MUSIC NOTES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17143, 27 December 1929, Page 12

MUSIC NOTES

A VIOLINIST OF 12

The newest prodigy is Yehudi MenuInn, who played Brahms' Violin Concerto at the concert oi" the London .Symphony Orchestra ■at Queen's Hall. Wegarded as the performance of a boy of 12 this was truly astonishing and fully deserved all the enthusiasm with which it was greeted. But the ago or other circumstances of an artist have no hearing on the absolute quality of his performance, and that quality alone deserves 'consideration when a symphony concert by one of our leading orchestras is; in question. Otherwise we migljt be expected to go into'ecstasies because an ape had .been taught to play three consecutive notes in tune, which, relatively to the general musical capacity of that ■ species, would be wonderful. Judged by the absolute standard MenuKin's performance was very good. His command' of technique is remarkable, lint; while there was something more than a mere.cold perfection in his playing, there' was little real feeling. All the obvious points were duly made, but the subtleties escaped -him. Yet it is the measure oft'the boy's, ability that his performance of a work so exacting, both technically and emotionally, can. be judged by the same standards as that of his elders. '

YOUTH AND (IENIUS Vet another boy-genius - has astonished Europe. It is /.Ezra, Rachlin, a. 12-year-old pianist whose' performances of Hach, : Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt and modern •composers' works have amazed audience's ; and , musicians wherever he 'his appeared; 'According to reports, the youth's technique is extraordinary, and like Shura Cherkassky and Yehudi Menuhin, the boy violinst, Ezra Rachlin interprets with the conception of a matured adult artist. There axe rumors that Ezra and Yehudi are coming to totu" Australia.

Nearer home is the child-wonder pianist, Nancy Weir, who has been acclaimed by several visiting stars. Nancy is a native or Lockhart, N.S.'W. She has been studying in Melbourne for some time, arid is to appear here in March on her way to England.

GRENADIER, GUARDS Taking advantage of the War Office permission to adopt the lower pitch, the Grenadiers have been the first regiment to equip, themselves' with new instruments. It has cost them £IOOO. Money well spent, will say all who have their latest record, a ' bold' martial pairing of two popular inarches, "Stars and Stripes for Ever," by Sousa,: and Alford's evergreen "Colonel Bogey." Their tone is much improved and, as ever, they contrive to give just that dash of. excitement that makes all the difference in music of this genre.. . .

AUSTRALIAN SUCCESS "Florence Austral and Browning Mummery are two - successful Australian artists who have firmly established themselves in the musical centres of the world, and it is fitting that they should be brought together on one record. They have recorded two duets from '"JYovatore"—the ever-popular "Miserere" and the equally well-known "Home to Our Mountains." Austral has achieved remarkable success in the singing of the soprano* .part allotted to Leonora in <1» j "Msserera'' and her singing of Azucena'a music in the other duet shows that with her remarkable range she is equally competent in the mezzo'soprano part. Mummery is now a favorite tenor with the British National Opera Company, and both rtuets are a convincing proof of the artistio success of these two Australian singers. "MOTHERt GOOSE" SUITE

! With all its subtlety and originality,, Havel's "Mother Goose" Suite yet makes an instant appeal by its melodic beauty and illustrative cunning. It ripples with dainty fancy and piquant inventiveness, and suggests the bright playfulness of a super-fairy-godmother amusing a party of etherealised children. Wit and mischievous fun sparkle in every line. The New York Symphony Orchestra under Walter Damrosch, gives a performance that, could ( hardly be bettered in refinement and tonal'charm. The woodwind has a quality that threads a perpetual delight through the interpretation, while Hie delicate smoothness of the strings holds ! our wonder from first to last. The reproduction is splendid. A really Worthwhile recording of a masterly work. SOLOS BY HAROLD WILLIAMS That fine Australian singer, Harold Williams, who though young in years contrives to rank as a veteran at Covent Garden, is in great voice on his latest' record. Most readers will cordially welcome his version of "Onaway, Awake Beloved" (Cowan's 'Setting), for its vigour and fire, and for just that right touch of suppressed passion which he deals out with true artistic reticence. His manly, ringing and unaffected tones have rarely been heard to better advantage. 'On the reverse is Goatly's fine setting of "Can't Remember." The piano accompaniments come through splendidly.

DANCE TUNES ON THE WURLLTZEH. 'Hie' wonderful range of lone colors of the Wurlitzer organ are artistically and effectively used by Reginald Foort in two suitable numbers for the instrument, "Forever" (Ageri) and "In the Heart oil the Sunset," by Nicholls. The first is a waltz and the second a ,tox-trot, and make ideal dance numbers. Dancing to the Wurlitzer is a pleasant variation from the orchestra, and it is a good thing to have an organ record amongst the orchestral. MR, O'SHEA'S NEW YORK RECITAL Mr. Alfred O'Shea, who sang in New I'ork for the first time at a recital in November, under the Arthur Judson management, received very favorable notices from the critics. The New York Times describes his tone as "broad and