MUSICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10538, 13 August 1912, Page 4

MUSICAL NOTES.

Nuremburg is to have its own and very unusual performance of "Die Meistersinger " this year. The first act will bo performed as usual on the stage of the Municipal Theatre. Then the audience and tlie performers will proceed to the street in front of Sach's house, which ttili stands, and there the second act will be given. ISext singing players and spectators will proceed to tiie meadows by - the Pegiuta for the third act in the place where Wagner imagined it. In the street and the fields stands are to bo built for the audience. Tho id n a of providing theatrical audiences witn higher class music than that in vo u iiß at many London theatres, whica is to bo revived at the Aldwych, is no new thing (remarks "lira"). Not f.o many years ago, in Messrs Vedrenne and Banker's seasons at the Court 'ihea re, Mr Theodora Stier conducted whole movements from the Beethoven Symphonies and similar music as <.nti acto music. Further, Miss Lena iUhiysll once made a bold bid on similar lines at tha Kings >■, ay. There is a point in connection with the new scheme t' at is different from the others in that it is proposed to give a short ccnccT.. of the best exampl s of stringed nrisie by the accepted great masters and by British composers before the actual play of the evening begins—a bind of musi.al lever de rideau, in fact. A hundred and seventy years ago—it was on Maj' 27, 1741-—the first military band made its debut in Vienna. That day all Vienna was on foot to greet Empress Maria Theresa after the birth of Crown Prince Joseph. Suddenly tliore was heard a most extraordinary sound, and there appeared a mounted officer in gay uniform, followed by thirty men in scarlet cloaks and headgear to match. They carried various musical instruments, from which they extracted an uncommon kind of harmony. Empress and crowd alike gazed on tho spectacle with astonishment. It was the first military band. Organised by an Austrian officer, Major von Tronk. this band accompanied troops on the march and into battle, and formed the pattern upon which other European States later created their own military bands. Jt. is true that the Turlcs, from whom Major Trenk got his idea, had musicians in their army. But these were only odd men with flutes, trumpets and big drums, who made a noise rather than music. Major von Tietik it was who really organised the first military band entitled to such an appellation. |