WORLD OF MUSIC

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 13 November 1926, Page 7

WORLD OF MUSIC

MALE CHOIKS. The past month and the next six weeks will he «i' intense interest in tile musical world in Hawera. Tuesday will be the last concert of the season of the Male Choir, when reinforced by the Wanganui Choir, which two bodies of musicians work in a fine spirit of friendly co-operation, will give a. performance that is always anticipated with the greatest enthusiasm. The visitors will contribute the first halt and the local men the second. And with them will be the Hawera Public School orchestra of twentyeight performers, their first appearance in public. They are doing- remarkably good work and showing a spirit of confidence and observance oi expression that would do credit to an adult orchestra. It is a tribute to Mr. Fox’s care and enthusiasm that they have done so well in a compartively short space of time. The programme will be an excellent one in every respect. ORCHESTR AL SOCIETY. Members of the Hawera Orchestral Society have been rehearsing very solidly tor a considerable time past, and have arranged to put on a • programme which in many respects will he one of the best as it certainly will be perhaps the most interesting yet produced. ‘‘La Boheme” selection is always popular while the Mendelssohn members “Bees Wedding” anil “Spring Song” are not often played by orchestras. The orchestration has been specially written by Mr. Eox. The “Raymond” overture, the suite “Neutieal Scenes,” and the ever-fresh airs from “The felon do Hers” will complete a series that are certain to be heartily appreciated. The appearance ol' Mr. Harrison Cook, the basso who created a furore here on his previous performance will help to very much increase the interest.

MUNICIPAL BAND. Hard at work on the preparation for the contest, the Hawera Municipal Band realise, now that the list of competing hands is published, that they are up against a heavy task if they wish to score in the company they will meet. No less than 23 bands are entered for B Grade, and these include O'amaru Municipal, Hamilton, Dunedin Tramways, New Plymouth, and Taranaki Garrison, and bands from all the big centres. The members will have to set their minds on an intensive time of rehearsal until they leave Hawera in Febuvary for Wellington. 'Mr. Walter Kingsley, who was in New Zealand with Humphrey Bishop, sang the baritone solos in “The Golden Legend” with the Sydney Koval Philharmonic Society last week. A Sydney paper says that Mr. Kingsley sang with admirable effect the music of Lucifer. Air. Hubert Carter, the New Zealand tenor, left England for New Zealand on October 19 to attend a series of concerts.' These arrangements have been made suddenly, and. therefore, have upset his bookings for this season over here. He is, however, fulfilling some of his engagements before leaving. For the first time in the history of the Koval College of Music, two women have been appointed to the council. They are: The Duchess of Athol 1 and Lady Cynthia Colville. Lord Gladstone, in making the announcement at the annual meeting of the corporation. said the, appointments were made unanimously, and they all congratulated themselves on having the assistance of these highly-gifted ladies. The Duchess of Atholl. who is Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, is a brilliant pianist and compose:' of songs. She studied at the Koval College of Music, and holds the diploma of A.R.C.M. Lady Cynthia Colville is one of the twin daughters of the Marquis of Crewe, and married in 1908 the Hon. George Colville, youngest son of the late Viscount Colville of Culross. The organ in Liverpool Cathedral was dedicated on October 18. during the Liverpool Civic Week. 'Hie erection of this magnificent instrument was begun in September. 1923. Many well-known organists gave recitals during the Civic Week. EIGHTY 1 YEARS OF HARiP MAKING

THK OLDEST MEMBER OF HIS CRAFT. Tn a little shop off Oxford Street, London. Mr. H. D. Haarnack who will be 01 in December, still carries on his craft of 01 a kina; harps, a business he has worked in for nearly 80 years. His family have been harp makers for generations, and he is now the oldest working member of the craft in the world. He is shown in an illustrated paper with his brother, Mr C. W. Haarnack (right), who is 75 years of age.

AUSTRALIAN COMPOSERS. CONSERVATORIUM. ’S POLICY. The matter of encouragement of Australian music was raised recently when the Australian Society of Patriots suggested the use of Australian compositions at musical competitions in country districts. The Minister for Education (Mr Mutch) said that he had been assured that the policy of the Conservatorium was to encourage Australian composers. The Australian Music Examination Board was also prepared to recommend the study of suitable works of Australian composers. The Minister went on to remark that primarily the Conservatorium was a teaching' institution, and works so selected must conform to recognised musical standards. “Unfortunately,” said Mr Mutch, “the facilities for study and advice at the Conservatorium had been available only in comparatively recent years to local composers, and it is not to be wondered at, .therefore, that there is only a small volume of their work which" is suitable for tuition and examination purposes. A further difficulty arises from the fact that the demand for this class of music is not such as to warrant the expense of publishing it unless it is of outstanding merit. There is no lack of dance music and popular songs, but these cannot always he included in the examples used at the Censer.atarium. Nevertheless, the director is keenly on the alert to find works which are of such a quality as to warrant their performance by the Conservatorium Orchestra or the String Quartet, and it is his intention to give such works greater prominence in future programmes, ’ ’