MUSICIANS AND COMPOSERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 80

MUSICIANS AND COMPOSERS.

— From a purciy vocil point of view, Mdino Y\etto Gvulbert's ringing- is not fferfeci, yet ehc has won herself a, worldwide reputation as a singer. There is no one in tho work! who ran deliver a certain cl&ss of eoag bettor than she, and students of tLo arb of singing who wish to learn what style really is would probably loam rrore fiom Mdmc Guilbert in half an hour (says the London Globe) than the best master could teach them in a year.

— Sir Edward El gar, (ho distinguished composer, was, at ono lime, like the immortal Wagner, glad 1o earn a few shillings by putting together quadrilles from opeivie and poptilv air=. B© is a member of an interesting httlo West End club, composed almost entirely of musicians, and called th© "You-bc-quiet" Club. Its title means that no "snop" is (emitted in conversation. Sir Edward EJgar is an ardent golfer, a great saitoker, and works only in tho morning.

— How is one to make up one's mind that a man or wonwn is really a fine player at his or her first appearance? Perilous tho artist happens to bo a. tiifle out of soit«, and decs not show at his bef-t; perhaps lie happens to be in extraordinarily good t)ira, and plays as he never play? again. This sort of hair-trigger enthusiasm, is responsible, for the large numbe-re of bad artists and inferior composers who arc unloaded upon uc every season— it has re-.c-sntly brought in Richard Strauss and ]R]gar, and next year it will bring in some olhcr* It bvouglit in Dvorak, and left Lira, to be forcjoiten. — J. F. Ennciman, in the Saturday Eevkw.

— The great nval of Wagner— Beef or Bcj. - lio2--hai at length att^Jt'tcd a biogra-

phe..' worthy of hi<? theme. The splendid volume just issued by the Libraric Charlts | Dejagravo, in Pa<n3, and which may be I failhfuily described as "the" book on ttie subject is from ihe brilliant pen of M. J. G. Prod'homme. Although the author studiously avoids ihe spirit of partisanship throughout ths volume, h© succeeds in reducing the in'sdaiin of ihe snobs, tho ingratitude of the musicians who have refused to acknowledge their debt to the genius of Berlioz, and ihe detractions of 2us envious critics to their contemptible level. Tha pages of this book burn with tho fever of Berlioz's genius. In them Berlioz, with his struggles and his victories, lhes over again. To know and appreciate Berlioz at hia real value it is absolutely necessary to read M. Prod'homme's biography, and, having read it, the stude.it will be convinced there is nothing more to know concerning the composer of those monumental productions, "La Damnation! tie Faust" and "L'Enfance dv Christ." To the work there is appended a complete musical and literary bibliography. In order thafc those who evinco an interest in the hereditory and atavistic point of view may . not leave the feast unsatisfied, M. Prod' j homme has added a genealogical table of I the family of whic'i Hectoi Berlioz was so brilliant a scion. —Music.