.

FRITZ KREISLER HONOURED

The noted violinist who visited New Zealand and Australia, last year was dee pi v touched- by the receptions given him by the people. He lias commented in America on the generosity oi the welcome extended to his art, and tlie colonies have been extolled tor their contribution t-o jnusie. Fritz Kreisler, was an Austrian artillery olficer . during the world war. His promotion' to be an ofticer of the Legion Of Honoiir by the Government of France, a former enemy nation, lor “services rendered to France. was based on his musical art. Speaking of this unusual action, under the circumstances, the San Jnancisco Daily News- -say* editorially : •‘Humanity soon .recovers its heart ami sense, aftens all, and one of the fine demonstrations of it is in h ranee s making violinist Fritz Kreisler an officer of the Legion of Honour. Only ve.sterdav Kreisler was training Austrian artillery on French soldiers, unci the, French were tabooing German apd Austrian music, hating the beautiful Kaiserine Augusta rose and other flowers' because of their names. But the beauty of anisic and flowers suivives and it conquers human passions.”

Notes

Many musical friends in Hawera will remember Air. Algernon Lindo, one of the Associated Board examiners of recent years, a mail of very engaging personality and a. thorough enthusiast in his art' His death recently in Sydney, where he had settled some years ago. will be much regretted, and will be a ’ distinct: loss to the worid of music. ~, . , A new organ for the Wanganui Collegiate School, which the Chronicle has been informed is a very beautiful instrument of the. latest design, finish, and efficiency, has ' been wholly subscribed for by bid 'boys of the school, and constitutes a portion of. their memorial to. those old boys who gave their lives in tlTte Great- W ar. It has reached Wellington on the Remuera, and will be immediately transhipped to Wanganui for. erection in the school chapel, in connection /with which the builder. Alt. .E. H. Lawton, of Aberdeen. will make a» special trip to W angaiiui. ■