THE ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7403, 11 August 1885, Page 6

THE ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

A musical critic, referring to some of the features of the concert on last Friday night, says Haydn's Farewell symphony was composed while Haydn was conductor of musical performances at the Court of Prince Eaterhazy. The Prince had, after a time, conceived the design of dismissing the band and discontinuing the musical performances. Haydn, hearing of this, wrote the " Farewell " symphony, in which one instrument after another becomes mute, and each musician, as soon as he has ceased to play, puts out his light, rolls up his music, and departs with his instrument. It is said that in consequence the Prince changed his mind and did not dismiss the band. This stage " business was managed very well at the concert on Friday night, but it would have been more effective had the gas been turned much lower. This symphony is not on so extended a scale, nor composed on the same established form as is usual in symphonies, there being only two movements, a "Presto" and an "Adagio." It was played in its entirety, Herr Schmitt taking the place of leader of the orchestra. The masio is simple and pleasing, and of a character to be easily understood, and, as a consequence, it was listened to with marked attention, and was heartily applauded at the conclusion. Mr. Radcliff is the leading flautist in England, and his flute playing in every way is remarkable. His tone is pure and rioh, his execution astonishing, his intonation faultless, the notes dropping like liquid pearls, and his scale passages perfectly even and regular, every note being dear and distinct, even in the most rapid passagos. His performance is in every way artistic, and his solo was not merely an exhibition of astonishing skill, but was real music. The melody was never so overlaid with embellishment as to be unrecognisable. In this respect Mr. Radcliff forms a striking contrast to another celebrity who receutly visited Auckland — Remenyi. While, with the latter, the melody was simply a means of introducing interminable cadenzas and runs, with Mr. Radcliff the melody is not made subservient to the ornamentation, but the latter supports and adorns the melody. A feature of the concert was a piece of musio of local production—an " Agnus Dei," composed by Mr. Thomas Wood, the winner of Herr Schmitt's silver medal at the Society of Arts Exhibition of 1884. The music is fresh and bright, and pleased the audience muoh. It is written for a chorus or quartette, introducing a tenor solo, the accompaniment being scored for a small orchestra of strings, flute, clarinettes, bassoons, and horn. The quartette was sung by Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Edger, Mr. Burnham, and Mr. Charters, Mr. Burnham taking the tenor solo. In the " Burgerweisen " waltz, by Strauss, the introduction was very quaint and pleasing. A much better effect would, however, be obtained in these Gorman waltzes if they were played with a greater attention to light and shade. Frequently a delicate melody by some soft-toned instrument is lost through being overweighted by heavier instruments. Those instruments which are playing the " tum-tum " accompaniments should avoid playing too heavily. This fault was more particularly noticeable in the brass instruments, but generally speaking, a more light and staccato style of playing should be cultivated by all the accompanying instruments, including the doable basses, who need also to mark the first note in the bar with greater precision and accent.