BOY VIOLINIST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23196, 16 November 1938, Page 17

BOY VIOLINIST

BRILLIANT GIFTS MANY HOURS' PRACTICE TO BE TAUGHT OVERSEAS • A normal boy in every fespect save that of liis phenomenal gift as a violinist, Alan Loveday, the 10-vear-old player of Palmerston North, who left on his return home with his mother, Mrs. L. G. Loveday, by tniin last night after a short visit to Auckland, earlier in his life had the normal boy's dislike of practice. Alan, who created a very favourable impression by his playing at the Hotary Club luncheon on . Monday, was not very talkative about his music, but he said he no longer disliked practising, which he did for three and a-half hours a day, except on a Saturday morning, when the other boys were playing cricket. He added that he liked cricket and also played tennis and golf, his father having bought him a small set of clubs. Memorising Music With already a fairly wide repertoire, including Lalo's "Symphonic Espagnole," which he played recently at Christchurch with Noel Newson, Alexander Kipnis' New Zealand accompanist, at the piano, Alan Loveday memorises music without difficulty and in some of his more advanced music he has learned the music from the score and has mastered the finer points by listening to gramophone records of the same works played by the greatest violinists. When asked how lie liked the Stainer violin presented to him some time ago in Dunedin by Sir Percy and Lady Sargood, Alan's only comment was "good," but it was obvious that his opinion of the instrument was very high. He has only used the violin since he returned to the North Island and said he thought it would be even better than it is after another month's use. Born on February 29 The boy has another cause for distinction in that he is one of the few people with a birthday only every four years, as he was born on February 29. In ordinary years, his mother said, he did not wait until March 1 to celebrate his birthday, but insisted on having it on February 28. The young violinist will probably continue his training in England or America, and if the latter it is hoped to place him under Persinger or Enesco. both of whom taught Yehudi Menuhin. The manager for Lawrence Tibbett on his recent visit to New Zealand, Mr. J. Evans, was manager for Menuhin when, at the age of 10, he gave his first series of recitals in America. Mr. Evans heard Alan Loveday play and considered that his talents were equal to those of Menuhin at the same age.