MUSICAL APPRECIATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 168, 20 July 1935, Page 2

MUSICAL APPRECIATION

THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE A second lecture on musical appreciation was delivered to the Wanganui Technical College pupils yesterday morning by Mr. G. F. Saunders, M A. (N.Z.), B.A. (Oxon.), a member of the leaching staff. He spoke on music from the aspect of song in all its forms. Hu said that this branch of music was the earliest form ot the art and that before man could play instruments to produce series of notes or melodies, he had to be able to arrange such a succession ot notes and illustrate I Item by singing. As instance of this, be remarked that most composers produced their works alter singing little tuemes. The object of the composer iu writing songs was to match the words and their meaning with appropriate music. Various shades of feeling and emotion had to be expressed even more definitely than was necessary in the choice of phrases. Tuesa themes were illustrated by a selection of songs which were given by Mr. Saunders. The accompaniment of singing had developed from tire Tudor period, in which, singing in parts was one of the “drawing-room” recreations. In later periods the solo part was taken by voice and the remaining parts were taken up by different musical instruments. Schub’crt, however, was the first composer to make the accompaniment support the main theme taken by the soloist and in places to. even express it. Some of the works of early and modem writers were then rendered and this concluded the interesting lecture. The accompanist, Miss Thelma Cornish was thanked by the principal, Air. 1. E. Newton, ana was applauded by the students.