WORLD OF MUSIC

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 March 1929, Page 16

WORLD OF MUSIC

SCHOOLS’ ORCHESTRA. The favourable remarks, made by the Minister of Education and his promise to do everything' possible to popularise the concert to be given and broadcasted on Thursday at Wellington by the Ifawcra Schools-’ orchestra, will hearten, all concerned to push ahead and achieve even better results. They should help too to make the concert fixed for Tuesday. to help to pay expenses, a greater success. It is up to the people to help their young musicians who are doing a good' service to the town and achieving something that few towns in New Zealand have done.

NOTES. The Operatic Societies are quite apparently having a lean time everywhere and several have gone into retreat for a year. The Stratford Society at the annual meeting this week had so small an attendance that the meeting was [postponed until next week. It had fairly good results last season, when ‘■•‘The Arcadians ’’ was staged. The report stated that the holding of the scenery and costumes of “The Belle of New York” had been a wonderful asset and had resulted in a very material accretion of income.

A hearty welcome was extended at the annual meeting of tlie_ Wellington Harmonic Society last Friday to Mr W. McClellan, who was described by Mr 11. Temple White as the founder of the society. Mr White said that when he arrived in Wellington in 1913, Mr McClellan was conducting a small but enthusiastic body of singers known as the Brooklyn Glee Club. Acknowledgin„. the welcome, Air AfcGlellan added that th o standard of music set by the society was exceedingly high; he was not altogether sure that it was not over the heads of a large -percentage of the people of Wellington. However, that was a matter of opinion, and he hoped that the society would do its best to maintain that standard.

Mr Leo. Whittaker, a well-known Auckland musician, who was many years in Hawcra, has taken up an appointment as conductor of St. Patrick s Cathedral Choir. Much enthusiasm is shown among the choir members and the prospects for a successful year are regarded as exceptionally bright.

Attending the recent jubilee celebrations at Rcdcliff 'Crescent-Chapel. Bristol, 'where she was a Sunday School pupil in childhood, Dame Clara Butt said that she made her first appearance in public in that schoolroom at a concert. “It was not a very happy beginning, ” Dame Clara said. “I had to walk the whole length of the school room to the platform and I had on a pair of boots that squeaked, and when I reached the platform my poor little voice was very weak. I dreaded the second song, but out of kindness of heart the people apjdauded, and I arrived at the platform without having heard a single squeak, so I sang with my heart in my voice instead of in my boots.”

The field of English folk songs has yet another able exponent in Albert Richardson, a resonant basso, says a Home paper. Ho gives two Sussex folk songs “The Old Sow” (unaccompanied) and “Buttercup .Toe” (with piano). Nothing could be more delightful than these "quaint numbers. They breathe the spirit of rural England. Richardson sings them as they were sung by the peasants through the centuries.

Interest centres round Handel’s famous “Water Music.” In 1714 when the Elector of Hanover became King ol England. Handel feared to present himself at Court, but he arranged to meet the King, when the monarch -was engaged in a royal excursion on the Thames, with a band of musicians. For this occasion the ‘‘Water Music” was composed. The stratagem succeeded; Handel u T as received into the royal favour and his pension was doubled.

RECORDED MUSIC. Zimbalist. (1) ’ “Impromptu” (Aulin); ('2) “Ave Maria” (Schubert). Violin Solos by Efrem Zimbalist. Columbia 04220. Zimbalist is another of the famous artists who have transferred their allegiance to 'Columbia. New Zealand knows him well, for his recent visit is still fresh in the memory. One critic lists his chief qualities as “a tone of silken texture, edgeless body, limpid flow, sensitive as a shadow of sunlight ” and these qualities are exemplified in his first record for Columbia. The “Ave Maria” by Schubert is brilliantly played. and phrased to perfection. The tone sings like a nun at prayer, and the feeding is purely Schubertian. Prologue—'Pagliacci.

“Pagliaeci” —Prologue, in 2 Parts (Leoncavallo) (Riccardo Stracciari). Columbia 03603.

It will bo remembered that the Prologue in the old rendering was paired with the Toreador Song —one side of a twelve-inch disc. The new record is a ten-inch, and both sides arc occupied, thus giving Stracciari greater scope for dramatic treatment. On the _ whole, these Stracciari records comprise perhaps the most important release this month. A Lesson in Correct Breathing.

Breathing Made Easy. By Tromp van Diggelen. Columbia M 345. Tlie famous athlete, Tromp van Diggelen, head of th e Cape _ Town Institute bearing his name, is known as “the man with the perfect chest.” In this unique record he tolls how we may, by simple breathing exercises, add several inches to our chest expansion and become healthier. Ilis lesson is clearly worded and easily understood and it should be of the highest value. A printed leaflet given with the record illustrates the exercises. The Royal Guards Band.

(1) “Grand March” —from Tannhauser (Wagner); (2) “Coronation March”—from The Prophet (Meyerbeer). Played by the Royal 'Guards Band. Columbia 02710.

This is a record that is bound to please tbe multitude. Good stirring music from the pens of Wagner and Meyerbeer, it is bravely put forward by the Royal 'Guards Band. They attack the music deftly and vigorously and show considerable musical insight in the carefully held balance between instrument and instrument. The tone has a crisp military “bite,” chiefly in the brass. Good use of the percussions gives a dramatic colour to the whole. Well recorded and exceptionally w r ell played.