Musical Union Concert

Southland Times, Issue 14787, 2 November 1900, Page 2

Musical Union Concert

The weird and romantic old Danish legend from which the libretto of Neils Gade's " Erl King's Daughter " is drawn was also the source of Goethe's great poem, which in its turn inspired Schubert to write the greatest song perhaps the world has ever known. The " Erl King " is generally represented as being a mythical personage having a malignant and fatal influence upon the lives of men and of children by alluring them by promises or visions. It would be interesting to trace the derivation of the old Danish ballad. Borne think there is an explanation of the mythical legend in the tree worship of ancient times. The Danish word " elle ;) signifies not only elf but also alder-tree (German "Erie") and the fancy of the poet may easily have developed from the " vapoury emanations that hang, like weird phantoms, round the alder trees at night,'" the story of Sir Oluf and his experience while reposing near the Erl King's mound. The rest of the story may easily be followed by those who attend tonight's concert, as the words of the ballad are printed in the programme. Gade's music is imaginative to a degree. His refined and delicate genius lias enabled him to illustrate in a vivid and truly poetical manner the quaint old Danish myth and though at a first hearing it will be difficult to take in all its beauties it will' be strange indeed if such charming music should fail to fascinate an attentive audience. The Musical Union, in giving us an opportunity of hearing such a work is placing us under an obligation. Its working members have derived great delight from the study of this charming work for months, and if they can impress their audience with a sense of the beauty of the music the)' will be amply rewarded for their pains in"preparing the work for public performance. Mrs Blue, Mrs Forbes-Wil-liams and Mr E. B. McKay will interpret the solo portions of the ballad and the chorus j and orchestra will doubtless do their very ] best for tiie eiwemWe. The remainder of the programme calls for no special comment, as it is evident by a perusal of the advertisement that all musical tastes have been catered for. The committee are particularly desirous of starting at the tick of time, so performing members are requested to be ready to take their seats at 1.50. There will be a five minutes' interval after the cantata.