MUSIC NOTES.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 964, 16 March 1910, Page 3

MUSIC NOTES.

By"E. Striug."

Locally, music is in a parloua state, The Orchestral Sooioty silent, a few youngstors struggling with Ozeruy's 101 uuder threats of personal assault, and a ohoir or two ■murmuring "We are all miserable singers!"

We are to have a visit from t!|e popular "Bosses," whose previous tour was productive of great enjoyment to many thousands of New Zealaoders, all of whom will waut to hear them again, Two patriotic concerts are to be held in the imiuecliato future—die Irish aud Scotoh. What a wealth of beautiful melody is the heritage of these two oouutries! It is to ba hopad that peiformirs on these occasions will loave the hackneyed ballad alone aud devote a little time to searohing among the many charming gem? of national'aad traaitonal music appertaining to the Emerald Islo and the Land o' Oakes.

Mr Maurice Oohon, who lias for several years held the position of president of the North Island Brass band's Association is resigning aud is to,receive a presentation |as a mark of appreciation. His brother, Mr Louis Ooheu, is to be his successor.

In an address at the Musioal Festival at Moreoambe, Dr. Walford Davios remarked that it was a regretable feature ol English life that people snug sincere olmrohmusic badly and insincere church music well. Gounod-whose "Oh, Divine Redeemer" had just been sung as a test for boy church choirs—was, he said, all right for French people; but he uttered a word of discouragement against clu cultivation of a style not native Co U3, least of all to healthy English boys,. It was urgent that some small protests should bo entered against what was beooming a dangerous aud a fashionable yet spurious form of art in places of worship; aud he begged them to use their interest that boys who sang so finely iu ohuroh choirs should sing music that they naturally and spontaneously feel, Sir Charles Yilliers Stanford enters a caveat iu The Times against the Jong i iu "wind." It is well to put ou record (affirms Sir Uharles) that so complete a master of the sound qualities of cho Euglish language as the late Lord Teunyson protested strongly to me against this destruction hy singers of the characteristic short i in "wind," adding that "they make it sound like wiudiug up a clock instead of a rushing mighty w-i-nud." Melba, in a chapter on this subject in her new "authorised biography," recommends students to gain a reasonable knowledge of the anatomy of the throat. At one time she was so absorbed iu ihis study that she could talk and think of nothing else. The application of the air blast to the vocal chords should be a detail of exact soienco, not a haphazard circumstance, Great success in singing is impossible to the vocalist who does not thoroughly understand breathing, attack, the use of the registers, the structures and functions of the parts above, the voice box, and the relation of chest expansion to the production of tone. A beautiful voico is only the basis of vocal progress, Tone, expression, resonance, phrasing are all dependent on respiration. A LJSTTER FROM A TYKE. This letter, reoeived by Mr Nay-

lor, has been banded in for publica tiou.

To t'organ player for Scotcb

, Church,

We 'ave. been reading t' report abiiato singers thro'. t'Old Dart wots to come and sing here. An' i see tlia' ar ou't koinmite. Wot struck me most is t' prices they are chargein to go iu-lOs. and ss. Nairn, I am thinking its wraug. Both too much an' too littel. Wof I ; say is give every body a chance; give t' big sweels a chance to show oft aud charge append for t 1 front seats; they wod'ent goa if it wor 3d apieoe for evory bodey, aud no reserved seats; then charge 5s for them et thinks tht,r middel olass, bud nobody els thinks soa, aud for them et there is moabt on workers an sewer, hawf a orahn is aa much as ouy family man can afford to pay.an then he'l ave to miss either butcher or milk man. T'wlfo.eo say "I am sorry but Ihave no ohauge," and slie'l say it just like a real lady. I ave money a time tried to mak em understand. All abate ar Sunday concerts at Home for t' hospital, tha' kuaws ave seen us at Dewsbury are Baud and chorus offiOO. Bat I ave geen tip, these fowkes 'ere say just "not bad at ail. Nah I sud just like era all to hear, this lot wots oomeing, it will open there euo am sewer, but I think 5 bob lowest to go in will keep a lot away, aud that wod be a pity and defeat t' object of promoter. As for my sou mesen has hav' to stay ahatside. Bud if it is in the hopor base ha sae bo not far off tha' oau bet on that. Well if they have it on Show ground ha -sal watch em goa in an come ahat and filiate ahat, is there oiiey bodey hero thro' Dewsbury? Hal bet tha' a pint thire be som bodey other thro' Dewsbury or Ossefct, or Batly Oarr. We owt to | mak oine t'maor fro getting em to, come to sing ere. He's tha ever seen Koine conduct choarl society ] here? I alius used to think abate I old Sir Oliuiles Hatley when I use j to watoh him (Koine), but sin he went hoame he's altered his stile a lot. T'singeis coraeiug lies made me | think abhate my young days when I used to play at all t'Suuday concerts I (or ten miles rahand ami t'oouduotors J. Bowliug, Hevcnwik, J. Bowling. Leeds, Alfred Broughtou, Leeds, Tom Ohadwick, Dewsbury, Joe Aufcy, Dewsbury,an' some ofi' them et used too ouie to help us hal never forget Joa Wood, we his trum-' pet thro' Luudoir. Fawoot Wood, bassoon, ho played with him money years at Dewsbury Moor ranters at Wisenday tuesday. Did ta ever know Bayron Brook? He used to play quartette at my haee when ha wor new wed. Has think all treet na abate owd times, an' they wor guide times to; ha had nowt to do or nowt to road. Sor, I thowt I j wod tell wot I thowt over price to; go in. Wen I said I played I wor | no c'rak nobet a thruster up. I