MUSICAL DEGREES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14702, 9 December 1909, Page 5

MUSICAL DEGREES.

THE EXAMINER INTERVIEWED. HOPE FOR NEW ZEALAND. Probably the most important event o[ the year to the younger suction of local musicians lies in the annual examinations eonducted by the duly-appointed representative of the Associated Board of the Rural Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music. This Associated Hoard was formed in 1839 by the two bodies agreeing that they should combine their forces for the purpose of establishing local examinations on a rpiasi-univcrsity basis. These examinations, as drawn up, are of graduated difficulty, providing a complete series of tests ranging from the primary division of tlie school examination up to the licentiateship examinations, and suited to candidates pf all degrees of proficiency. The standard, it may be said, is tlio same at all places.' The examiner for New Zealand this year ■has k-on Mr Frederic Cliffe, who lias for the past three months been traversing Ihc Dominion southwards from Auckland, eonducting examinations where necessary. lie has just finished the. local work, anil left yesterday afternoon for Gore and Invercargill, whence he leaves on Monday for Melbourne and Home. He was seen vesterday afternoon before leaving by a Daily Times reporter, and coasented to give the first interview granted by him "m°Xow Zealand to the press. PURELY PERSONAL. Inasmuch as it is always- particularly interesting to all candidates—and perhaps a source of consolation to unsuccessful aspirants—to know the calibre of the pe'ron who adjudicated unon their merits" the reporter suggested that Mr Cliffe should recount a. few facts of his career With natural modesty, Mr Cliffe demurred somewhat, but judicious questioniti"- evolved something. '

While altogether deprecating the "infant prodigy line, Mr ClilTo confessed that at the age or 14 lie had been appointed organist to one of the biggest choral societies in England—the Bradford Festival Chorus society, which at that, time occupied the place now- taken by the famous Sheffield Choir, During the next 20 years Mr Cliffe gained no small reputation us an organist, and occupied the musican's stool at a number of the principal churchcs-at the Leeds festival, Ihc Barch Choir,tho Royal Italian Upcta, Covont Garden, Drury Lane, and Her Majesty's Old Theatre amongst others. 1 became professor of piano at the Koyal College of Music, holding that position since its start. lie has taken part in all the examinations in England and the cotomes—namely, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. Though of sound reputation in these respects, it is moro by reason of his compositions that Mr Cliffe is known. Asked as these. Mr Cliffe mentioned The First Symphony" (which created a sensation on its production at the Crystal Palace), " The Second Symnhonv" (produced at the Leeds Festival),' "Cloud and Sunshine" (brought out at the Philharmonic concert in London), and "Violin Concerto" (produced at the Norwich Festival). At another festival Madame Clara Butt fianij for Iho first lime the vocal sccna "The Triumph of Alcestis." while the last thing mentioned was that at the l:j6t Sheffield Fost.ival it was his "Ode to. ■the North-east Wind" that, was produced. This proved so successful that it has since then been given at five or six other festivals. This last matter was interesting, inasmuch as it is very likely that tho Sliefßeld Choir, arrangements for the coming of which here in 1911 are being made by Dr Hamss, of Ottawa, will probably have the piece in its repertoire. THE WORK IN NEW ZEALAND. Having thus learned' tho experience and quality of the examiner, the interviewer turned his attention to the New Zealand examinations. In rc6poiua to a query, Mv Cliffo made reference to the very "teat amount of good that wa.s tvum done bv the initiation b ( v tho board of a. set standard which required struggle to attain. In his opinion it was doing an incalculablo amount of good by raising the tone and taste of tho whole country and directing attention from the cheap and rubbishy jnusic which, in a measure, previously obtained to tho exclusion, of tho classics and high works of art. This was founding a tasto which would spread', and, in the course of time, lead to the attainment of a high position in the musical world. It Irad been a source of pleasure and enjoyment to him to go through tho Dominion in hi# examination work. Taking it on the whole, he had found the work to bo astonishingly good, especially in the larger, centres, of which, in the mattor of merit, Duneuin was easily first. In Wellington there had been some very excellent work, andeo tbatcitycamo next. Mr Cliffe qualified his endorsement of Dunedih by tho reminder that lie had not yet visited Goro and Invcrcargill, which places might deprive Dunedin of liar position. So far as lie had gone, however, Dunedin was the top-ilotch" town, its level being quite as good; as that of any Scotch town of the same size.

( " In the smaller centres," he continued, "the work has not boen so satisfactory owing to the fata! habit of students taking grades of examination work totally beyond their present abilities, both technically and musically." He> often found them taking advanced grades whoro they ought to be in the higher school examination class. " If," he concluded on this point, " their study is going to ha<vo any artistio valuo tlisy must be content to proceed methodically by the various stops of the ladder, otherwise they will do themselves a tremendous lot of harm."

Hinting as to the future the interviewer was rewarded with this opinion-; "The work of the girls of the Dominion has been so good that in their case, at any rate, tliero is great enoouargement to hope for good things i nthe future. It is very pleasing and gratifying to see so much attention devoted to cultivating arts that go to make tho home beautiful, and espe daily to that art—glorious and enobling music. VYes, I have been very busy all through my throe months' ' tour,'" remarked Mi ClifTe. " I have not got so much into touch with your musicians as I would' have likod to do. But the work has, of course, been very arduous, and left jne practically no tiino at all." THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR. , Mr Cliffo usedi a very powerful figure of speech to indicate his enthusiasm for this choir and tho gigantic schemo of Dr 1-larriss to bring it hero in 1911. "Tho magnificent singing of tho choir is indescribable," ho said. "It takes you to tho infinite—tho celestial. I have seen blase musicians after a pcrfoniifl'ncc wringing friends' hands in tlio street, spccchless with emotion, and in some cases with tears running down their cheeks. You can tell the peoplo of Dunedin," ho added, "that if any men or women have got music in their souls it would bo well worth while crawling from hero to Christchurch and back in order to hear this gorgeoua choir."