WORLD OF MUSIC

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 8 January 1927, Page 18

WORLD OF MUSIC

NOTES

The Now Zealand Society of ProiW sioual Teachers of Music, which win established in 11)24, will bifid its fourth conference in Auckland, commencing on January 25. Last year’s gathering was held in Dunedin. Special -attention is being paid to the music arrangements for the Renown, the warship on which the Duke and Duchess of York will travel on their world tour. A first-class band and orchestra will provide music, a squad cl trumpeters, and also a crack jazz band. That should keep the party busy, interested 'and amused. A charming book is “Shakespearean Music in the'Flays and Early Operas.” by the late -Sir Frederick Bridge, long organist- of Westminster Abbey. lie gives us sonic interesting facts, and introduces us to various personalities, among them a -learned Doctor John Wilson, later professor of music at Oxford, but -at one time identified with the “Jake Wilson” who may lia-ve sung tenor for Shakespeare himself, a nil eoitainly the collector of many Shakespearean songs. Concerning him Sir Frederick says: “I -have -stated that he lies in the Cloisters of Westminster Abbey, and in the course oi tunc the inscription on his gravestone became much worn bv the feet of the many visitors to the Abbey. At the suggestion of a- musical enthusiast, the Dean amt Chapter ordered the stone to he re-cut. and while the workman was carrying out his task, the gentleman who had got it done .stood _ by and explained what a distinguished man lay beneath the stone: “Shakespeare’s Tenor. Professor of Music at Oxford, Gentleman of the. Chapel Royal, and a great composer.” The workman listened witn interest, -and then, pausing for a- moment. exclaimed: Ah ! I wish L had know’d that when we took that there drain-pipe through him ! ’

BAND CONTEST,

THE OFFICIAL JUDGI

In view ol the fact that the Haweia Band will be competing at. Wellington next month, it is interesting, to read some particulars of the judge appointed for the contest. A critic says that a splendid selection for the New Zealand contest in Welington i-n February is that of the- great British band conductor, Mr. William HalliwcU, as the adjudicator. Mr. HaHiwell comes out hot- upon his victory in the world's championship at the Crystal Palace with the St. Hilda Colliery Baud. He advises and coaches many bands, and at either Belle Vue or the Crystal Palace lie ’’■vs constantly taking his position in, front of the crack competing bodies. It is by his advice and tuition that St. Hilda- Band lias been enabled to achieve and retain its high position. He pays periodical visits, prepares the test pieces, and conducts- the band in most of its contests and concerts. Air. Halliwell has been a prominent figure on the contest field for many years, -says the Australian Bandsmen, -and in liis younger days was a most successful teacher. He competed in the old days -against the giants of the contest field, and earned laurels- that made the band world proud of him. His first victory -at the Crystal Palace was when •he carried off the coveted Thousand Guineas Trophy with Fode-n's Baud m 1910.

The. retirement of Ur. Win. Dimmer gave Mr. HalliwcU his full chance. He took over the best- of that- conductor’s hands, and at both Belle Vue and the Crystal Palace it became quite the usual custom to -hoist the name of one or the other of Mr. Ha Hi. we life hands as champion. His Crystal Palace records alone are worthy of the highest respect, for with Foden’-s as champions m 1910, he did -rather more than the hat trick in the to-llowing years with the winning of the greatest contest in the British Empire, as follows:—1911. Oovssfiekls Perfection Soap Works. 1912. St. Hilda Colliery. 1913, Irweli Springs. (No. contest from 1913 to 1.920). 1920, St. Hilda. 1921. St. Hilda. 1923 Luton Red Cross. .1924, St. Hilda. The foregoing are only championships. but Mr. Halljwell has “scooped the pool” at the Palace and Belle Yu - on several occasions. His latest “liat trick” was at Belle Vue on Septembe: 6, when he won the ’Two -.Thousand Guinea Trophy with Foden’s Band, second with Wingates Temperance, and third with St. Hilda, as well as .sixth with Hobden Bridge - (four prizes out of six in a contest of 24 bands). SCHOLARSHIPS IN DUNEDIN. An ardent lover of music in Dunedin, who recently died. Mr. John Blair, has left a bequest to provide the salary of a lecturer in music at Otago University and also a scholarship of £SO per annum for two years. 1928 and 1929, to be awarded on examination results. Candidates must he natives of Otago.

OPERATIC SOC! FT Y. IN C-HIIISTGHUR( If. Th© Christchurch Amateur Operatic Society met recently to decide whether to produce the musical comedy “The Arcadian®.” The play has been produced by the Auckland Society just recently, and it played to capacity houses. Owing to the fact that flit* whole show depends upon the comedian, Peter Doody (the mournful jockey who has been riding in races all his life and never won one) the society iauxious to .secure- the best possible results, and if was decider) to call for applicants for that part. “THE MESSIAH.” WRITTEN IN 24 DAYS. It is marvellous that a. score combining so many imposing and brilh’aul qualities .should -have been composed in 24 days, says a- critic in Sydney, writing of the immortal onatoria. He commenced it on August 22. 1741, complied the first part on August 28. the second on September 6. and the l life-! on September 12, and filled in the instrumentation in the two days following. Thus the oratorio was ready two mouths and four days before -lie arrive ' in Dublin in response to the inviiatfe'i of the Lord-Lieutenant of irebind, the Duke of Devonshire, for the visit during which “The Messiah” was first heard iu public. This performance was given in Dublin, on April 13. 1742. The work was first given in London on Mnreli 23,-1743. and- it wa,s (hen ik--: the King and the whole audience, thrill, ed by the music, rose to their feet at the “Hallelujah" chums, and thus established n- custom which has continued ever since.

A PRODIGY

Four years of age, and able to play popular music on the piano by ear and in perfect time and tune. That is the achievement of Joyce Randall, of Caulfield, Victoria. Mr. Fritz Hart, director of the .Melbourne Oonservatorium, describes her as uncanny. When Mr. Hart saw the girl one night he played to her for ten minutes,.and she laugh-

ed arid cried as the music affected her. Slie demanded to heai mure. Air. Hart said that she was pnenomenuJ, out it was a pity she had been “disco; cted' so young. tie ah-.o tugeu that hei talent should not be exploited. M/.LB.V’ri JTULO&UvTiY. "I h -iio.e that one determines one’s own goal.;' sa.. s Dame Melba. “I. have had in ngHt to reach that goal. 1 have had to deny myseit a bundled pleasnies. L ltitve had to be a wanderer o.er the face of the eartn, when otliei w(.men nave known ttie joys and the won did- of home. J have had to fare hosti-it .. In'hear lies and to leave them uuan.-, w; veil, to he the victim o .scandais. which, i»od knotvs, 1 have no! deserved; to near a smiling l'a.e when it was my woman s privilege to weep, hut 1 do not regret it. I would go through it all again-- tlit" shallow a> well as tlie sunshine. "To me. a life of eternal sunshine would be insupportable. Had 1 had that, 1 should never have been a great artist. 1 should never have haci the understanding which J itope I may say, has made my interpretations of roles like Desdemona in Verdi’s “Otheilo” or .Juliet, something mote than a mere matter of singing, something which wa.s instinct with the passion of life itself. “Vv lien I began I could not act (alt,bough the papers told me that 1 could). 1 could not act, because I iiad not lived or suffered. How, then, should 1 regret the sorrows in life which have enriched my art? T have lived for art, and I have turned everything, good or bad, in some way or other, to the service of my art. I would not have been without a single moment of the pain, which, in my crowded life, has been my lot. For always, in those dark moments, one learns something. One’s character was deepened.”