MUSIC

New Zealand Mail, 27 August 1902, Page 29

MUSIC

NOTES BY 8 STRING Herr Bernhard Walther, the Belgian violinist, who visited Wellington not long since, has gone to Suva, Fiji, as he intends to give a series of concerts there. Amongst the list of Coronation honours appeal s the name of Dr William Stanford, lno eminent composer, who wa s knighted. at 1 y „° uu S Sydney soprano singer, Miss Noel Neville Griffiths, has just won tiie Charlotte >\ alters prize for dramatic elocll Lion at the Royal Academy of Music. Miss Griffiths has taken all her academy awards, both for singing and elocution, fiei- last success being won by a recital ot the potion scene from "Romeo and Juliet.

In his young days Thomas Patey Chappell. the music-publisher (who died the other day), purchased for £SOO Balfe' g ‘'Bohemian Girl," an opera whose popularily is as strong as ever. Another and even more successful purchase was that of Gounod’s "Faust,” and in this he showed keen judgment, for the opera at first was by no means a success, not even in Paris.

It is not only in the colonies that there is a scarcity of tenors. The same difficulty appears to exist in musical Germany, for at tho recent Lcwer Rhenish Musical Festival; where Dr Elgar’s “Dream of Gerontius created such an impression, there were only 56 tenors in a choir of 490 voices. The sopranos and altos each numbered 169, and the basses 96. Two hours before a recent Covent Garden performance. Madame Melba was so hoarse that it was feared she could not go on, but after various sprayings and Mber treatments she took her place in Traviata” and sang and acted wonderfully. The "Pall Mall Gazette” says:- - Fbe absurdity which lias been fax- too common of calling this particular singer cold was never more patent. Her voice was as warm and as pure as the south ■wind; she sang with so true an instinct a . . “ith so perfect an artistry that criticism was dumbfounded, and lost it- • f„’ n le sbeer pleasure of mere listening. .The "Daily News” went into raptures over her unrivalled singing, and incidentally mentioned that the stage and the approaches to the prima-donna’s dressing-room wero carefully guarded by detectives, this precaution being neeessary, as the opera is one in which Madame Melba wears some of her finest jewels. Dr Elgar’s "Coronation Ode,” produced for the "command” night at the Royal Opera,- was composed to the words of Mr Arthur Benson, and is described as a remarkably impressive work, consisting of six numbers for chorus, solo, and orchestra. The first, the most elaborate of all, is set for orchestra and chorus, opening with the lines, Crown the King with Life. The second, Daughter of Ancient. Kings (speaking of Queen Alexandra) is in contrast to the former, being a quiet movement for chortts in four parts, accompanied by the strings only. In the third number the military bands and orchestra unite with a baritone solo, and chorus of tenors and basses. This item, Britain, Ask of Thyself, is a martial and stirring piece of music. Fourthly, comes. Hark, upon the Hallowed Air, a decided contrast, the vocal music being entrustoif alternately to solo, soprano, and ten® while the orchestra i 3 limited to wood. wind, and horns. The fifth, Peace, Gentle Peace, is a brief andante for quartet and chorus, almost unaccompanied, the musio being tender and sweet, ihen conies the finale, with full orchestra, and a solo for contralto, beginning Land of Hope and Glory, and concluding with the entire force of chorus, bands, and orchestra, thus bringing a-'brilliant work to a stirring conclusion.

An opera composed by a woman. Miss Ethel 9tny4he’s “Der Wald,” was ohosen for performance at Covent Garden, recently.

The set of five Coronation march songs - to which the committee of the Earl of Mar awarded prizes, were heard with some other Coronation music at a recent concert in London, at tho Albert Hall. It was a piece by the well-known songwriter Miss Alicia A. Needham, “The Seventh English Edward” (words by Harold Begbie), which gained the first prize of £IOO. Joyous and spirited verses including frequent repetition of the line VV ith a hev fal de ral for Old England !** ' are, says the "Daily Chronicle,” set to smooth and catching phrases possessing all the elements of popularity. Tbe composer was twice called to the platform. Dr Vincent’s "Empire Marching Song** (words by Miss Florence Hoare) was also given, and is marked by such swing and vigour, particularly in the refrain, "Shout, boys, as we march along,” that repetition was insisted upon. It was with this piece that; JJr. Vincent divided the second and third prize (£SO and .£25) witli Mr Mvle<* B. Foster (whose contribution is entitled and Throned”).- Dr Sawyer ("Long live our King and Queen”), and Mr 11. M. Higgs ("His People’s .Toy”). The latest mus. doc. of Cambridge is Professor Horatio William Parker* of Yale, one of the few American composers of the ’’highest class who have obtained a firm footing in England. Ifc was in 1899 that he found an "open door” at the Worcester (Three Choirs) Festival. JTe has written, in addition to a number of sacred vocal compositions, a symphony and other important instrumental works. - Dr Parker, who is thirty-nine years of age, is a native of Auburndale, Massachusetts. His earliest musical instruction was received from his mother, but ho went to Munich in 1882 to study under Rheinberger, and on returning home found several valuable organ appointments awaiting his selection. A portion of his “Legend of St. Christopher,” originally produced four years ago in New York, is set down for hearing at the Worcester Festival in September.

The farewell concert to Mr Alfred Hill m Sydney, as the cable messages have shown, was a pronounced success. .. One featuro of the concert was the performance of "Hinemoa” bv an orchestra and cl '°r*’ s of 300 performers, under tho baton or Mr Hill-himself. Amongst tho vocal

soloists was Miss Violet Mount who chose the waltz song from Gounod’s “Romeo ©t Juliette." M. Jean Gerardy, the Paderewski of the cello has again come to New Zealand to delight' us with his masterful playing. His three concerts to be given in Wellington are certain to attract crowded audiences. According to the "Sydney Morning Herald" the return of M. Gerardy to Australia would be improbable but for the fact that he is engaged in marriage to an Australian girl, Miss Amelia McQuade, a young lady who is highly esteemed in Sydney, to which city *he belongs. Miss McQuade, who was partly >ducated in Paris, is a brilliant amateur /lanist, whilst her mother, Mrs H. .McQuade, was the owner of the partially destroyed Her Majesty’s Theatre. The engagement was made knows to the little circle of friends who were on board ship at the moment of parting, as M. Gerardy left Sydney on his way to Auckland. Since M. Jean Gerardy was here last wmter, he has given eighty-six concerts in America, and has visited England and the Continent. In fact, he has been travelling all the time. He gave a concert in Boston with M. Paderewski, the great pianist, in March last, and the hall wa3 crowded with 5000 people ; whilst there was a. huge crowd which could not secure admission. At the end of the concert Gerardy and Paderewski were obliged to return to the platform a dozen times to bow tbeir acknowledgements. As M. Gerardy ha s enngagements to" fulfil in Russia, England, Canada, Germany, and America within the next four years, the chance of hearing him in New Zealand is not likely to present itself again for many years. Miss Electa Gifford, who is a member of the Gerardy Company, is an American soprano, who was last year engaged as prima donna at the Royal Grand Opera, Amsterdam, when, it is said, she achieved a big success as Marguerite in “Faust," and other parts. Gottfried Galston is a European pianist, who made his debut in London twelve months ago. The “Daily Telegraph," London, said of him: “He is a magnificent pianist of uncommon ability," and the Australian press speaks of him in terms of highest praise, as, indeed, it does of Miss Gifford, who, by the way. is said to be the possessor of one of the highest soprano voices known. Miss Gifford was a pupil of Madame Marches! for about two years Mr Mauprhan Barnett, during his visit to Christchurch, will give two subscription concerts with Mr F. H. Wallace, the well known violinist.

Mr rercy ciramger. of Victoria, seems to be an established favourite in London. He was recalled no fewer than seven times for his piano solos at a recent concert in St. James’s Hall. Miss Bertha Bird, of Melbourne, one of the many Australian singers who have turned their steps Europe-ward in the last couple of years, was the giver of this concert, and her singing, we read, delighted the audience.

A new violoncellist, Herr Foldesy, a isMmgarian, is being enthusiastically received in London. His recital at Queen’s Hall a few weeks ago was marked by outbursts of well-deserved enthusiasm. One critic says that his tone is magnificent, his accomplishment wonderful, even in an age when no technical excellence is surprising, and he understands that beauty is the most important aim of-any soloist.

Concerning the singing of Mile. Dolores, recently in Melbourne, the “Australasian” observes: “Beyond the pleasure her singing has given to thousands, this accomplished soprano’s visit has been a most useful lesson to many of our aspiring young singers that the method of using a voice is more important than the voice itself. A singer with a small voice who sings well will get more ©mney and fame than one with a big voice ■®ho sings badly. It is true Mdlle. Dolores has a beautiful voice, but what is Baid above is true all the same, and is a fact which should be placarded in all ’quires and places where they sing.’ ’’

JEAN GERARDY, ,THE ’CELLIST. M. Jean Gerardy, the famous ’cellist, ibose portrait appears in the illustrated vages of this week’s issue of the “New Zealand Mail,” is a young man. of twentyfive, and a native of Belgium. Liege, the cradle of many brilliant artists, is the birthplace of Gerardy, who was born there on December 7th, 1877. His father, a celebrated pianist, who was master of the Conservatorium at Liege, did a great deal for his son in bringing out his artistic capabilities, and in teaching him to make the best use of his time. Jean Gerardy entered the Conservatorium at seven years of age, and six monCTs later carried off second prize of bis year—a phenomenal achievement. He made his first public appearance at the age of nine, at Liege, and graduated when only eleven, going forth the youngest graduate ever sent out by the Conservatorium. A mere child of 11, he began his professional career at once with Paderewski and Y'saye, and played with the greatest pianist and one of the greatest violinists of the day the trio of Rubinstein and other notable works—a proof of the genius of the youthful player, who has created for himself a position in the artistic world sipiilar to that of Piatti. Davidoff, or Popper. In the same year, he toured England with Paderewski and Ysaye, and afterwards travelled the Continent. Ho appeared in Germany with Hans Yon Bulow, in Vienna with Hans Richter, and his famous Philharmonic Orchestra, afterwards appeared at concert? with Madame Adelina Patti and Madame Melba, and fit sixteen years of age was engaged for a series of fifty concerts in America, in company with Stavenhagen, the pianist. His success was equally as great in the United States and in Canada as in Europe. During the past few years he has visited many great capitals of Europe, starring three times in Russia, and receiving decorations in Raris and Madrid. He treasures many costly gifts bestowed upon him by Queen Victoria, before whom he played frequently at Windsor. M. Gerardy has just concluded a tour m America which was like a triumphal procession. He was engaged for forty concerts, but in the end go vo eighty-six.

J. L. KELLY’S POEMS. Heather and fern : songs of SCOTLAND AND MAORILAND,” a volume of about 300 pages, with portrait °f Author, is in the Press, and will be published at Christmas. 1902. Price; ss. Names of intending Subscribers received at “New Zealand Times” office, Wellington. Book delivered, post free, to subscribers immediately upon publication.