AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, ETC

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12757, 30 April 1909, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, ETC

MR GORDON McBETH'S PIANOFORTE

RECITAL

There wag a gratifying attendance at St. Paul's Hall to welcome Mr Gordon McBeth on his return to Wanganui, alter his three years'' study at the Koyal Conservatorium -f Leipzig under the great Teich. muller. We write with a considerable feeling of pride that we now possess so finished an artist and so accomplished a musician in our midst. The artistic achieve ments of our young people are not as yet accredited at their true value in our New Zealand communities. It is time they should be. Mr Gordon Mcßeth's presence here as a teacher, and ac a performer, will be sure to return true dividends within the sphere of his teaching. We have so few persons in any department of art., who can themselves" set high and true standards of pursuit and performance, that the possession of even one is a distinct gain to the Dominion. Mr Gordon Mcßeth will add one to that small number. Ho will provide the stimulus that is much wanted amongst our young performers to high attainment in interpretation. The outstanding features of bis playing last night were, his individualistic interpretation of everything he played, and above all the vareties of "tone" that he achieved. Lacking the assistance of a- grand piano (and surely evory rccitalist should have one to play on), he made the upright Brinsmead speak in tones which it lias rarely shown us it contained. Very much is spoken now-a-days of "tone colour." We get that from a good orchestra. The various families of orchestral instruments speak in distinctive qualities, wliich, when artistically combined, give contrast to each other. The piano, as an instrument, is not played unless the basis of its handling is the ideal of "tone," and its possible varieties. The nlaying of most of our younj? players of home growth is lacking in this great essential. We have no doubt that Teichmuller—the mo«t eminent piano teacher in Leipzig, and one of the best known in Europe — insisted u^oti tliifi oualitv o? production as being the only true achievement of technique. Every one can learn to play scales and exercises, but few ca^ teach how to play them with true tone. The programme offered last night contained works that afforded opportunities of exhibitine varieties of style. The °reat "Organ Concerto" of Wm. Friedmann Bach (son of the great Sebastian Bach) ar. ranged by August Ptradal. opened the concert. This was played with great power, and withal with reserve. It showed a firm style and «*rip. The fuev*> was distinctly asserted, and was never allowed to get too crowded. The largo, intervening between that and the finale, was deliriously pastoral, and was given out with quite a delicious perception and realisation of tone. The finale responded in power to the assertions of the prelude, and the whole concerto gave the intended conception- of sizo and power. We understand thifi work has never before been performed in New Zealand. It is a fine example of pianistic possibilities, in suggesting the breadth and grandeur of true organ music. The next bracketed pieces nrovi«lrd a grateful relief. The "Romance iii V Sharp ATinor" of Schumann was exquisitely clayed. The melody always surmounted the under motives and the tone of it was beautiful. It orpjitpd for ii^lf tho rir ■ atmosphere. "The Musical Moment" and the "E Flat impromptu" of Schubert were given in lighter mood. The first swarkled, but the second did not quite sufficiently accentuate the triplets' in the opening subject. The critics were much impressed with the beauty of MacDowell'a "Impros 'ssi tion. ' This is the composer who died last year, a young man whose name is now the greatest amongst American musicians. "**« is as characteristic in manner as Greig j ""aongst the Europeans, but many be1k V 7m to have been greater. The play er's of this was only possible to one whose use of the pedal was equal to the establishment of the piece as a poetic conception. The well-known "Prelude in A Flat' preceded the "Concert Study" of Godard. The last was played with fluency and clearness and showed that the performer's capacity, and we should 6ay nredilection for close playing, has not been achieved at the expense of brilliancy. There were two "extras" demanded by the audience. These were improvisations of the recitalist. They showed him in a capacity quite beyond the powers of the mere worker at "the piano. As ideas they were delightful, and were worked out in rerfect form as miniatures of great charm. We are informed that they were genuine improvisations, the theme suggested at the moment of playing, and developed and rounded off at once. If there is a genuine desire amongst the people of Wanganui to make themselves familiar with good Wano forte music, and any desire amongst youW nlayers and students to h.ear good piano forte works played with high artistic view and accomplishment, we think musical people here should take the opportu"7*°™ afforded, and eecure th e services of Mr Gordon Mcßeth in giving a series ot pianoforte recitals. We suggest subscription concerts for this purpose, and if they result, they will, we are sure, be a feature in the artistic life of Wanga-iii

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