WORLD OF MUSIC

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 31 December 1927, Page 6

WORLD OF MUSIC

AMONG LOCAL SOCIETIES

Three local allows each gave a most successful performance of a Christmas cantata m «he weeic before Christmas and delighted large congregations wiau tneir performances. conductors and organists are entitled ta congratulation on their good interpretation of the chosen cantatas, They were very diverse in style, but ah had the same theme and they certainly did tnemselves much credit.

“The Arcadians,” which was so successful and attractive in Jdawera last season is -to he produced in (Jhristchurch, where arrangements have been made to- secure soeuery and costumes trorn Auckland.

In Christchurch, the conductor oi the Royal Musical Society has resigned, -the reason given by him being tnat ins ideals were not consonant with those at the executive, tie desired to given the public such works as those oi joach and Mozart—the lesser known compositions—and above those oi the modem composers of England and in these respects the executive differed and because they gave him only qualified support he considered it best in the interests of music and of the society that he should give up the work. The last concert conducted by Mr Griffiths appears to have -been very sue cessful—it included works of‘the kind he /wished' to have —.'but Mr Griffiths has, very unwisely, one would believe, expressed a great dislike for the great oratorios of Handel, Mendelissohn and Hayan. A remarkable invention in musical circles is being tried out in London by which, by means of an audographie music roll, not only can listeners get the greatest musio in the world, but also the ideas in the minds of the composers. It is in fact a reproduction of music links the eye with the ear, and through the medium of the printed conmentaries which appear side beside with the perforations on the roll, enables the music to deliver the authentic message of its composer. The idea has created much enthusiasm amongst many of the leading musicians at Home.

It was a real pleasure to hear once more the delightful aria’s and concerted numbers and the quaint humour with which the Gilbert and Sullivan operas are filled. It is tragic to know that these two Are at artists quarrelled so- seriously towards the end of their life and oooperatoin in artistic work, that they .-i r par a ted, never to renew the friendship that had subsisted so- long ami that wa s largely responsible for the remarkable manner in which music and libaretto were- so eminently suited, tne one to tln3 other. -* While writing these operas, Sujivan found'time to give to works of a more serious kind and in those greater works are. to Irf found many anas and much concerted work that recall the best in t nose, operas. His four part harmonies include much of his best work and choruses of that description occur in practically all he wrote. One has only to recall “The- Martyr of Antioch” and “The Golden Legend” and the wonderful choruses set for four parts to realise that he has written nothing better. •

‘ BERNHARDT AND GUILBERT. Yvette Guilbert, the famous singer who delighted an older generation, has written (says an exchange) “La Chanson de ma Vie”—“The Song of my Life,” in which is described a nemarkablei quarrel between the author aiu. Sarah Bernhardt: — Three weeks after my debut in Now Y'ork Sarah Bernhardt arrived. The reporters told her a celebrated artiste had met with a great success. “Who is that?” asked Sarah. “Mile. Yvette Guilbert.” “Connors pas. Don’t know her, £-CLl(l ScL’Tolil ‘ “What, Madame. Yvette Guilbert is unknown to you?” “Absolutely. Never heard 'her name.” ~ * , “We’ve been had,” said the reporters. “And she is getting thirty thousand dollars a month!” “Thirty thousand dollars a month! said Sarah. . , “Her name is absolutely unknown to me.* 1 At 5 o’clock that evening all the New York newspapers announced that Mnie. Bernhardt did not know Yvette Ginl>ert, and that in Paris this singer was unknown. Then the storm began, and Y vet to Guilbert wrote to the papers £f l fail to understand anything or the attitude, of Mme. Sarah Bernhardt. ThU ladv, who is beginning to lose her voutb, seems also to be beginning to lose her memory, for here is a c-ard written in her own hand a few weeks ago which I have taken from a box where a charming present she made me is lying, that present being one of her own fans.” After a lapse of years the two great women composed their differences.