MUSIC NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7301, 3 December 1910, Page 8

MUSIC NOTES

(By “A Elat.”) Mr .Reginald Brophy, leading tenor in the choir in Westminster Cathedral, has, died in his reeidenc© in Brixton a'c- the age of thirty-five. Ho began life in Swansea in a ship chandler's office, and at the same time was a member of the choir at St. David’s Roman Catholic Church.

Mr 11. G. Dutton, who hoc been appointed choir master and organist of St. Sepulchre's Church, Auckland, recened his musical training iat Tewkesbury Abbey, England, gained an organ senolauship in the Royal Academy of Music. London, and Is a Fellow ot the Royal (Jollcge of Orsfcnßdm

The career o i B. Nevada- L®ndino» a tenor, who sang a dudt by Piccoii wTxh Mme. Mileri, an Italian mezzonsopremo, at a National Sunday League concert iu London lately, rc'acls like a romance, lie was formerly a newspaper boy, and his stand was outside one of,the opera houses in New York. One night Aim©. AXilori heard him caawlling a littlochansonotte, and, impressed by the unaccustomed timbre ot hiw voice, trapped and spoke to him. The result was that tho boy was sent to Italy to study. He has now a perfect knowledge of the language and an operatic equipment which saould serve him in good stead.

At the conclusion of the recent Cardiff Festival the 1 suggestion was made that the Cardiff Cactus should visit London to take part in the first London performance of Dr Cowcii's Festival work, “The Veil.” This would bo particularly interesting, and, apart from the merits of tho work ibsclf, the opportunity it would give to London of comparing the characteristic merits of the Welsh and the Yorkshire singers would be valuable and instructive.

Signor Steffani, well known as a teacher of singing in Australia, was a passenger for Europe by the Ormaml Be hie, which sailed from Sydney a few days ago. Aliss Eileen Boyd, the young contralto, goes with the teacher and his wife. Signor Steifani (in private life AH’ Arthur Stevens) came to Australia as a member of the lute Samuel Lazar’s Italian Opera Company in 1877. He has been in Europe several times during his career as singing teacher. Steifani aas two successful pupils’ in London —Hetty Holroyd (Esta D'Argo) ’ and Florence Schmidt, The success in Sydney of Airs W. McDonald (Kate,. Slattery) gave, him his first big lift as a teacher.. Aliss Eileen Boyd toured New Zealand as a child wonder several years .ago, under tho management of Mr Percy Dix. The famous Welsh ladies' choir is at present visiting Canada for .a comprehensive tovir of all tho big centres of the Dominion, . Air W. J. Caspers, pianist; of the Goulbum Leidsrtafel, has left for a six? 'months' ’tour of Europe. He. intends being present at the wedding ,of his sister, Miss Ella Caspers. Hamish AlacCunn, the widely-known Scottish''-composer, :■ whose concert, overture “Land of the .Alountain. and the Flood” will con'Sitlku'to a. first performance by ‘the society, was born _at Greenock on March 22, 1568. Winning a scholarship for composition, he entered tho Royal Academy. of Mucic in 1883, studying there under. Hubert Parry. In 1887 Augustus Manns brought out several of Site compositions, and the following year he was commissioned to write a cantata for tho Glasgow. Choral Union. In 1888 he was’ appointed pr> feysor of harmony at ; the Royal Academy. In 1898 he took up the conductorship of the Carl. Rosa Company. The ; best-known’bf ’ the works of .. this clever composer include the four-act opera ‘ “Jeanlc Deans/’ the ca’ntatue “Lord Ullin’e Daughter/' “Tho Lay of the last Minstrel/* .and “Tho Death of Parry Reed” (for mule .chorus and orchestra). The four-act opera “DiarnEd and Ghrine” was produced with success at Covent Garden, October 23rd, 1897. He Ms responsible for two other overtures, “Gior Nhor,” and ballad overture, “The Dearie Dens o’ Yarrow.” Another composition is the orchestral ballad, “The Ship o' the Fiend.” He is -also responsible for' the Bth Psalm for chorus and orchestra, many songs, part songs, compositions for violin and piano, and ’cello and piano; The wellknown stanza beginning “0 Caledonia: stern and wild/’ from Quito VI. of “The Lady of the Lake,” furnishes tho motto of "the “Land of-the Alountain and the -Flood.” Hamish MacCunu is the brother of Air Andrew AlacCunn, conductor of the J. C. Williamson Royal , Comic, Opera Company.

Madame Ada Crossley is. to visit South Africa next year under the management of Mr Jhlward Branscombe. She will take out'a company from London, and will make a comprehensive concert tour, going, as far, north as Victoria Falls.

, There has been quite a flutter in organ circles in New, South-Wales lately owing : to the' numerous vacancies that are occurring. Fortunately, there is a healthy demand , for competent players, indicating, perhaps, that many churches are realising that good music pays.

It is said that the recent Cardiff Festival, the artistic -success of which Iras been undoubted, has, from, the financial point of view, done' better . than any of its predecessors. It is' to be Hoped ;that it is so,'for it is an undertaking of far more than merely local importance, and anything which' endangered, its ; future would bo much to be ■ deplored! It is doing an admirable service to Wales in widening its musical outlook and convincing, these, the people at large, that, groat as fts musical merits are," it still has something to learn. ; 1