ERVEST TOY: VIOLINIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2861, 13 January 1909, Page 69

ERVEST TOY: VIOLINIST.

A SKETCH. | : ' Ern?sfc Toy was Lorn in Bsndigo (Tic.) in tho oarly eighties, but as his parents shortly afterward* mi prated to Chartcis Towers (Queensland) g-oldfielcls, he is generally regarded as a Queensland product. True, his early education and environment are thosa of Queensland, and he has very , properly come to be known in Anglo-Aus-tralia as the Qu&eivslard ■violinist. At a very early age Toy's talent was unmistakable, and his greatest delight was \ in playing 1 melodies on the tin whistle to : his ju\onil-e companions, and indeed the older generation were only too pleaded to ' be within earshot. At the age of six his [ travelling propensity asserted itself, for unknown to his parents he followed a circus troupe for several miles listening: to che , band, and ib'rgetting aU else in his com- ' plete abatraction. This episode served to strengthen his ' parents' growing thought that the child was destined to be a musician. A car- ' pentcr who was working at the home, ' and to whom tho child plavod on hie tin I whistle for hours, suggested that he take up the violin, and he himself would in- ' struct him from the elementary knowledge I ha had gained in the big cities. He very quickly mastered the simple technique that * the carpenter was able to demonstrate. Then the local barber, who had studied still deeper, was given tho training of the ! pupil. Under his guidance young Toy ' developed lapidly, and was fa«t making a ' name for himself, although only eight years ; of age. The next five \ears were spent in J . England, the young student's talents being applied in all direction to the perfecting - of his art. Duiing- that lime he made ' rapid progress, and in 1895 he obtained t tie ' distinction of L.R.A.M , being th.a youngest, J student at that time who had a^ni a vd ( j such honor. In the same year he ob- j ' ' tamed the bronze modal of the Society j * of Arts (London) in open competition for ■ j ; the maximum marks gained in violin-play- j ' ing. In the meantime he had been mak- ■ c ing a name for himself as a soloist at i * Bath and Bristol and other provincial 1 towns. and in XWles he further } , honours at the Royal National Eisteddfod, j \ hi 3 win being a most popular one. j l Considering his training now well ad- j > I vanced he returned to Australia for a short I c tour, and appeared successfully in Mcl- I bourns with the Metropolitan Lioderta^al j t and at the Exhibition Ilromenade (Joi<-ert=. ' l These latter were at that time the step- c ping-stone of all aspiring talent, and many J' of our most prominent artists oarnpd their ; ; first successes there, notably Ada Cro^ley, j Lalia Mirnnda, Maggie Stirling, Jeannie a Ramsay, Percy Giaiiiger. ai^rl many others who have left an indelible impression on r the musiral annals of Australasia and found t a^ niche in the concert halls of Europe. A y New Zealand tour commenced in April. ! y 1899, and lasted about throe months, all j the principal towns being visited, and the c violinist was en.thu=>ia3tical]y received T everywhere. His company included Alice Simmonj (soprano), Maude Dalrymple , (contralto), and Eenee Lee 3 (solo pianist l . j Mr Toy is anticipating his second tour j of New Zealand with much eagerness, and | roncM-t-goars will note with satisfaction how <j the brilliant youth of 10 years vgb has developed into the eupreme artist of the present day. f Like Ole Bull, the greatest of Nor- I, wogian violinists, Mr Tqj plays on a i' euperb Gaspaxa de Salo, a violin over 300 years old and of great rarity. This instrument was presented to Mr Toy in 1902 by ' c Queensland admirer 3 resident in London, L-ord Lamington heading the list of subscribers. He is careful in. the arrangement 3 of his programmes to include music to ! r

eiiit all tastes, and to the violin student his concerts are of the highest instructive value. On his last voyage to Europe Air IVy made tho acquaintance of his present manager, Mr Leslie Millar. Mr Millar was travelling on pleasure bent, and being of musical taste found in Mr Toy a congenial companion. So confident is he of Mr Toy's ability as a violinist that he has decided to join forces with his friend and do all 111 his power to make Mr Toy known, to every musician in Australasia. * \