MUSIC

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1696, 31 August 1904, Page 23

MUSIC

MOTES SY 0 STRIPS Before lie left Wellington, Mr Watkin Mills said he hoped that the municipal, authorities would take care that the low pilch, and not the high one, was adopted for the new organ to be built in the Town Hall. This is a matter cf condJeiable importance to singers, and it may reasonably be expected, therefore, that it will not be lost sight of. The low pitch, it may be remarked, ns the one chosen for all the organs made of late years in England, a circumstance from which it may be inferred that Messrs Norman and Beard, who are well-known builders, will employ it for the Wellington Town Hall organ. Madame Albani, it is stated, pteposes to undertake another concert tour of Australia in February. Manuel Garcia, ‘The grand old man of music/’ reaches this year nis year. The year also make® Saint-Saens (9 years old. Bruch 66, Strauss 40, Massenet €2 { Grieg 61, Elgar &y, Mascagni 41, Puccini 46, Giordano 35, Pranchetti 44, Leoncavallo 46, dTndy 53, d’Albert 40, Arensky 43, Boito 62, Goldmark 72, Widor 54), Tosti 58, Dubois 67, Chaminade 43, German 42, Be iioven 45, Svendsen 64, Charpentier 44, Dudley Buck 65, Sousa 48, Goieridge-Tay-lor 29, Gowen 52, Sgambati 61. LimskyKorsakoiT 60, Rachmaninoff 31, Runeoke 80, Schutt 43, Ilubay 46. Humperdinck 50, Prout 69, Perosi 32, Pierne 41, MejerIlelmund ‘l3, and Moszkowski 50. The fee at M. Jean de Iteszke’s new school of music in Paris is to be tea guineas a lesson. Eiven at this figure the master will be rushed by pupils. The boy violinist, Vecsey, made about A'SOOO during liis London season. He seems to have turned the heads of the peoplo by his wonderful gifts and his bright and affectionate nature. He is to receive about £250 for each performance in his United States tour —not a bad salary for a boy of eleven! The Rome correspondent of the “Pall Mali Gazette” writes tliat "Maestro Mascagni may be said to be definitely settled in Rome, as he has opened a school of music there. He is most enthusiastic on the subject, and declares that the classes are already well filled, and that he is sure that it will be a success. The school i 8 now housed in one of the old palaces of the Eternal City, which foreigners so much admire, but which the maestro thinks leaves something to be desired as a homo for music. He hopes to be to build a suitable academy next year. Maestro Mascagni observed that at last liis opera Westilia’ is finished. This, it is said, must mean that Boito’s ‘Nero’ (which has been over 30 years preparing) is also ready, as not long ago Mascagni was. asked at a pubile dinner when his ‘Vestilia’ would be finished, and his reply was, ‘At the same time as Boito’s “Nero.” ’ lie iB also busy on his new work, ‘Amico,’ which is for a French publisher, and which he believes will rival his ‘Cavalleria Rustieana/ The maestro is his usual gonial self again after the difficulties of liis American visit, and seems to have forgotten his vow not to compose any more, but to (Jevote himself entirely to concerts, which caused his friends such consternation/’