CHAMBER CONCERT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19351, 11 December 1924, Page 10

CHAMBER CONCERT.

It is to be feared from the rather small audience that attended the concert of chamber music, organised by Mr Chas. A. Martin, and given in Burns Hall last evening, that lovers of what is styled highi class music are not too numerous in Dunedin. There is a tendency in many quarters to regard what is after all only a better class of music written on more artistic lines as dull and heavy, but such an idea would have been speedily dissipated had some of the selections played last evening been heard. The probable reason for holding such a view is that composers of a bygone generation belonged to a school that took a short but beautiful theme which they repeated ad lib in a more or less ortia-. mented form, and it is this repetition, supported by lack of a closer acquaintance with music, That is largely responsible fow what is to a great extent a misconception. No one whose ear is attuned to music could consider Beethoven, for example, tedious. It is true that some of the movements ia his works are extremely lengthy, but there Is a glorious beauty about them nevertheless. Mr Martin’s effort to raise the to'ue and taste in musical circles Is entirely to his credit, and it as a matter for sincere regret that the effort is not more warmly supported. There is, however, one redeeming feature that is worth noting with pleasure, and that is that those who do attend such, musical entertainments are extremely appreciative, and last evening’s audience was no exception to that rule. The works of four eminent composers were brought under the notice of the audience last night—namely, Haydn, SaintSaens, Dvorak, and Beethoven —and those essaying to their performance were Messrs C. A. Martin, J. A. Wallace, Selwyn da Clive-Lowe, B. Pettitt, and Trevor de CliveLowe. The recital opened with a quartet in G minor for strings, by Haydn; Op. 76, No. 3; of which the four movements were given. In the allegro the ’cello was a little obtrusive once or twice, but the movement was very well played, particularly in the more delicate passages, when there was a beautiful lightness about the treatment. The ,poco adagio cantabile introduces a very familiar air closely identified with music of a devotional character. The air Was beautifully played and the variations clearly and cleanly given. The other two movements were also admirably rendered. The quartet was loudly applauded, and the performers had to return to the platform and bow their acknowledgments. In the concerto in A minor by SatutSacns for violoncello the pianist (Mr Martin) shared in the success achieved by the ’cellist, Mr Trever de Clive Lowe. The allegro with which the concerto opened was brilliantly played, and the necessity for rapid work well met. The allegro was a pretty severe test for & ’cello player. The' other two movements were remarkably well rendered, and Mr de Clive Lowe deserved the encomiums bestowed upon his work. Dvorak’s trio in F minor for piano, violin, and ’cello, was probably the most pleasing item heard, and the interpretation was very artistic. Three movements of the trio were played. The allegretto was admirably treated, but of the three movements the adagio was to be preferred. The finish of the concluding movement was a particularly brilliant effort. The Beethoven selection was a quartet in E flat major for piano, violin, viola, and ’cello, and of the four movements the andante cantabile was very attractive. A beautiful air dominates this movement, and that fact, combined with a fine performance, made it specially eujbyable. The quartet as a whole was a decided musical success. Mrs Astley Black sang Charpentier’s “Depuis le jour” very acceptably, but did not appear to realise that she had to place some restraint upon her voice in a comparatively small hall. Mrs Black is more accustomed to sing in His Majesty’s Theatre and distance tones down a voice. Her singing later in the evening of Goring Thomas’s "The Willow” was more pleasing. On each occasion she sang Mrs Black was warmly applauded and recalled. Her accompaniments were nlayed by Mr Martin most sympathetically.