WORLD OF MUSIC

Hawera Star, Volume L, 20 December 1930, Page 17

WORLD OF MUSIC

MUSIC IN SCHOOLS The very successful production of an. operetta and -a- Gilbert and 'Sullivan opera by the main and high seho'hls this week show that Hawera. sti'll, iKtin the foreground in regard to nrusleMn schools. Both were ambituous efforts. Tile success achieved shows' what-.eah be clone by steady perserveT,ancc, combined with .a spirit -of co-o,perati6n-an a common good cause. ‘The -pr’dmdteis and the organisers are entitled go great credit for their courage. and initiative and the hope inay .be expressed that they will continue -the good work. Would it not bear repeating at -some future date? - - ' fTIBTSTMA.S MUSIC. 'Three of the Church choirs in Haw.Qj'.a Anglican, Presbyterian and •Methodist, are including in their music for the service to-morrow, .excerpts from the oratorio which, more than any other work, embodies the spirit of Christmas and stresses the gospel of “Peace bn earth and goodwill towards men,.”-: a spirit which is needed at the present time perhaps more than it has been for many years. It teaches the spirit-of the forebp.iranee and! unselfishness, qualities .fluit go so far to impa-oWe. ybh'ditions in the busy world. It has been stated'by men who arc not pronounced in the'ir adherence tp any church butwho think deeply arid have rhe,-good of humanity at -heart that selfish'fiesfs individually and internationally, is at the root of many of the troubles at present disturbing the world. 'Consideration of -the other man is needed and this is stressed in the great oratorio “Messiah” the composer of which George Frederic- Handel' ' ‘was surely inspired' for it is recorded .that lie said, when writing some of his greatest movements in the oratorio that- “I did think. I saw -all heaven' before me and the great God Himsciif.” This is the great work of which pa'rts will be done at -the churches on (Sum My. The choirs could not choose any finer work.

BACH’S “ CHRISTMAS. ORATORIO ’ ’

The name of Johann Sebastian Bach, is not often associated with oratorio or with Christmas music but these features were stressed recently in 'Sydney when the-Conserva.torium Choir and Orchestra gave a perforriianee .of this “Christmas Oratorio.” A critic, says that: This:, of it he three oratorios which Bach, wrote, is one of fhe/most frequently performed. Like most of his music, which belonged not to his own. day, but to ail time, it is only, within comparatively recent years that it has been appreciated at its true value. As Sir Hubert Parry says, his works suffered' most complete oblivion for more than half a century, -and meii “began tto look with astonishment at, the- 'few still available to the world, and began to guess wlfat a dire oversight had been lniade. It began to dawn upon them that these were no products of mere pedantry and mechanical skill, but (the utterances: of such a splendid and poetic personality as -had rarely .appeared in the" world.' ’

WELLINGTON CHORAL MUSIC. The programmes of it he second concert in 'Wellington of .t'luif ApoH'e Singers, a male voice •choir of .24 members, and of the . Harmonic, iSopiety, of both of which Mr, H. Temple .White is 'conductor are to hand and .acknowledged with thanks. The latter is of special interest Ito Hawera people because t(.vo of the assisting artists. were Miss Myra .'.Sawyer (soprano), .and Mr. Leon de Mauny favourably, .‘ring. violinist) both of whom are well and favourably known, in Hawera, while one of it lie ar-eomp.i.n'ists was Mr. Clement Howe, aforetime organist of the Presbvterian Church. :

Miss if-Sawyor sang ‘Stamford’s 4< A Lever of Roses” and Ambrose Thomas’ “Behold Tifahia” while Mr. .fie Manny played a ‘I Land el “Sonata in- A Major” and “iftynrn to the Sun” (R i m sky Kcreak ov). 'The assisting artists for the singers were Mr. 'Claude Tanner (G-clil'o). and! the -Cecilia n Quartdt. of lady., vocoHsts, ■an unusual combination that proved very .popular. Their best numbers very appropriately were Irish and STo't'ch folk tunes. A» the Yiee-Begal party entered, th!e National Anthem was sung in a editing" specially composed for the -choir by Mr. Temple White. This was markedly successful, and formed the. subject at the close of the evening of a personal congratulation bv Lord' Bledtsloe to Mr. White.

Whilst listening into Christchurch,-a few night's ago when the .performance of a new work by a New Zealand-born composer was being broadcast, a Press correspondent said he could not help thinking of the story of the two musician's' who were discussing SterndaleBenncltt’s'compositions 'One said that they micro '“a .mixture of Mendelssohn: ail'd water.” The other, who was even more unkind, replied that he “coul-d recognise the water, but- not the Mendelssohn ! ’ ’

Owing to the very depressed state of affairs, as regard's music, in, the Old Country, Mr. Hubert 'Carter, :tho wellknown tenor, has decided' to postpone his return to ‘England for a while and will, instead, take up his residence in Chrkltehurch. late in January next.