MUSIC.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5008, 4 July 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

MUSIC.

(BY G. STRING.) (From the “New Zealand Mail.”) Mr_M.ark Ham bourjr, vrho is to appear in Wellington this week, was born in 157.9 at B.igufchor, in tbo province of Voronezh, Saul hern Russia, liis father. Professor Hambourg, who was director of the Imperial School of Music at Voronezh, the chief town of tho province, luul been a pupil of Nicholas Rubinstein at tho Conservatoire of Moscow. Ho' gave his son every opportunity for musical study, and having assumed a professorship at (lie Moscow Conservatoire, look Mark with him to that city, one of tho great musical centres of Rust sia. When the lad was ion yearn eld, in the winter of 18S9, lie played at one of the Moscow Philharmonic Society’s concerts, receiving lavish praise from the press .and the public. Acting ou the advice of many friends. Professor Hambourg then took the boy to London. A few recitals which no gave there impressed the critics so much that they did nut hesitate to describe him us a genius. Many prominent musicians of the day, who had heard Mark play, considered that to complete his musical education ono thing yet romained—a course of studies under the greatest master of his time. Professor Loschntitzkv. Amongst those who recommended this step were such eminent authorities ns Dr. Richter. Paderewski, and P. Moschelcs. Accordingly, in November, 1891. Mark proceeded to Vienna. Tho three years there was ono succession of triumphs. It was not long before Ires, ohetitzky convinced himself that in Mark ho had an exceptionally gifted pupil, and threw himself with the enthusiasm of a true arlirdo into tho work of developing his talent,. At the cud of a brilliant three-years’ course, Losobetitzky, proud of Ids pupil, presented him with' a purse containing all the fees lie had received for his tuition, but Mark, whilst accepting the old man’s gift, devoted, it io ibo foundation of a scholarship to bear Leschetitzki- name

Signorina Sassoli, tho gifted young harpist who travelled “the colonics as a member of tho Melba Concert Company, has, n s tho cable messages have informed us. given a successful conceit in London. Miss Sassoli, who was barn in Boulogne, when seven years old .heard a little girl play the harp. This so much impressed her that she bogged to bo allowed to learn, in fact she tried to learn without teaching, and displayed extraordinary aptitude. She was sent to tho Conservatorium at Boulongo, and went through tho course there with great dj®. Unction. Then she proceeded to Paris, where she greatly distinguished herself, cavilling all the prizes in her branch at the Conservatoire. She is now only 15 years old. Madame Melba generously offered to defray all the expenses of her London concert. A correspondent writes to a London, paper to point out that the receipts at one of the Melba concerts in Sydney, •£2OOll, make a record for the world, that no such sum has ever been token in any part of tho world, oven by Patti, for a concert, and that consequently Madame Melba must have made more money in Australia than she could make elsewhere. An Australian tour, however involves, a waste of three months at least in travel, and in the Commonwealth there are few, if any, hostesses who canid pay Melba for “at home” appearances—soo guineas a time, a fee cheerfully given as often as she wished to receive it in London, during the intervals of her operatic appearances at Govent Garden. Mrs AY. K. D’Arcy, Mr Alfred do Rothschild, Mrs J. B. Robinson, Mr Astor, Mrs Waller Palmer. Mrs Alfred Harmsworth, Mrs Murray Guthrie, and the Duchess o' Abercorn are a few of those who regularly pay this sum, r-o that their guests may hear tho greatest of living opera singers. London papers announce the abolition pf the King’s private hand in September next. It was in Edward IV.’s reign that one first hears of a monarch providing himself with an orchestra. That King limited the. number of his instrument, allots to thirteen, who played on ‘'trampets, shalmos, and sraallo pypes.” In. 1525 the hand comprised "fifteen trumpets, three lutes, three rehecks, three taborets. a harp, two viols, tcu sackbute, a fife, and four drumsladcs.” Tho next historical event was in 1641, when, “twenty-five musicians for the way Ice’’ were added to the band. Tho orchestra that is about to bo disbanded consists of thirty-four performers, Mr Alfred Gibsou being the first violin. It was in 1660 that tho first “Master of the King’s Musick” and conductor of this band was appointed—a post now held by Sir Walter Parratt and the lucky man to obtain tho position was David Mell, who was both violinist and clookinaker. In 1063 he was succeeded by John Banister, who was dismissed in 1672—and followed by Thomas Purcell—because he said that English violinists were better than those of Franco! Maurice Greene was “Mn-s----tev” in 1735, William Boyce in 1755. and William Shield previously a. boat, builder, in 1817. In 1818 the “Master’* was Mr. G. F. Anderson, husband of the lady who taught Queen Victoria the pianoforte. Ho was succeeded in 1870 by Sir William Cusins, on whose death in 1833 Sir Walter Parratt was appointed to tho coveted post. Madame Agnes Janson, who was in New Zealand as a member ,of the Musgrove Company which performed grand opera, has signed an agreement with the Coveut Garden syndicate to appear as Erda in “Siegrried,” Frieka in “lUicingold,” and one of the quarrelling daughters of Wotan, iu “Die Walkuro.” Since leaving New Zealand Mine. Jansen has added Orlrud in "Lohengrin” to her repertoire. After the Covent Garden season, which terminates at the end of July, Mme. Janson will divide the rest of the year between Stockholm and New York. 'Che critics have differed concerning Sir Philip Newbury, who gave a conceit recently in London, when ho engaged Lady Halle, Miss Maggie Stirling, Miss Sylvia Tarra, a new dramatic soprano, Messrs Plunket Greene, Percy Grainger, and Henry Bird (accompanist). The “Times” notice was decidedly unfavourable, and reads in contradiction to the "'Standard,” which includes tho followin gremarks:—"lt i s some eight years since Mr Philip Newbuly. who gave a concert last night at Queen’s Hall, was heard in London and during that period he has won for himself an excellent reputation in Australia, which, judging by his singing yesterday, has been well earned. His voice is a tenor robnslo of rich quality and great power. It is easily produced, and hip mezzo voce (sic) in “Oft in the Stillv Night,” given . ;>a an encore after his delivery of Iho recit. and air, 'Lend Me Your Aid,’ from Gounod’s 'Seme do Saba,’ testified to admirable breath control. In the excerpt from Gounod’s opera. Mr Newhurv showed a tendency to exaggerate and unduly forced his voice: but allowance must be made for the fact that it wa« his opening attempt."