WORDS AND MUSIC.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13372, 28 September 1936, Page 3

WORDS AND MUSIC.

TALES OF THE PAST. DOINGS OF COMPOSERS. (By ‘ ‘ Violonschule 7 ). “Musie is one of the fairest and most glorious gifts of God to which Satan is a bitter enemy, for it removes from the heart the weight of sorrows and the fascination of evil thoughts." The above quotation was uttered by that celebrated religious leader who faced an illustrious gathering at the Diet of Worms, namely, Martin Laither. The following anecdotes were related by that famous tenor of last century, Signor Sbriglia : Steffani, that possessor of a voice of ’great power and beauty, every night when he sang at the opera drank two or three bottles of Bordeau wine during the performance. Every time he came off the stage he made straight for his bottle, so that frequently at the end of the opera he was quite drunk. Mario, another tenor of great renown, was such an inveterate smoker that he had a cigar in his mouth the last moment before he went on the stage and every moment between the acts. Sbriglia, himself, used to swallow two raw eggs between acts which he found very beneficial. This week my composer, or rather composers, are Johann and Joseph Strauss. Who has not heard of the “Blue Danube” waltz and others of these delightful musical melodies ? Johann and Joseph were the sons of Johann Strauss the elder. The boys were full of music; they had the same sparkling rhythmic faculty of their father, but he had no intention of allowing them to be musicians. On account of the elder Strauss’s many engagements, he lived in rooms apart from his family and consequently never heard the boys play and had no idea the boys had more ability than the average pupils. They practised zealously and never missed one of the daily rehearsals which were held in their .father’s part of the house. They listened eagerly to every note, then reproduced what they heard on the piano for four hands with such enthusiasm and in the characteristic style of their father that they soon became known beyond the family as piano players of distinction. All tltis time their father had no idea of their really artistic attainments. Therefore it was an unpleasant surprise when he was congratulated one day by a friend on his sons’ surprising success as musicians. He summoned the boys and bade them play for him. The boys sat down and played so spiritedly in exact imitation of his own peculiarities of style that he could not conceal his emotion nor the pride and satisfaction that beamed on his face. (Buben das spielt Euch Niemand uach) “Boys, no one can go ahead of you in that!”

Nevertheless, he refused to give his permission to their studying music professionally. However, a violent scene ensued when by chance Johann the elder discovered that his son was learning to play the violon. Father and son both held firm to their resolutions. This led to an estrangement which lasted until the undeniable success of Johann the younger finally won him victory over his father’s prejudices. To those musical persons who really enjoy a good picture containing melodious music and a good voice, 1 would advise them to see Grace Moore in the film, “The King Steps Out.” The music particularly is of a high standard, namely, because it is all composed by Fritz Kreisler, world-famous violonist. Wellington theatre patrons simply were thrilled by the excellent music and it is well-known that Wellington audiences are not easily pleased in this respect.