MUSIC

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5199, 13 February 1904, Page 11

MUSIC

(BY “G STRING.”) Antonia Dolores was in Paris Cm December 14th. A letter written to Australia on that date (according to tho Sydney "Dao'y Telegraph”) shows fcliat tho distingmsned singer was luriing the winter, alter our swnny sk.es, very uncomfortably. "Grey sky, rain, snow, and frost alternately. Mile. Dolores’ engagements immetlately ahead comprised" Moscow on December !2U, on which date she was to. suig m Berlioz's -'Faust.” then appearance in Germany, Austria, Holland and Poland. Tho refusal by tho Sydney Town Hail authorittos to make a distinction m favour of tho leading musical societies of the city, as rcgatds tho rates for hiring of tho hail for concerts has occasioned much disappointment in that city. There is no need (observes tfio Sydney ‘‘Daily Telegraph”) to cito tho privileges of and practical support accorded to musical organisations on tfio Continent by the principal municipalities; it is well known. But until lato years it was not an argument that could influence English corporations. -Now thoro are several instances of tlie recognition of music, as something that concerns tlie community, by City Councils, and this exclusive of tho comprehensive epen-air music schemes such as organised by tho London County Council, one of tho most successful of municipal schemes are the. Bournemouth concerts, in charge of Mr Dan Godfrey. These concerts, which have won praise from Continental critics, are under the auspices of tho corporation, and havo been in existence for some years. All tho symphonies of Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorak. Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Tschaikowsky are given, and a host of other works, altogether denoting a constant, vigorous prosecution of music, lyiiusio of tho best class has become popularised, and tho subscription has worked down to tho rate of about eightponco per head for each concert. No comment is required to enforce either tho artistic breadth of the scheme or tho accessibility of good music to all grades of tho community in Bournemouth. ' IVo shall never ceaso to profit by the example of the most cultivated people the world has ever soon. Tho ordinary curriculum of tho Greeks' embraced gymnastics and music. Hero we fully appreciate tho value of the former, but tho time has yet to come when music will bo consdered an equally important element in a liberal education.

In Pans tho Ohevillard (Colonne) and the Labourcux orchestras each receive an annual subsidy of £6OO on conditions as to prices, tho performance ot tho pioco that lias won tho ‘‘Prix do Romo,” and tlie inclusion of a certain proportion of music by French compcsors. In tho French provtneos tho popular concerts at Lille, Angers. Bordeaux and Marseilles are visited annually by tho officials of tho Ministry of Pino Arts, and receive grants (in francs) varying from £IOO to £2OO a year. Certa.n concerts of less importance receive grants of from £l2 to £4O a year. Lastly, a large number of choral societies receive grants varying from £2 to £6 a year.

Three new works are included in tho repertoire cf tho Royal Choral Society for this year—namely. Sir Frederick Bridge’s “Callirhoe,” Mr Coleridgc-Tay-lors oratorio “Tho Atonement,” fixed for February 17, and “Tho Apostles,” tho concluding concert of tho season, on April 21. For Dr Elgar’s composition tho soloists will be Miss Susan Strong, Miss Ivirkby Lunn, Mr Ffrangcon Davies, Mr Kennerley Rjunford, Mr John Coates, and Mr Andrew Black. The London “Daily Chronicle” states that “Mr Watkin Mills, tho popular basso, leaves England on March 26th to fulfil numerous engagements in America. For the third time ho has been engaged as principal basso at tho groan biennial mudical festival at Cincinnati,, whore ho will take part in Beethoven’s ‘Missa Solennis,’ the .Choral Symphony, Bach’s Mass in B minor, and Elgar’s ‘Dream of Gcrontius.’ Afterwards ho will go to San Francisco, and thence to Australia.” Mr W. Spencer Jones, manager for Mr Watkin Mills, .leaves San Francisco by the steamer Sierra for Sydney on March 3 A well-known Birmingham musician and musical critic, Mr Andrew Deakiu, is dead, at the age of 82 years. Like many other good men, Mr Doabin began life as a printer, and subsequently became a vocalist, organist, and violinist. So long sinco as 1845 ho printed a periodical, entitled tho “Birmingham Musical Examiner,” of which Mr James Stirapton, the lato Town Hall organist,! was editor. For many years Mr Deakiii was organist and choirmaster of the Church of the Saviour. Ho was for many years musical, critic of the “Birmingham Daily Gazette,” retiring in, 1894. He composed a number of >vorks, which attained local popularity. Dr F. H. Cowen is engaged on a cantata for noxt year’s festival at Cardiff, This is on tho subject of Cowper’s famoils poem “John Gilpin.” Mr Arthur Hervey’s contribution to tho festival rill ho an orchestral tono-pictnro •mtilletl “In tho East.”

Musicians are proverbially sensitive to criticism. An amusing instance of this lias just been .gven in Birmingnam, where one of tho most important musical organisations of tho city—tho Halford Orchestral Society—has risen. in wrathful revolt against tho musical critic of the Birmingham "Daily Mail,” apparently because be had tho temerity to lavishly praise Mr Dan. Godfrey’s work when ho was acting; as conductor during the absence of Mr Halford. The criticism, in the view of the members, contained an invidious comparison, “as unnecessary as it was uncalled for”; and they have issued a manifesto traversing tho conclusion arrived! at by the critic. Oh. these musicians! Miss -Maude MacCarthy, the young Australian violinist, has mode her reappearance as soloist with tho famous Boston Symphony Orchestra. Dr Charles W. MacCarthy, of Sydney, recently received a cablegram from Boston, “Greetings, overwhelming success,” despatched by h!is wife after tho concert.