NEW ZEALAND MUSIC.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17862, 7 August 1918, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND MUSIC.

Second festival,

OPENING NIGHT. jjj ■ 'l- ]| The second festival for the encourage* jnent of New Zealand music was eom- !; menced the Choral Hall last night s' under very happy circumstances. Tho attendance of the public was good, hut, }* considering tho importance of- the occa- !■ sion, there should not have been a vacant scat. The Mayor of Christ* , church (Mr H. Holland), in his opening remarks very appropriately and 5 correctly referred to the festival as a feast of music. The various composiJ tions, which wore the work of musicians ij residing in and out of the Dominion, _ 5 but who may all be classed as New Zealand’s,own, wore listened to critically, for tho audience was unquestion- • ably a musical one, and the performances were followed with the greatest • interest. There can be but one. opinion as to tho result of the evening, and that is a coniirmation of the good opinions expressed by the festival Selection Committee as to the undoubted latent ■I. musical talent of the country. Inc ■ choral and orchestral works presented should not : judged altogotner from the singing and playing point or view, |, for it must bo admitted that there weio A some deficiencies in that respect, ji liather should the y.'orks be considered - from tho point of conception and cons' s true tion. When that test is applied i.l ft will l>e freely admitted that in their ■ i different classes the compositions ranged !’ from the highly meritorious to the pro- ) raising order, while the least pretentious was decidedly pleasing, lhe lcsU', tival has entailed much hard work, but tho excellent results attained.arc a i'f distinct credit to the officials and pet- ! £ formers, while the success achieved last ! Xi plight is an honour to the city and the : 'Dominion. , „ 1 a declaring the festival open, tho ' ; Mpvbr spoke briefly pf its objects, dwelling on the main pom<t- thn,tj " prompted Mr Arthur Lilly and otho i enthusiasts to inaugurate the festival about two years ago, namely, «ho encouragement of musical composition bj : .New Zealanders. He -trusted that the ' public support would result m the committee being freed from any imanclal worries, and reminded those p.e- ---" sbht that the committee .had undcr- ‘ taken to publish as many of tho compositions as possible That work had also-been done locally, and was mg' ' ly 'creditable. ' Some people might question the propriety or holding musical festivals in war time, but- it was no' use going about with long faces- ■ Music was a grand work and wmk good for all these times. The Mayor read a telegram from the Hon J. A. linn an, Minister of Education m which regret was expressed that e could hot. be.present and wishing the festival every success. Sir Hanan leferred to the value of musical cu ti--1-', ration and the pleasure it gave ini tho life of the country. Music played a • great part in the improvement ol a people arid engendered a spirit of sympathy and kindly feeling. Before passing on to tnc actual peiformances it should bo mentioned that Sir Frederick Bridge, the eminent .! English musician and organist, of >\os- ■. minster Abbey, who subscribed a ro- ;• ciprocal work, a festiva chorus, God .a; and Our Good Civuso, which was ~d finely sung and heartily appreciate ■ ~ by the audience, is taking a great mif . teresb in the movement. ■d • The programme oi>ened w ltii tue singing 1 bj the great choir of nearly ; 200- voices, ■ under the baton or Mr ■ ' Alfred Bunz, of tho Empire Interces- ' scry Hymn, Not 1. the words of which are by Miss Jessie Mackav and the V music by Dr J. C. Bradshaw. The work is of exceptional merit and should receive , most favoured comment when Vt heard in England, The next, conce!itJ ’ ed number was- Air A. Lilly s thoz.il ... '•- .work with orchestra, In Paradise Yin memorinm of New Zealand soluier.-y tho words," tender, heroic and appening in turn, being by Airsl. G. .Jenkin The. orchestral prelude, and incidental parts are interestingly scored, hut minor flaw's in tho playing.detracted from their complete enjoyment. The united effort of voices and mslnimonts was, however, very fine, lhe v lm , r it of the composition is also or nign bfder. A four-part sketch for voices, Winds,” the words hv J. ..Stuart Thompson and the music by : Miss Winifred Howeridge, of Dunedin, was a well harmonised composition, 'and was cleverly constructed. Mr H- ' M. Johnson’s (Cliristchurch) Empire intercessory Hymn, No. 2 tho words mi.:being by the Rev G. Miller, of Ashburton, was a characteristic compma•Ai - tion. solid and finely harmonised. Hie performance of throe numbers Horn Mrs Alice Forrester s (Ashburton) 1 ■■ “ Alaonlnnci Cycle ” was one of tho £7 .best vocal efforts of tho evening Mrs ■ v--Bishlager, who was heard for the first • time in Christchurch, is an accoinphsh- ' T ed vocalist and the possessor of a beau* , . tiful quality of soprano voice. Her singand interpretation of Tho Sheep r‘2 on"the Hill” wore thoroughly artistic. Mrs Pidgeon’s pretty-toned contralto Voice was excellently suited in the Maori lament, “Te AVhenna Kura, and Mr Hugh ITohbs excelled lnmself : in his singing of the stirring Maori 7'. battle song, “ Hakn.” In the solo " ■ section Airs Gower-Burns gave an mi- . pressivo and altogether delightful ' " in/terprotation of the ballad from f" Alfred .Hill’s “ Hinemioa. • Airs John Fraser. (Oatnaru), who. was in * ■■ splendid voice, gave a charming mterk'- protation of “A Fragrant," by Air K. n A, Homo, a song of much merit worthy 5 ; of' a place on any concert programme, aiid also sang the same composer s newest song. “NA hito Horses,” a dainty and lively little ditty, words by Miss Coralie Stanley, very brightly. Aliss Millicent Jennings contributed .“The Sea hath her Pearls,”; by F. Ohitsam, and “If all my Desires,” bv G. Chitsam, in her usual graceful and charming manner, and Air Alan Shrimpton was heal'd in a very fine performance of “ Allah,” by Charles Willebv. The orchestral works were a march prelude, “ Younsr Belgium,” by Bryant Williams (Dunedin) and an overture in F major by J., T. Sinclair (Christchurch). The march was pleasing, but. the overture was more, pretentious and imposing, evidencing decided gift and talent. The style was reminiscent of Rossini. Aliss . Lillian Harper (piano), ATrs John Guthrie (’cello) and Aliss Alary Ward (violin) .. ( gave a thoroughly enjoyable perform- {•<;,'/ since of a movement from Mr Frank Hutchins's (Christchurch) Trio in F, a work which'stamps tho composer as a £ gifted and‘versatile writer. Tho pro- *:( gramme was completed by two school ' mugs. “ The Welca,” tho words bv Miss f 4 Jessie Alaekav and tho music by Mrs K. «V;! J. Foster (Christchurch), who conductI'-; ed, and “ Land or our l/ove,” the words • hv the same writer and the music by • . Air Arthur Lilly. The songs wore very ‘ finely sung by a chorus of scholars from the Christchurch Girls’ High [j. School. Airs Foster’s song is one of the Jr happiest little compositions of the kind that can bo imagined, and is dostinoad to become very popular. The conductor's of tho evening were Messrs Alfred fcj Bunz. A. J. Alerton and Neville Smith, I--- and the accompanists wore Airs Russell j?. and Afisses T/illinn Harper, Beatrice h Olaridge, Jean Burrows and A.-Alexan-I' der.

To-night's programme will include a number of new compositions.