LECTURE ON "SCHUBERT:"

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9153, 7 September 1888, Page 5

LECTURE ON "SCHUBERT:"

Herr Tutschka delivered an interesting address before the Auckland Athenaeum yesterday evening on "Schubert." There was a crowded attendance. The Rev. C. M. Nelson presided. In opening his lecture, Herr Tutschka pointed out that as the languages of the Northern nations, such as German and English, were very unmusical, the German composers had directed their attention more to instrumental music, and it must be considered marvellous that Schubert should take a place in musical history so different from that of those masters who so directly influenced him. The lecturer then proceeded to give an interesting sketch of the life of Franz Peter Schubert, who showed his genius in his early boyhood, when Holzer taught him the violin, organ, and harmony, and tit the age of 11 lie secured a place in the Imperial Convietorium, where boys were trained for the Imperial Private Court Chapel in Vienna. Here he soon attained the position of first violin and conductor of the boys' orchestra, and even at this early age ho wrote overtures, piano pieces, symphonies, and songs, which were performed by the boys. Eminent musicians had come from these institutions, and he (Herr Tutschka) had known boys of from 10 to 14 years of age, who could sing a mass or cantata at sight with perfect, ease, and boys a little older who could seat themselves at the organ and play from figured bass without the slightest trouble. Schubert's experience as a teacher in his father's school was referred to, and the lecturer dealt at some length with the great musician's extraordinary rapidity in composing, instancing the fact that " The Ell King " was written in one afternoon, and relating amidst some laughter that when Schubert was lodging with his friend, the poet Mayerhofer, they would sit together for days at a stretch, Mayerhofer writing poems and tossing them across the table to Schubert, who would read them through and set them to music at once. Herr Tutschka mentioned in detail the operas and many of the other works of Schubert, and referred lo the difficulties placed in his way by publishers. A number of the master's songs were rendered, the first being that weird ballad, the famous " Erl King," which was sung by Mr. Fer-ridav,-who, however, hardly did it justice. Mr. Ferriday also sang with much credit, " Sweet Repose," a simple but exquisite creation by Schubert. The singing of " The Young Nun," one of the composer's most impressive songs, by Miss A. Rimmer, met with hearty applause ; the number was rendered with grace and expression. Another success was scored by Miss Rimmer in the difficult air, " Ave Maria." " Who is Sylvia ?" was sung by Miss E. Wright, and Madame Tutschka rendered " -Th l ) Maiden's Lament." The andante and allegro movements from the celebrated Trout quintette vop. 114) were played with fine effect by Herr Tutschka (viola), Miss C. Wright (piano), Messrs. A. Eadv (first violin), H. A. Keesing (second violin), and L. Eady (double bass). A vote of thanks was passed to Herr Tutschka and the ladies and gentlemen who had performed at the concert. With the exception of Messrs. Eady and Keesing, those who assisted Herr Tutschka are his pupils.