MUSICAL NOTES.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13662, 2 September 1916, Page 3

MUSICAL NOTES.

(By Minim). "It rose,'that chanted, mournful strain Like some low; spirit's o'er the plain; "IVns musical; but sadly sweet, Sncli as when winds una hnrp-strings meet, Anil tako a long, unmeasured tone To mortal ministrelsy unknown." —Byron.

Two announcements have been made this week- which are of interest to musical circles in Oamaru.' The first is the decision of St, Luke's choir to produce Handel's "Messia'h," in December in aid of patriotic funds. The assistance of outside help is being solicited and should be .readily forthcoming as it is a considerable time since any attempt at oratorio production has been made locally, and the work chosen is always a popular favourite. The ilrst rehearsal is to take place on Tuesday week and thereafter weekly rehearsals will be held, from which it is evident that Mr Burry does not intend to place the work before the public in an unprepared state. As Ihave pointed out before in this column, too often it is taken for granted that vocalists "know" the "Messiah" and that a mere "brushing up" is all that is necessary, and the idea prevails that the desired effect can be secured jn a few practices,, No one holding such a view is worthy to be associated with the production of the great masterpiece, and it is to be hoped : that those who desire to assist Mr Barry and his choir will "get right down to if" on Tuesday 12th and make the value of their assistance recognised' by their consistency at rehearsals. The undertaking is worthy of generous support both for the object for which it is to be given, and for the very work's sake.

The second announcement of interest in the coming of Alfred Mirovitch (pianist) and Michael Piastro (violinist), the two Russian musicians who are at present touring New Zealand, and who have created such enthusiasm for themselves in Australia, In ordinary times the visits of Continental artists to New Zealand are all to rare, whilst since the war broke out they have become almost impossible. Indeed many of the most famous musicians have taken their places in the armies of their countries; some have.given their lives, and others have suffered wounds that .may incapacitate them from continuing in their profession. The appearance, therefore, of these two gifted young Russians constitutes a privilege to music-lovers that should not be' lightly esteemed. 'Alfred. Mirovitch is a native of Petrograd, and first studied under Professor Lutsch, later with the famous pianist, Annette Essipoff, at the Petrograd Conservatoire'•/'of ■Music, where he gained the.gold.- medal,, andsubsequently was 'awarded the coveted. Rubinstein prize, lie has appeared with sensational success iirthe principal musical centres of Europe. Michael; Piastro was born in' Ken, Russia, in 1801. The Petrograd-Conservatoire of Music, where M. Piastro studied, is recognised as having'.produced some of the world's most cultured musicians, and M. Piastro is classed among, its most favoured, students. He won in 1010 the principal gold medal, and the. following year he.was the winner of,a 1000-rouble prize.' ...

■Mr Ernest Parke/s,; the Wellington baritone, who joined;one,.of the Dandies' companies/is now a- member of one of the J.C.W; MusicalOo,medy Companies. " -J.:.

Writing of the;-great change which. has come over In the battlefiel^!:3iir^g'^Ke \ present' war, Leonora. Rairiea .in -Musical' America; '' All other' ti'ar'S, ■ according, io tradition, as a part of the fitting out, not'only the life and drum, but bands .complete be: hig considered almost indispensable td. armies. At the ..beginning; of the. pre*', sent conflict bai|(|s of music left.'-with the regiments, but .soon ifound there' was little use for them, except .to tell 1 the enemy . their position. .Marching' long miles a day, music was, in olden times thought a spur'to victory,* but not so in-these days'of modern methods when soldiers dig holes iii the ground and build their 'pens' like rabbit warrens.- There are concerts, yes, almost nightly, in all the trenches, but the [men who siiig are amateurs mostly, and n band, of music' would be heard with: the greatest distrust from-one trench, Io another. The enemy would at Mice know that 'something was up,' and that in this way the other was trying •to distract .his attention. .1 have'not heard any military music except at the Trocadero. Many regiments have I noticed in the street, and'many companies taking leave at the Gare >du NonV and no. doubt there are musical instruments along. But you'd never know it. On a Sunday or a fete day, miles back from the ■ iiring-line, where' there are • thousands of soldiers, an open-air concert has been gotten up—an affair lastjug several hours, when men could come or go just as they liked. .But these 1 afternoons are the only times the fighters hear music, and such affairs, I understand, are few and far between."

"There is one thing certain," said An Australian visitor after the Wellington Professional Orchestra's 'concert on a recent Sunday evening, "you Kould not 'hear such a concept on a Sunday evening in any other town in Australasia, and I very much doubt if yon could hear a much better' orchestra on k week day." This tribute to Wellington's fine orchestra (says "Treble Clef" in the Dominion) is, I hope, well deserved, At any rate, the concert referred to was to me a rare treat, and, judged in comparison with its performances of last year, shows a steady advancement towards an ideal. The leads are all strong, sure musicians, and if one may. particularise, the work of Messrs Moschiui (clarinet), A. P. Triida (Ante) and F. Johnstone ('Cello) was of a highly-finished character. There •is hardly flio volume from Hie big body of strings that one would'expect, but there is a fine unanimity of action, and tiie quality of tone was excellent,'(Die programme opened with the overture' to "Der Frieschutz" (Weber),■ the opera that deals with the sharpshooter who used to fire magic, bullets in tho •forest, and otherwise imitate the Horiioo Goldiiis of his time. This old opera was extremejy popular in its day, and its melodies'are still delightful to hear, whilst Weber's orchestration Is very beautiful. The orchestra charmed everyone with the delightful delicacy (hat was lent faiigini's "Egyptian Bailet" music,, a suite that should be heard (again, and in the fantasia from "Cavnllcria Rusticnnu" built .up in the mild pictures of Masengni's vitallydramatic work with fine artistry. The playing of Loin's song by the flute and obeo, with a pizzicato accompaniment a la guitar, and the interpretation of the highly-dramatic music that fol* lowed, were features in this number. In lighter mood were Drdla's "Sercn ade," and'"ln the Spring," by Greig, two littlo gems, both exquisitely played. Finally the orchestra played Liszt's Rhapsody, "Hongroise" (No. 2), which was most admirably expressed. Such concerts aro the finest musical treats within the reach of the Wellington public, and it is a great pity for those who abjure Sunday concert-going that they cannot be arranged now and again for a week night,, or even of an afternoon. Matinee orchestral concerts are common in England, America and on the Continent. Why not in Wellington?