MODERN COMPOSERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 167, 19 July 1935, Page 6

MODERN COMPOSERS

HOW THEY CONDUCT MISS ZILLAH CASTLE'S EXPERIENCES. ‘‘Modern composers in London art fortunate in that they have easy access to orchestras to-day” said Miss Zillah Castle, A.R.C.Af., tho AVellington violinist, on her arrival at AVanganui yesterday. Miss Castle went to London in 1931 as a scholarship holder of th« Royal College of Music, a/d remained at the Royal College for three years •She recently returned and is now en ‘gaged in giving a series* of recitali I throughout the Dominion, her programme consisting chiefly of compositions by the moderns. “Among the rising school in London are Richard Walthew, Benjamin J. Dale, Constant Lambert, Arthur Benjamin, Herbert Howells and Armstrong Gibbs,” said Aliss Castle. “These are all associated in some way or another with the Royal College of Music. At the college there are three orchestras. W The third is utilised by the junior school of conductors and these are trained by well-known ci/.iductors such as AV. H. Recd, M.V.0., and Dr. Malcolm Sargent. To this orchestra go the younger composers for their work to be produced in the first instance. It is a medium for trial compositions and a training institution for the junior conductors. Often the composers are the conductors. Thia enables the composers to hear their works and make those alterations to the score and orchestration which performance indicates. “The second orchestra is used foj the same purpose but is more selective in its work. The first orchestra deah more with the established composer! and the advanced symphonic works. Sometimes these scores are drawn from Paris or other Continental cities, and sometimes the rehearsals have been held up because the scores have beer delayed through fig. “Dr. Malcolm Sargent holds the offic'.al appointment of conductor to the first orchestra, but during the three years that 1. was there he was absent for part of the time and his place was taken by conductors such as Dr. Adrian Boult. Constant Lambert, Sir Landon Ronald, Sir Thomas Beecham, Sir Dan Godfrey tynd Sir Henry Wood, so the experience during this period v was very varied for the students. ■ “The established leaders of music 1 are inconstant association with the younger composers, helping them both with the conducting and suggesting alterations in their compositions, Richard Walthew is specialising in modem symphonic compositions, very unusual chamber music combinations introducing novel woodwind and brass instrument effects. Benjamin (Dale more of the orthodox school. He has written some very interesting piano, and violin and piano compositions, and the younger school is performing his works readily. Constant Lambert has specialised in ballet music, his arrangements being clever and novel. He also has introduced trombones and French horns in a combination of eight instruments which is distinctly novel, providing almost jazz effect while adhering to chambw music traditions in other respects Arthur Benjamin produced an open while I was at the school. Armstrong Gibbs did the same. Herbert Howells has produced some very important pianoforte compositions and he is regarded as one of the outstanding men in the younger school of composers. “These composers have been influenced by such as A’aughan Williams, John Ireland, Gustav Holst, and Frank Bridge, who are the dominating figures in the musical world of London today. The Woman Conductor. “A development of the modern musical world is the advent of the woman conductor. For any years the veteran pioneer in this field was Dame Ethal Smythe. She has paved the way in overcoming a very strong prejudice which formerly existed tu women in the conductor’s rostum. An indication of the trend in this direction is to be gauged from the fact that in the year that I was engaged in a course of conducting in a class of thirty there were 16 women pupils. Women are revealing their ability in this direction. The London Daily Tclograph on tho day following my own appearance among other women a* a conductor stated that we women acquitted ourselves adoiirably and that possibly among us w.’.« some future Dame Ethel Smythe's. There is on L « organisation composed entirely of women performers, the British Women’s Symphony Orchestra, and th..is alwys conducted by women. Estimating tho Work.’’ “Au estimate of the work of llu younger school of composers is ha id u come by. Lt sume time fnr e.-ti ate=- to be formulated. Tjie effect of the war is distinctly lu' be observeu in modern composition, for after peace was- resumed the public mind was not introspective, but wanted,more to forget —hence the popularity of jazz effects. Now, however, the public mind is becoming more settled, more philosophical ami more introspective. Tho moods which the composer like Delius interprets are of interest nowadays and this quality in music is gaining greater notice, hence the coming into his own of such men as Delius. How this trend will effect the work of lhe younger school is difficult to say, but there should bp a tendency to moio serious composition and a richer quality should appear in modern music, possibly aided by the novelties of the period from which music is possibly now emerging.” “The modern school may not y?t have found itself in a changing world, said Afiss ( asl.e.