A TALENTED MUSICIAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19802, 29 May 1926, Page 13

A TALENTED MUSICIAN.

JOURNEYIN'GS WITH A QUARTET. INTERVIEW WITH MISS KENDALL^ A charming, cultured Englishwoman, who reveals in her appreciation of literature and of art, the same intellectual fineness as in the choice of the string quartet as the expression of her musical taste —such is Miss Kendall. Chamber music is an intimate a medium of personality as is a living poem or a fine essay, and it could have no more sensitive an interpreter than Miss Kendall. The formation of a string quartet, as to many of the most fruitful inspirations, came to Mbs Kendall quite by accident. Her musical genius had already been shown as a soloist: so that, some six years ago in England, she was appealed to, to fill an engagement with a quartet, in place of the original contractors. Miss Kendall hurriedly gathered three friends, performed the concert. and solved the difficulty. “Then,” she added, smiling, “we _ liked playing together so much that we decided to go cn.” Their pioneer work began, that of reviving interest in that most splendid form of concerted playing, by touring throughout England. “It is incredible,” said Mis* Kendall, “but we were the first quartet ever hoard in Cornwall.” At present, in England, a widespread revival is taking place in music, the provincial towns hav« all formed their musical clubs, and the appreciation with which the KendaU Quartet met was most inspiring. They began with the smaller places, and then gradually exiended their activities. _ Finally, they deAded to seek a wider public abroad. The plan of the quartet was to visit South Africa, but Mr Gravestock. then in England, advised a journey to Australia, and later a return to South Africa; and *» New Zealand came to be included. A tour has now been made of the Malay States and Java, where a most delightful and interesting time was spent by the quartet. Their tropical »experiences were sometimes gorgeous, often most amusing, and always full of the colour and life of the East. They were the guests of the Governor in Singapore; and of the Dutch Governor in Java, at his wonderful country house in its famous gardens. Among their audiences have been native princes, who were peculiarly interested in the English music. The Dutch residents of Java wera most attracted by the modem French music. Throughout the tour, the quartet has managed its programmes so as to contain two classical quartets and modern, groups of music, to illustrate the work that living composers are doing. The East is full of surprises—some of them rather disconcerting. At one concert, the Haydn Quartet had just begun, six bare perhaps had been played, when, suddenly, a six inch lizard dropped from the ceiling to the platform, and scuttled towards ihe feet of one of the players. Not_ being partial to lizards, she made a vigorous defence with her feet, to the enjoyment of the large audience. But the music did not » falter by a note. On another occasion, when going for a drive, the quartet met on this road a large troop of monkeys, chattering and friendly, with babies complete. The car was stopped, and tfaa party descended to take photographs. But , the monkeys disbanded in disorder, lor a large black snake, perhaps .six feet Tong, was gliding across the road. Perhaps the two most fascinating incidents of their visit were their presence at a Hindu festival, when the temple was filled with the wild din of native music, and the worshipper* worked themselves into fanatical enthusiasm before a gold idol encrusted in diamond* and emeralds: and the witnessing of a rehearsal of Javanese dances and songs. This took place in the palace of a native prince, and was for one of the native operas. The whole of the action and posturing is symbolical, and is countless centuries old. The counterpart of dances of the day may be seen in the stone has reliefs which still adorn several temples of the jungle. Tho contrast between this decaying civilisation and the young, quick growth of our country must have been very great. Miss Kendall spoke with warm admiration of New Zealand, which she describes as in appearance “A mixture of England and Scotland, with characteristic features of it* own.” Her one regret is that ,she will be able to see so little of its beauties Thi* is one of the disabilities of a tour such as theirs, that their work allows them so little time in which to explore the country. Of our musical appreciation Miss Kendall has nothing but commendation. ‘There is so much sympathetic understanding,” she said, “that we feel we can play our best. Throughout Ncw Zealand the quartet ha* met with the" deepest enthusiasm; which it peculiarly pleasing to these pioneers in professional chamber music. Next year the quartet may _ return to Java and to South Africa, but it is hoped that it will also return to New Zealand, because in this far out country of tho Empire, the love of good music is ever eager to give the keenest appreciation.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. TO TEE EDITOR. Sir, — 1 was surprised and pained to see the letters of “Indignant Father,” “Indignant Mother,” and “Indignant Grandfather." These misguided people eeem to want to make not. only the secondary and primary school children's holidays, but also their dinner hours, come at the eame time. All I can say is that when you’re old and grayLeaded and with nothing to do but .sit over the fire and keep tho potatoes from boiling over, you don’t want any more disturbance in the happy home than you can possibly help. And if a child arrive* from the kindergarten the same time aa another from the primary school, and then. Just as theyve started squabbling over the ureal a son comes blundering in from the high school; well, I know for certain that thex* is manv a distracted mother will have to give up the job of housekeeping altogether rather than fall prematurely into a state of delirium tremens. May X entreat you, Sir, to use all vour influence to stop this pretended reform, that our homes may continue to be quiet and happy as of yore, and our o’d folk still permitted to pass the rest of their dava in peace?—l am, etc., XirnioxAin: GnjcrmuoTUXii. Hay 3?.