MUSIC.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4313, 23 March 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

MUSIC.

NOTES BY G STRING. Some colonial choral societies might do well to take a hint from the procedure of the Bach Choir. This once celebrated organisation, founded by no less a person than Jenny Lind, had Of late fallen upon evil times. There were too many worn out singers in the choruspeople who persistently omitted to recognise the virtue of timely resignation. The performances suffered in quality and the public no longer responded. So the choir was disbanded; but only as a temporary stop. It is now in process of reconstruction, and room will no longer be found for the old stagers. Mr Sydney Hoben is evidently not to return to New Zealand, As he has just accepted the position of organist in St. Patrick’s Church, Sydney, where he has been for some time musical conductor. The late organist, Mr Septimus Harte, died a few days ago from injuries to tho spine caused by diving into shallow water at Farmer’s Baths, near Sydney. In order to accustom, young musical students to appear in public, Mr Robert proposes to establish pupils’ con-, certs on the lines of those conducted by the Royal Academy. This is a now departure which ought to prove very welcome. . ' Madame Antonia Dolores (Antoinette

| Trobelii) has cabled to Sydney stating I that she was sailing from San Fi'anoisco i for Sydney by the Sierra on the 6tli inst. ‘ .■■■■’’■ ■ Which is the largest organ in the world ? Some people would: say that v in the Sydney town, hall, which, if the “thunder stop”' and the carillon, are included, can boast of 128 speaking stops. But at Libau, in Germany, they have an. instrument, built in 1883. by B. Gruneberg, of Stettin, which, bais ’ 131 stops and' that in the cathedral; at Riga is said) - to have either 129 or 130. Bo that merely on the score of hugeness', the Sydney organ seems only to come third bn the list . of., honour (?). But the Americans, yvitlv thejr reverence for bulk, have in 'contemplation the ercc- . tion of : an organ larger than* any of these. It is about time we heard the end of tills craze for the gigantic, in organs. Many organists; and persons competent to give an opinion say that some 65 or 70 stops, if judiciously chosen, will give practically every combination and variety of tone that a performer can wish. , Mr F. B. Woodhouse, formerly of Christchurch, is recovering from his recent severe illness. As, however, ho broke a blood vessel in the lungs, it is feared that he may not be able to. sing publicly again. ; He has .been ordered by

his medical advisers totake a long sea voyage. 'The Professional Musicians’ Benefit Association of Sydney axe considering th© best means of recognising the services of Mr Woodhouso in the cause of art and charity. » • One of the principals in the Musgrova Opera Company now in Adelaide, Herr Max Eugene, the baritone, is the son of the famous operatic: baritone, Carl Stepan. Max Eugene Stepan was taken to London as a child, and os a boy sang soprano at Cardinal Manning’s pro-cath-edral, Kensington, where his father was a soloist on nights. -■ After his school days were over young Eugene secured a post in the’ great publishing house, of Novello and Co., and consider* that one of the most valuable things he ever held in his hand was a certain manuscript .which Charles Gounod give him to submit to the late Sir Joseph Barnby, and the principals of his firm. This manuscript was tne now. famous song, '‘There is a green hill far away.”' The German baritone soon tired of the business life, and joined the operatic stage. Miss Lorraine Tansloy, who was to have accompanied Miss Kate Connell on. a visit to the Southern towns, has loft the company; She is to join another concert company which is to bo organised about Easter. Miss Nellie Black, of Dunedin, a pupil of Mis William "Murphy, gained the highest honours iu singing at the last Trinity College examinations. She is a daughter of Mr Black, 1 of the- Black family, Dunedin. Mss Alice Hollander, the young coiir. tralto singer who recently visited this part*of the colony, was bom in Sydney, and is of Hungarian extraction. ‘My first recollection of singing,” she said the other day, in reply to an Auckland interviewer, “was when I was very tiny, and my grandfather used to bribe me with pennies to sing to him.. I have always been passionately fond of music. I had a friend who thought rather well of my voice, and she spoke about me to Mr O. O. Bethune, a very popular teacher in Sydney, aud at last, he heard me. Of course I was very anxious, and asked him what he thought. ‘Qh, yes, you will be able to earn bread and- but-

ter,’ be replied. ‘And; no cake?’ 1 asked, but ho only laughed. Mr Bethune is a cousin of Lord Hopetoun, and h&8 a very largo number of pupils—about 70 or 80. I had been with him for two years, and I cannot speak too highly of him. He is simply splendid, and has taught me everything I know. He seems to think very much indeed of my voice.” ' In- reply to another question, Miss Hollander said that she was charmed with New Zealand. “I love New Zealand and) the people; they are all so kind and warm-hearted. Do you know, I have had so much music given mo that I have had to get another trunk, and I have received all kinds of souvenirs. They have all treated me so well, and ; have spoilt me. What. I notice about i New Zealand is the courtesy of eyory- ! one. If you ask a person where soma ! place is you always get a polite answer, and they very often walk and show you, ■ while ir. some other places I have been, ' if you ask for a direction you only get a gruff reply and a nod of the head.”