MELBA DIES

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3272, 14 March 1931, Page 6

MELBA DIES

BUT HER VOICE LIVES. Australia mourns her greatest daughter, the supreme Melba. When death removes so majestic a figure and silences so divine a voice it seems to be somewhat more terrifying. A great personality, one who shed lustre upon her homeland, and was its pride for much more than a generation, has completed a life's work matchless in its own sphere and never excelled in its special achievement. Patriotism exults in the thought that Melba was a great Australian —staunch in her loyal devotion, sharing with her country the glory of her triumphs, using her gifts and her influence for its status and culture.

Many have contrived fine phrases in efforts to describe adequately the priceless gift of song that "loosened its notes in silver showers" to enthrall with ecstasy. They have often overlooked the rare personal qualities, the high intelligence, the patient industry, the strength of character, and the unwavering purpose which were needed to fashion the gift for the expression of its inherent splendour. Melba's artistry, unique though her natural endowment, was not possible without years of hard, unceasing work. The ease and naturalness of her song, distil ing from each note and syllable the perfection of beauty, revealed the attribute of genius that is the capacity for taking pains. Great art conceals art. Burns' " spark of nature's fire" has to be long and carefully tended before it can burst into flame. For lack of the firmness of character and conquering industry that give the magical power to touch the heart and thought, many a golden talent has been dissipated and lost. That is one of the lessons to be learned from the lives of those who really achieve. .To Melba the divine gift of song was a trust to be treasured, perfected, and preserved until the end—to be used always for the delight and inspiration of humanity. How often did material cares dissolve before its magic spell ! How often did it bring light to life's darkness and lift the tired heart into a new 'realm of the spirit, to shake with joy ! *An enraptured world showered Melba with riches and strewed her path with flowers; yet she was not exalted into forgetfulness of those whose roads were rougher and whose lot was cast in more unpleasant places. She won immense sums for charity and public purposes, and, as in the case of many other successful lives, there were numberless other benefactions known only to herself and to those whom she helped. Melba's audience was the world. Her fame is established wherever music is a passion or an interest. " Sounds so sweet that joy is almost a pain" still echo in the memories of those who had the privilege to hear them from her lips. Happily, mechanical science has ensured that her gift will not be entirely lost. The voices of other queens of song have been wholly silenced. Melba's has been preserved in gramophone records, which, although not exactly the same, will delight and inspire many generations to come. It is a precious perpetual endowment. " New stars arise and other forms engage." It will be long indeed before \the Melba record is put aside for the last time to give pride of place to another.