A MAORI SONATA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2929, 4 May 1910, Page 69

A MAORI SONATA.

ALFRED HILL IN SYDNEY. Mr Alfred Hill's health has been excellent since he came to Sydney (says the Post's Sydney correspondent), and he is busy with useful musical work. He acts as deputy -conductor for Sig'nor Hazon with the "Butterflv " Opera Company; and in conjunction with Mr J. C. Williamson he is just conmpleting a new Maori opera, in which the best numbers of the " Tapu music will be used. Possibly this will be first produced in London. There is no gcod news of "The Moorish Maid," which seems to be as far as ever from a London production. On 6th April Mr Hill's "Maori" sonata, for piano and violin, was performed for the first time at an H. N. Southwell concert in Sydney. L. G. Smith the pianoforte oart; the violinist was Cyril Monk. This is Mr Hill's fourth sonata; the third awaits performance. AH the themes are original Maori melodies collected by Mr Hill,, who says, "I believe these old themes are very near to the heart of things, and they may prove a new and: vigorous element •in our modern super-refined 'science' of music." The new sonata has three' movements. In the first, the principal theme is the " Whakarongo e te rau, ' sung by the Wanganui natives over Mr Seddon's body at Parliament House. Th« second theme l is a Cook Island melody noted at the Exhibition. In the second movement the principal theme is the lament, "Aote ao te.au ra-aha tangi," which was sung by Mr Carroll at the Seddon tangi. Mr Hill noted it from the singing of Te Heuiheu at - Taupo. The second theme is a Rotorua love ditty. The principal theme of the third movement is a song obtained from North Auckland Natives; the second theme is the old Maori song " Tikinae Hirini." The sonata was very well received by the audience, and will doubtless take a place in the repertory of many musicians. This in spite of an imperfect rendition, for neither piano nor violjn was inspired, and the musio contains a great deal more than they uttered. Mr Hill has chosen a somewhat strict model of form, and his link and developmental .passages are very interesting. The sonata has plenty of substance; in fact, the themes are weighty enough for a symphony. Mr Hill has endowed them with a rich harmony, and the musio deserves to be familiar.