The World of Music

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20127, 21 April 1928, Page 17 (Supplement)

The World of Music

MUSICAL JOTTINGS (By “C Sharp.’-) I was very interested to hear of recent musical happenings at the Collegiate School. Mr Raynor White appears to have settled down to work in real earnest and various musical ac* livities are in lull swing. (Ju Easter Sunday evening four of the choruses from the Easter section of Handel “Messiah” were given by a choir of about sixty voices. 1 understand that the choir possesses one or two out standing voices, including a very proinising baritone. Another musical en > terprise is a school orchestra, which. ’ 1 believe, also made its debut last I week. That neglected instrument, the j violoncello, has three ardent devotees at the College. There is also a quarI let of clarinets, two flutes, a good comi plcmont of violins, and, of course, a , piano—nof to mention drums. To (••make music together” is one of the f most pleasant things in life, and its : influence in the school life should be for the best. The school is fortunate I in having a musical director who is i both energetic and capable, and it is : io be hoped that everyone will assist j in carrying on the good work. I Mr Ernest Thomas continues to find plenty of scope for his musical abilities in Auckland, aud in the course of a recent letter he reports having to make no less than eight appearances in one day with the Quartet —throe during the afternoon and five at night, including appearances at two theatres and IYA broadcasting station. On Good Friday Mr Thomas sang the bass sob's in Maunder’s “Olivet. To Calvary’ » with Pitt Street Methodist choir. * * * * The February number of “Musical Opinion” contains programmes of three New Zealand organ recitals, being those given by Dr Bradshaw at Christchurch Cathedral, Mr Maughan Barnett at the Town Hall, Auckland, ami Mr Raynor White (now of Wanganui) ar St. Paul’s Church, Christchurch. The latter included a Bach Prelude and Fugue, Elgar's “Idyll, “The Storm” (Wely), “Romance” (Mozart), “Pastorale” (Lemare), i ••Fanfare in D” (Lemmons) “Prayer” and “Slumber Song” (Guilmant) and one of Mr White’s own compositions ••Over Hill and Dale.” : London papers report that the Pope has conferred the title of “Count” j in the Papal Peerage upon John Me- • Cormack, the eminent tenor, in recognition of distinguished services rendered to Roman Catholic causes • throughout the world. * ♦ * • , T learn that the Opera House has i been definitely booked for a recital by ! Moscoviteh during the first week in June. This distinguished pianist has

visited Now Zealand previously, but on the occasion of his former visit he did not come nearer to us than Palmerston North. It is to be hoped that the enterprise of the managers, in eluding Wanganui will be rewarded with a large audience. We have had Bacchaus aud Fricdnean, and now MoisCvitch is coming—all pianists—l Kreisler, Zimbalist and Heifetz all “passed by on the other side,” and yet I think the appeal of the fiddle to local con-cert-gners would be as great as that of the piano. # * « • On Saturday evening I listened in to the final function of the New {South. Wales Music Teachers’ Conference, which consisted, of a concert, given by the Conscrvatorium Orchestra and Choir. The programme opened with Beethoven's “Egmont” overture, in which 1 thought the middle movement was taken rather slowly, but the dashing finale certainly appeared the more brilliant in comparison. I was very interested to hear Grieg’s A Minor Concerto, played by -Miss Iris Do Cairos Rego, a lady whose acquaintance 1 had the pleasure of making when she accompanied. Dolores on her 1914 tour of the Dominion. The Grieg Concerto w'as performed here by the local Orchestral Society about four years ago with Madame Betts Vincent in the solo part. Of Miss Rego’s rendering 1 cannot speak fairly in detail, us “static” was troublesome. The rendering struck me as poetic, yet possessing the dramatic element in the climaxes. Bach’s no 6 Suite was given a classical rendering, yet not in n way that detracted from its attractiveness. 1 was much impressed with the calibre of Vaughan Williams’ “Sea Symphony” which the choir and orchestra gave in the latter part of the programme, although, probably duo io atmospheres the performance did not broadcast to advantage. The work is very modern and complex, and I should like to hear it “in the flesh.” * * * • The editor of Opinion (London;, acknowledging a letter of congratulation from a Wanganui reader upon the paper's “Jubilee,” and referring to programmes of local musical bodies which, had accompanied the letter, says: “Life in your country and in the particular town in wTilcti you live must indeed be very interesting, am! whatever shortcomings life may appear to have the information contained in your letter indicates praiseworthy work and serious musical striving.” Referring to the work of Messrs Hutchens and Slater, the editor announces his intention of publishing particulars of it, “that the good work may be made known.” The March issue of tho Strad, a London “string and orchestral journal,” also publishes the programme ot the Wanganui Orchestra’s final concert of the 191’7 season, forwarded to it by “Concord,” its New Zealand correspondent, who, 1 believe, is a gentle-

man prominent in Christchurch orchestral circles. Our choral and orchestral bodies will have to work hard to maintain these “international reputations! ” SJt S*

Commenting upon the situation which recently arose between Tlic Christchurch Royal Musical Society and its late conductor —Mr T. Vernon Griffiths, Mus. Bae., and which was mentioned, in this column some weeks ago, “Concord” writes: “New Zealanders, musically

—as otherwise —are quite reasonable open-minded people, and if Mr Griffiths had been content to introduce an unknown British composer now and again on the programmes, no objection would have been made, but when he refused point blank to put on works which the world generally is proud to possess, and of which the Society’s library is made up, the resignation was inevitable. Mr Griffiths’ ardour in support of the modern British school is quite understandable —from his viewpoint—he is young, enthusiastic, and imbued with the idea that “there’s no time like the present.” —musically, but there are other viewpoints also, particularly that which is associated with grey heads and mature, calm judgment. ” ' * *< * * The March issue of the Australian Musical News contains a fine photograph of -Madame Bctts-Vineem, formerly musical directress of the Girls’ College, together with a biographical sketch. The News states that Madame Betts-Vincent “was recently elected honorary treasurer of the, Sydney branch of the British Music Society, and in addition, is carrying on considerable correspondence with teachers of music all over Australia and New Zealand. She has received demands for answers to queries, coaching in harmony ami annotation of examination lists from Queensland. Western Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and all parts of New South Wales.”