ROMANTIC PERIOD

Southland Times, Issue 23025, 20 October 1936, Page 11

ROMANTIC PERIOD

HISTORY OF THE ART OF MUSIC. Schubert wrote about 600 songs, every one an important contribution to the music of the romantic period which flourished last century, reaching its peak in Chopin and beginning to merge, with the great Brahms, into the “new modern,” the present period. It is with this romantic period, so rich in melody and easily understood beauty, that Mr Charles Martin will deal in the third of the series of lectures he is giving in Begg’s concert hall Esk street, on the history of the art of music. Mr Martin’s programme on Thursday will be—even more than its two predecessors—a recital rather than an orthodox lecture. In choosing music to illustrate the growth of the art in the century between Beethoven and Stravinsky, Mr Martin has been careful not to sacrifice entertainment value, with the result that an exceptionally interesting concert will open with his playing Schubert’s Impromptu in A Flat. It will include popular items from Chopin, Schumann and Brahms, as well as first-class recordings of Wagner and Schubert. Mr Martin’s ability as a pianist is beyond question, and what is making his lecture-recitals even more enjoyable is his happy knack of wrapping educative pills in cheery gossip. The attendance at last week’s lecture indicated that Invercargill citizens are taking an increasing interest in the series, and booging at Begg’s is advisable to preclude disappointment.