PIANOFORTE AND PIANIST

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1933, Page 3

PIANOFORTE AND PIANIST

ADDRESS GIVEN TO TEACHERS. At the monthly meeting of the Egmont branch of the Teachers’ Institute last week an interesting and helpful address on “The Pianoforte and the Pianist” was given by Miss Eileen Hughson, Rahotu.

Miss Hughson traced the stages of development through which the piano had passed. It was, however, not till the 18th century that the piano definitely took form resembling the present-day instrument, she said. She demonstrated the varied pedal effects and dealt with the interior mechanism of the key-board, explaining briefly how sound was brought forward.

Miss Hughson in the second half of her talk discussed touch and gave examples. By playing Chopin’s “Prelude in C Minor”; she illustrated that a wealth of beauty is to be gained by the ability t« bring out with singing tone a melody 01 particular note whenever such melod; occurs in the piece. She demonstrated how tone colouring must be attained through a complete and sensitive use a all one’s muscles. Hence the need foi relaxation.

Two musical compositions were played, “The Bird of Paradise at a Waterfall” being a modern piece of dainty prettiness.' By contrast Miss Hughson gave “In a Church,” a piece in which ponderous chords predominated and which called for no small measure of skill on the part of tne pianist In discussing the modem concert pianist Miss Hughson explained the main differences between a solo player and an accompanist, the work of an accompanist being much more, difficult as it embraced not only a knowledge of. sight reading but of advanced technique.

Miss Hughson played several pieces. Her selection included “Automne,” (Chaminade), “Gopak” (Moussorgsky), “The Dance of the Scarcecrow,” by Hamilton Rickson, a New Zealand composer. By request she played Chopin’s “Funeral March” and the “Raindrop Prelude.”