WORLD OF MUSIC

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 12 May 1928, Page 18

WORLD OF MUSIC

NEWS AND NOTES. The Male Voice Choir—it was always known, here ami in other centres, as the Liedertafel until the war created a wave of abolishing German titles—will give a. performance next Thursday. Their new conductor, Mr. Metcalf," has instituted the methods which made his work with his school choir no effective, and is teaching the whole body of voices something of the theory of music—tempo and musical expression—and of the production of tone and of reading at -sight- by tonic sol-fa means. The assisting artists will he the Huia Quintette of Palmerston North, who have- .proved _ a decided, “magnet” in their own district and created a real place in the estimation of their own community. * * -* * *

The good work done by the old Chor. al Society of years ago was recalled by the visit of the former conductor, Mr Robert Foster, whom many will remember with pleasure.- They did many fine oratorios and cantatas. One feels that it would be good to see a mixed choral society performing at least once a year. There is ample talent available. * * * * *

It looks as if this winter is going to be an exceptionally busy one, musically speaking, in Napier (says the “Herald’’). The 'Choral Society is hard at work for the first concert of' the season, the Liedertafel likewise, while the Operatic Society, under its now conductor, .Mr W. T. .Foster, is actively rehearsing the “Arcadians,” to be given later in the year. A performance of “Maritaua” is in preparation. (Mr Foster, by the wav,, is an old 11awera bov of years ago). • » * * *

In the Napier secondary schools there is quite a healthy musical atmosphere (says a critic), and much good work is done each year by both high schools and the Technical School. A new departure in music is the formation of an orchestra in connection with the “F” Battery, Napier, under the conductorship of Mr Cedric White, i’iicre is a good deal of enthusiasm evi. dent regarding this new orchestra. • « * * *

Mr Paget Gale, for some years organist at Knox 'Church, Dunedin, lias resigned that position in order to take over the duties of organist and conductor of the orchestra at a Dunedin picture theatre. Mr Gale is well-known throughout New Zealand as an adjudicator in music at competitions. * * * * *

Mr Hubert Carter, of 'Wanganui, and well-known in Haw-era, who intends returning to England at the end of this year is to be the soloist at the Auckland Royal Male Choir’s concert on Mat- 31. '** * * *

Douglas Fox, a pianist, who lost his light arm in the war, gave a recital in London for the left hand only, playing standard compositions in his own arrangement and also works originally written for the left hand. **» * ■ *

The Royal Wellington Choral Union’s programme for the year is as follows: Mendelssohn’s “Elijah,” June 2; the soloists will be Mr Fraser Gange, baritone; Mr Edwin Dennis, tenor; Miss Amy Evans, soprano. -Berlioz’s “Damnation of (Faust”; Vaughan Williams’ “Sea Symphony”; and “The Messiah.” *****

Mr F. L. Gribbon, of Auckland, an amateur conductor who lias done good work in that city for many years has amongst his most treasured mementos a conductor’s score of Alfred Hill’s Wai. ata Poi arranged by Henri Verbruggen and autographed bv the 80 members of the famous 'New South Wales orchestra when it visited New Zealand in 1922. *****

In Sydney music clubs nave been formed in several suburbs, wliose aim is to bring together music-lovers and to summon to their midst in the suburbs the best musical talent, which they can afford: to make it practicable, in short, and of course also profitable, tor three or four good artists to travel to a suburb and give a concert instead of asking suburbia to travel all tjie way into the city to hear them. Already the movement, one of decentralisation, has drawn strong support fiom leading men the city.

Benno Moiseiwitscli, the famous pianist, who has just concluded a remarkable successful tour of the East, speaks highly of the interest manifested in music in that part of the world. “In the East Indies,” he stated, “the concerts are well patronised by the Dutch; in the Philippines there are Batin and Spanish, elements, tremendously keen; and in China—(Shanghai, Hongkong and Tientsin—there is a vi 1 v large population eagerly welcoming music. As for Japan, it is a remarkable fact that DO per cent of the people there will flock for five nights in the week to hear classical programmes. The Japanese, who are keen imitators of Western culture, encour-

age music enthusiastically, and are interested, not only in the -lassies, but in the works of the modern composers.”

Miss Aileen Warren, who lived several years in Jlawera and was known as, a talented pianist is now performing regularly on Wednesday, evenings at 3YA studio, Christchurch.

Carillons have become the vogue in the big cities of the world. Tn Sydney and Wellington for instance they have been or are to be instituted as war memorials. Tn most eases experts have been imported to play them, but it is interesting to know they can be plaved by an automatic attachment similar to an ordinary player piano, by the medium of rolls.

It is said that in Wahabi (Arabia) territory ‘“an austere doctrine of the realm forbids laughter, music, singing, and swearing, the smoking of tobacco and drinking of wine and even cuts down trees lest they may load weaker brethren into idolatry.”

The editor of the “Australian Musical News” says in that paper’s April issue: “Embarrassing, to say the leas', was the question put to me by an utter stranger during the interval of the very first symphony concert T went to hear 1 his season. ‘How far does your municipality aid this orchestra?’ said he. ‘Not. by one half penny!’ he was told. ‘Suffering (Caesar’s ghost!’ he commented, ‘surely they must know a good orchestra is the most progressive sign you can have in any city!’ <; Wcll. no. they don’t. But you’ve got ahead of us in America with those notions,’ I suggested. 'He looked surprised. ‘l’ve never seen America,’ said he. ‘l’m South African. My town’s Pieter-, mnritzburg. Tt’s less than a tenth the size of this place, but it has an orchestra of ninety, end the municipality keeps it up. Every South African Municipality worth a button does the same thing.” j