MUSICAL JOTTINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19437, 24 October 1925, Page 21 (Supplement)

MUSICAL JOTTINGS

By

“C Sharp.”

With the closing of the annual musical examinations of the Associated Board and Trinity College, sand the giving of the Orchestral boeiety’s final concert of the season, one feels that the end of the year is approaching. The Operatic Society and the Male Choir have yet further concerts to give, and wc are also to have a choral concert by the Westbourne Choir so the next few weeks promise to busy ones musically.

Tho lengthy list of passes published on Wednesday suggests that Mr. Tidinarsh leaves the city with a greater circle of admirers than did some of his predecessors. I am not suggesting that Mr. Tidinarsh has in any way lowered the standard of his institution, but rather that the 44 tightening up” process through which visiting examiners have put our candidates’during the past few years is bearing fruit in a higher standard of performance.

Occasionally examiners come to us who do not impress us by their ability «.O demonstrate—by their own playing —the standards and -requirements which they seem to expect from the candidate they examine. This is certainly not so in the case of Mr. Egerton Tjdmarsh, who gave a delightful hour’s music to the Society of Professional Musicians on Friday week. Members of the society must have felt a satisfaction that their membership put them in tho wtay of hearjng such a musical treat. Practically all

professional musicians of the town present. Mr. T. C. Webb, tho ietv’s president, briefly welcomed Mr. Tidinarsh. who then played a fine diversified programme of pianoforte works, including “Solfeggietto” (P. F. Bach). “Prelude and Fugue” in B flat minor (J. S. Bach), a Prelude from the latter’s A Minor Suite, ti Purcell Minuet, two of Poldini’s Idyls, the great Prelude Choral and Fugue of Cesar Franck. Paderewski’s Variations in A. Schumann’s Romance in F Sharp. ‘‘Poupee Valsante.” by Poldini and a modern bracket by Leo Livens. Notwithstanding the great rtinge of his dynamic effects, Mr. Tidmarsh’s playing was characterised by wonderful purity of tone, and great evenness and clarity of execution. His interpretative grasp left nothing to be desired. At the close of the programme, which also contained artistically-ren-dered songs by Miss Franklin Browne and Mr. Will Hutchens, the serretarv

feelingly expressed the great appreciation of Mr. Tidmarsh’s generous assistance to tho society. The gathering then partook of a dainty supper and dispersed after a highly enjoyable evening.

The Orchestral Society’s programme: was the heaviest vet attempted by that ; body. There were, of course, a few ! missed leads, and the balance between ; string and brass was sometimes un- > happy, but the general progress of the society was amply evident. The pitch was never better, and the tone was I good. The first violins lean rather , heavily upon their leader, and should ' develop a little initiative and bowing- ; power. No city in the Dominion hears j music of a highter class than that chosen by our local orchestra, and it ‘ is to he hoped that this high standard I will be maintained by those in power. t’t ❖ * ❖ * There is such a thing as conventionality in music, and certain composers seem to set up certain preconceived ideas in our minds. This was exemplified the other evening when a young student was listening to a distinguished visiting pianist playing a composition of the great contrapuntist. “He’s pedalling Bach!” she said in a horrified whisper to her neighbour. Well, why not! _ Things seem to bp moving in orchestral matters up Taranaki way. A local orchestral player tells me that he arrived in New Plymouth the other .evening to find an orchestral concert announced for that evening. Although unable to attend, my friend learned that the orchestra is a body of twentyeight players. I remember being associated with a series of orchestral concerts in New Plymouth in 1914. but I understand that things have been slack in the meantime—from an orchestral point of view. From Mr. Barley, the popular oboist who visits our city to assist the local orchestra. I learn that Hawera has now an orchestra of forty five players, under the direction of Mr. Fox. the now conductor of the Hawera Band. A concert given some weeks ago was so successful that it had to be repeated on Monday evening last, when another good house greeted the young body of plavers. The programme included the “Zampa” Overture. Slavonic Rhapsody /'Friedemann'' Praoludium GTarnefelt). Selection frnm “Tales of Hoffmann” (Offenbach), and other numbers. Frnm Miss Nellie Amies, tho Wellington vocalist who sang on Wednesday evening, I learn that Mr. H.

Temple White, the well-known organist and adjudicator, opened the new organ at St. Piaui’s Methodist Church (Broad Street), Palmerston North, with a fine organ recital last week. Various obstacles have hindered the completion of the organ, whiefc has been in course, of erection for six years. All things come to those who wait!

That the retirement of Melba from the operatic world has not left Australia without worthy representation in that field of music seems to be indicated in the following paragraph taken from an English musical journal: —• There have been British singers at Covent Garden during these last few weeks. 41’heir position, however, has not been at tail dignified. A few of our younger singers with operatic experience in this country have been found minor parts both in the German and Italian seasons. For our best singers either no room has been made or they have proved unwilling to relearn a part in a foreign language. Yet : we have tenors, at any rate, who could have done better than some of the Germans engaged, and it seems curious to find the name of Florence Austral missing from casts international rather than Italian in complexion. Singers, French, American and Moravian are to be found in them, along with a specimen or two of the singer of English birth of whose “triumphs” abroad we are kept informed from time to time. We can admit the supremacy of the Vienna artists in all-round ability: yet it seems la pity that the best of the native article cannot be heard at the national opera house when comparisons cannot help bur be flying about. For the cold fact is that among the voices we have heard, and some have been of rare quality, none has been heard which is the equal of Miss Austral’s.