A NEW ELEMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27057, 16 April 1949, Page 8

A NEW ELEMENT

MUSICAL LIFE OF OTAGO UNIVERSITY TRIO’S DEBUT Thursday night saw the beginning of a new and important element in the musical life 1 of Dunedin and Otago. A large invited audience heard the newly - established University Trio giving its first performance in the Concert Chamber Before the performance began the Very Rev. D. C. Herron, chancellor of the University of Otago, and Dr V. E. Galway, professor of music, outlined briefly the train of circumstances leading to the establishment of the trio and tne plans for its future use.

Mr Herron explained that the whole project had been made possible by the generosity of the late Dr William Evans, and by the wide discretionary powers given to the University in determining the ways in which his Request could be used. Dr Galway said that, for him, the first appearance of the trio was a culmination of hopes strongly cherished since he had observed the valuable work done in a similar way by the University of Wales. The trio will not be confined to its important functions within the University, but will give public concerts both in Dunedin and in the country, and it will also perform in the schools. The trio comprises Mr and Mrs Francis Bate (cello and violin Respectively) and Mr Maurice Till (piano), all late of Christchurch. Although these players are known to be fine artists, it is probably true that the majority of the audience did not expect to hear either individual playing or ensemble of the high quality actually presented. Slipshod playing of stringed instruments even at professional or semi-professional levels is by no means uncommon, and many pianists are incorrigibly rugged individualists. But these three artists not only exhibited a good command of their instruments, but also showed a degree of integration and mutual sympathy in their playing of a very high order. In chamber music deficiencies in technique and ensemble are mercilessly exposed; there are no drums and cymbals to cover up a multitude of musical sins. Musicianship and hard work are indispensable, and in neither of these was the University Trio found wanting. The foundation here of such a properly-established chamber group is an event of first-class importance in Dunedin’s musical history. For the first time we are assured of regular recitals of chamber music played with skill and insight by specialists. And, with suitable reinforcements, the Trio should sometimes be able to make profitable visits into the rich neighbouring territory of the pianoforte quintet. The concert opened with Schubert’s Trio in B flat, Op. 99, played throughout with great verve and alternating fire and tenderness. In the first movement the tone of the violin seemed rather dry, but Mrs Bate achieved a lovely silky quality in the Andante and sqcceeding movements. Mr Bate’s handling of the ’cello part was admirable except for a slight rhythmic inexactness in the pizzicato figure that accompanies the piano’s statement of the first theme of the opening allegro. The piano part was neatly and sensitively played by Mr Till. Only at one climax (in the first movement) did he appear to get momentarily out of balance with his colleagues. The slow movement was beautifully played, and the cohesion of the group in the Scherzo was exemplary, while in the enchanting Finale the players, in complete sympathy, created a glowing web of sound. The Arensky Trio in D minor, Op. 32, was played with the same nearperfection of ensemble, notably in the puckish Scherzo. The lyrical utterances of the violin and ’cello in the first movement were given with a fine warmth of tone, and the excellence of Mr Till’s teamwork was especially apparent in the Scherzo. The Adagio, strongly reminiscent of Tchaikowsky in his most restrained mood, had a hypnotic, dream-like quality that held the audience spellbound while the muted strings exercised their sway. The Finale was notable for the clean and close bowed tremolos of the string players. The concert concluded with Ireland’s “ Phantasie Trio in A minor,” a work exploiting a rich vein of very personal melody. The Trio played the rhapsodic music with a sure understanding of its emotional content. Throughout the concert there was an almost complete absence of inexact intonation, a thing unusual enough among New Zealand string players to call for notice when it is encountered. „ „ E. G.