WORLD OF MUSIC.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 23 June 1923, Page 10

WORLD OF MUSIC.

1 here have always been in Hawera, as there must be in all places if pro-' gress is to be made, enthusiasts in music who throw themselves heart and soul into the work of the different societies. Amongst those who have done yeoman service for the great art,

Mr. and Mrs. L.. G. Grace must be numbered as of the keenest and most enthusiastic. They have not confined their energies to one branch, but have been prominent in Male Choir, orchestral, and choir work, and in each have, always given of their best. Their removal to Auckland will be much felt !>y *ill these avenues of music, but they ■will all wish them much success and happiness in their new home.

Hawera has been, very fotunate in the number of good artists who have performed hero, although it must be admitted her people- have, on more than one occasion, not shown the support and •enthusiasm merited by really grea.t artists, while performances on not nearly so high a plane of excellence have been much better supported. The

visit of these great artists is a compliment to the town and district, and is something of which the people .should be proud and anxious to continue. Unless, however, they do their part and show by their support that they do appreciate the honour, it is inconceivable that the opportunity they have enjoyed of hearing the best in music will be given them. There are hundreds of people who take a keen interest in the local .societies; it is due to them to «>9 that they extend this interest to visiting artists when they come to Hawera. The next groat musical visitor will be the great cellist Gerardy. He is well known as probably the greatest that has ever come to the Dominion. His visit will be ah event of the greatest interest. It is hoped he will he strongly supported and cordially welcomed.

Ther-p is another and very important aspect or these visits. They form a very distvnet educational feature, not only to tiros© who take a special interest in the particular branch of musio presented by them, but to evory student and to all enthusiasts. fhev show what can be accomplished tafrnt, hut they «,lßc- in every ea«» emphasise the fact that their success na* been achieved by hard and constant work, and stress the fact also that they would never have reached their Potion in the world of art -without th.t constant unremitting application. This acids very much to the value of ,': rref °™^c and makes it a factor o* i m a reateA value aTld an example ' « I youn. and m incentl v e Tt t t! in their study. everyone in p ny walk "of^^'tb^ *"!« mi(!ifio" hnhU Vbat-rer SoaJ one ma .y be striving to reach. " ' Til. - , _ '

" ienearsal ior strings was h^W °" ;? nd!ly eT in * ksfc' a"d «o5 pro j tional far an amateur sot-iety, and tbose ;FS::-.:;.':::--e-.i m their work. . It sneaks well for the enter P riß9 of. those concerned that ai , ZZI th" calibre is *°- staeea Wellington had 2200 entries for her last 'competitions, the largest south of the hne except Ballarat. It is expectet there will be more this year. It is probable Hamilton Choral gocietv will enter this year. Speaking to a Times reporter, Mr, Gladstone Hill, of Hamilton, sai d he looked upon these yisits— bands, football teams, or choirs—as the best advertisement a town can have. : A letter from Mr. Lowell Patton (a Chautauqua favourite of two years ago) by this week's mail indicates that lie has returned from three months' study .with Claud Pollard at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and is meeting- with great success on the Chautauqua circuit in America. Mr. Patton writes that audiences have been large and very appreciative of the offering, "A Musical Prologue, Six Episodes and an Epilogue," given by him- ; self and his two brothers, Gault and Donald. :

Ben no Moisiewitseh, tins' famous Russian pianist, who is making au j m _ j mouse effer-t on Sydney;'audiences, ami will conic to XcW~Zo;iP.nd shortly, is very fond of Chopin, ancV it is not only for the sake of his audience, but also for his own pleasure thst he includes many Chonm .compositions in his rentals "You know," ho,*aid the other clay, 'one can never ti ; v e of Chopin. After half a lifetime's study you feel how short of his intention is yom - in tGiprctation. He is evov Active and over Imfmng. I suppofe that to stand him perfectly one would need to sufier like ljim." Ernest Xowmnn recently devoted "»icli tune and brilliant writing to the condemnation of Moussorgsky, out of wJiopo works he selected only a <lo«;n s? >ngs as | 1<? i n g wortliy o f attention He <hd not include "The Song of the Flea" in the list, which was rather striuißo. "The Song of the Flea" offers a fine field for a bass baritone <'f wyi K l,t in a display of dramatic sincr- ! ihk. For amateurs the chief difficulty will always he in the laughs, which play S-u-h an important part in the work i Chaliapin .sings these laughs dead in tune, but he, like others-who take up Mussorgsky's work, cuts the last laugh vi two and proceeds with it ad lib "The Song of the Flea" will never become popular because it requires a voice of more than usual quality backed by hixtorionism. The best edition I have fgcii of it is that published by Chester with a translation by Rosa No wm arch. ■

In the hour of vision, music will give power and scope to your imagination and bring into reality the things that wer« not.

It was Pacehiarotti, one of the greateat vocalists of the eighteenth century, who said: "He who knows how to breathe and how to pronounce knows weJJ .how to sing."

Another successful concert was broadcasted in Dunedin last week (says the limes). The programme consisted prinKaver £ °" the G^ransen Piaver P,ano, interspersed with vocal and instrumental items. Durin* tie ev-emng the promoters were congratulated by several li ste ners-in on the excellent quality of the programme. It included many well-known .songs and Player solos. I .

! A Maori family at Te Kuiti who had received a substantial sum o n account of the freeholding in the town went to Auckland and purchased a Player piano (reports the New Zealand Times). On the instrument arriving, however, it was found that it would not pass through the doorway, and they had to demolish the side of the house to provide ingress.

Though C H. Workman, whose death (within a few days of his 50th birthday) at sea shortly before the steamer conveying the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company back to Australia arrived at Hongkong from India is recorded, passed the greater Bart of his career on the stage in the provinces and abroad, he was long enough at the Savoy to win the affection and admiration of London. He was a Savoyard indeed, for from his first appearance in 1894 till 1909 he played only under the Savoy management, and he appeared in every Gilbert and Sullivan opera except "Buddigore." Probably he will be best remembered for his Jack Point in "The Yeomen of the Guard." As Koko in "The Mikado" he was less good, but he was a popular favourite id both parts, and he played them so oi ten that his tongue would occasionally, in spite of ail his care, ulay him

false with the vowels and say such things as "his stiiggles were terruffic" and "deloberately rib me." For more than twenty years he was the principal comedian with the chief Gilbert and Sullivan company on tour, and he took the chief comedy parts in the revivals produced by Mrs. DOyly Carte' at the Savoy in IPD7. He had himself a brief period of "management at the Savoy in 1909-10, producing "Tne Mountaineers," "fallen Fairies,"-' and "Tw* Merry Monarchs." Be was a modest and kindly man, fni! o f humorous stories, and happy in the society of the numerous friends ho made wherever he went. His wife died at Calcutta last February. He leases a young sor, who has already appeared on the stage in Australia. j The following strange tale -is given . {publicity by the London. Musical Times, which, however, does not guarantee its veracity. One of the students of the Paris Conservatoire, white Gounod was its director, is said to have composed

an op 3 ra, -which, before proceeding t 0 its publication, he decided 'to. submit to his director, with a view to obtaining his opinion ctf the work. Or various'subsequent occasions he asked for that opinion, Tmt Gounod always ptft him off with ihe. excuse that he 'had not had time to examine the opera. Shortly thereafter, a new opera'by Gomiod was announced for production. The said student went to the first representation to hear it, and was so upset by hearing his own work produced as the composition of another man that his mind gave way under the strain. In vulgar parlance he became a lunatic. The writer of the article finds it worth while to inquire what there is in Gounod's other works capable of repudiating or supporting this story, and finally says: "Gounod, surveyed in tins manner, does not com© out well. It appears that the French legend quoted is not without foundation. The idea of temporary inspiration during the period ©f the composition of a. single opera, an inspiration lacking in twelve others, is scarcely to be regarded seriously. And it is almost incredible tliat a man sliould be able to change his style so absolutely as not to produce spontaneous characteristics of a similar line during the thirty years which elapso-1 "between the production of 'Sapho' and that of 'Le Tribut de Zamora.' " A committee has been formed in Sydney to assist the superintendent of music in schools. Tn openi up; the first meeting on March 2, the director c--

pressed his pleasure at the enthusiasm which was being infused into the tenoning; of music in the schools, and conveyed the department's welcome ;ind good wislies to the committee which the superintendent had formed to assist him in this work. Mr. Treharne (superintendent) explained, to the meeting his purpose in connection with the teaching of music in the schools, and gave a general idea of the methods he intended following in his policy and to secure his object. Mr. Alfred Hill, of the Conservatorium, urged the committee to make the syllabus as simpJe (as possible—to appeal to the ear rather i than to the intelligence.