MUSIC.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6383, 4 December 1907, Page 4

MUSIC.

(By “G" String.)

There is a movement on foot among well-known Engiisn concert artistes to form an “Autograph .Combine." t This proposition is tno result of, tliej increasing demands “for your signature" from importunate autograph hunters., Amongst those who are willing to Join the “Combine" gre Madame Clara Butt, Mies Agnes Nicholle, Herr Fritz Kreister, Messrs Ben Davies, John Coates, Kounerley ford, Henry Wood, Maurice Farkoa, F. Frangco n Davies, and many others. The proposal, that a fixed sum, either c»‘ shilling or half-a-crown, should bo charged all “autograph fiends" for each signature given, all the money received going to endow a cot or even a ward at a London hospital.

Mr Edward Farley is to bo tendered a benefit at the Standard Theatre, Sydney, on December 13th All the leading musical people of Sydney have promised their support, eo the benefit ought to bo a great spccrsss.

■ Herr Kubelik • and Herr Kreisler, the celebrated- violinists, will both bo touring America at the same time, Kubelik gave his last recital in London on October 10th, before sailing for America, and Kreieler sailed from London on October 23rd for a six months’ tour of the United States, •..*

One of the pieces to be produced during the forthcoming season of Mr J. C. Williamson’s Musical Comedy, which opens at the Opera House on Boxing Night, will be the light opera or musical play, “The Little Michus," by A. Vanloo and G» Duval, music by Andre Messager, English version by Henry Hamilton,' and lyrics by Percy Greenbauk. “The Little Michus" is .said to bemuch above the average of musical comediesit has a coherent stohy, nothing irrelevant being dragged into it. As a rule, in most musical comedies, without the slightest rhyme or reason, every sort, of variety turn is introduced. It is not bo with “The Little Michus," Mr Williamson having decided that the piece will bo played as written by the authors.

The famous annual band contest at the Crystal Palace, London, took place on Saturday, September 28th, in the presence of the largest audience ever seen at these gatherings. Before midday over 50,000 persons had passed through the turnstiles, and fresh arrivals continued to pour in until nightfall. The bulk of the freat crowd came from the north and lidlands, and at each of the nine competitions which jiroceeded simultaneously during tho afternoon many of the spectators closely followed the music from tho scores with which they, had come provided. The bandemcn, as is usual at these contests, treated their tasks with .even more seriousness, and in accordance with the well-approved northern fashion, many played in their , shirt-eleeves. Altogether;. 150 bands competed, comprising 3000 performers. They came from all parts of tixe country. The principal | feature of the programme was the com- \ petition for tho National Challenge j Trophy, valued at 1000 guineas. This i carries with it the championship of j Great Britain and the Colonies, and at cash prise of ,ClO. Other contests were , for challenge shields, cups and other' trophies, and money prizes of tho total; value of -£ll4O, There were seventeen | competitors for the championship, but ' several bands which have, achieved fame in tho past were absent, including Besses j o’ th' Burn, Black Dyke and Fcrndale. j The winners were the holders of the j trophy, Wingates Temperance, who play-, ed the test piece, “Gems of Schubert, nr- j ranged by Mr W. Shcjrt, L.R.A.M, with! much skill. The adjudicators Were Mr j Short. Lieutenant Charles Godfrey, I K.A.M., and Mr Richard Stead. .The | chief prize winners wete:—Championship , Trophy.—J, Wingates Temperance; 2, Ooodshaw-; 3, King’s Cross- 4, Rushden Temperance; 5, Crosfield’s Soap Works;

6, Goeeago’e Soap Works; 7, Shaw. Challenge aaieki.—l, South Moor; 2, Hawmarsh; 3, Southwark Boro’. J.unior Cup, •s-Bentwaod'' Peterborough Bxpeifeidrr 31 ’ Wrightiugton. Preliminary fauicid, —X, Clown; 2, Rockingham Colliery; 3, Denaby Main Ambulance. Frolinunary Cujj.—l, Kothweil Kifies. Consolation Cup.—l, Caerphilly. Reed Bunds. —1, lit Volunteer Battalion Bulls; 2, Swindon;.3, Dewsbury and District; 4, Reading Temperance, • Boys’ Bands,— Greenwich • and Deptford. Concertina Bands.—l, Old Ham; 2, Heywood; 3,-liock-mondwike (last year’*? winners).

The death is announced of Herr Alfred Eeisenauer, the well-known pianist. Jlo was a brilliant virtuoso and a good musician. He was born in 1863 iu Konlgaberg, and studied under Liszt.

Mimic Seller: “Hero is that book, ma’am, 'How to Play tlio Piano/ " Lady of the House: “What book? I order any book." Music Seller: “No, ma’am; but the neighbours did, and they told me to bring it to you.”

For the first time in his long-varied career Herr Fritz Krpislor, the eminent violinist on Saturdny/Octobor 19 th, pjAyed to a penny audience. Under, the auspices of the London People’s Cpncert Society the .fcelebrnted artiste gave a recital nt the Northern Polytechnic Institute, Holloway road, London. He was assisted by Mr Fred Austin and Mr,W. Haddon Squire. The prices of admission ranged from one penny,to one shilling, the Beats being apportioned as follows s Six hundred seats at one penny, two hundred and fifty seats at threepence, and two hundred and fifty* seats at one shilling. In the course of a conversation with a pressman, an official of the society said tho idea of getting great artistes to perform before a poor audience was to bring really good music and musicians with, in-the reach of those who cannot afford Queen’s Hall ; prices. * The concerts are often given at a loss, but the Society )ia<3 a subscription list open, apd it generally manages to keep on the right side. It xs ‘the intention; of tho society during the Reason -to procure such artistes us Mir Gervase Elwee, Madanio Lily Honkel, and Herr Hegedus and others to perform ai their penny concerts.

Herr Wcjngartnor’e now music to "Faust” will he, produced at Weimar in the spring. '■

"To make a beautiful thing ugly is a very easy, matter, indeed; and in this respect most pianists who attempt Cliopin arc eminently successful,” oays if. Vladimir do Fachmann in the “Strand Magazine.”

The programme of-the Munich .Opera for this season includes Berlioz’ "Trojans” (both parts); "Don Quixote," "by Becr-Wallbrunn; “Ticfland, by D’Alberk; “Pelleas ot Melisande,” by Debussy ; “Moloch,”, .by Schillings, land "Doniia Diana,” by Eeznizek (who. by the way, makes his first appearance in London this month). These are all new to Munich.

Madame Finny Moody coufe-seee-l to a weakness for practical joking. "Oncday,' 1 she says, “disguised in a w ig and pair of spectacles, X applied to have my voice tried by the manager of our company—my own husband. Neither he nor the conductor hod the faintest suspicion of my bona fideg when I pleaded that, my homo being many milfe away, they would bear me before a number of others w-ho were,waiting I took the conductor’s band, and imprinting upon it : a' devout kiss, called him :, Tho dear Master/ Ho did try my voice, and. as I indulged.. Lithe most excruciating shrieks ever heard as ’music,’ he told me, gently but firmly, to go back to keeping cows, or any other occupation within my limited capacity. My husband confirmed thie judgment, with much concern for my inisappliod enthusiasm; when Suddenly I threw off rny disguise and revealed my real-char-acter."