MASTER OF THE PIANO.

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16896, 9 September 1926, Page 11

MASTER OF THE PIANO.

BACKHAUS IN HAMILTON A HOMELY GENIUS. AA'ilhelm Backhaus, eminent pianisi, arrived in Hamilton from Wellington by ear this morning. Backhaus, one of Ihe greatest pianoforte masters living, hears fame lightly. Ttie representative of Hie Waikato Times who met him to-day expected io find a musician, but lie found in addition a homely, humorous, kindly family man. It is only the truly great who can afford so lo cast aside the. assumed externals which often carry mediocrity a great distance. In this man (hero is no pose or pretence, genius needs none, hut Ihal is rarely realised. Few great men are as kind-

ly and approachable as Backhaus Is. With him there are no barriers lo break down, and little effort is required to establish warm, sympathetic contact. He is a man of medium height, broad-browed and cagcr-cycd. Passion and humour live in those brown eyes, and laughter has pul wrinkles about Ids mouth.

His First Appearance. Backhaus was born in Leipzig fortytwo years ago, and most of his artistic life lias been spent in England. He was not put before the public as an infant prodigy, because his parents abhorred the idea that he should he considered as a freakish animal. They preferred to have Ids progress stayed, lie did not begin to take regular lessons in music until he was seven years of ago. When lie first went to ids music master lie was able to read a Beethoven Sonata at sight, so he had worked a little on the sly. ' 110 was sixteen when he made his first concert appearance, and at twenty-one lie was professor of the piano at the Royal College of Alusic, Afanchcster. In 1905 lie won the Rubinstein Prize in Paris. Since then lie lias spent his time touring, bringing artistic and spiritual joy into the lives of thousands. lie made his first acquaintance with the piano when he was two years old, and a slight scar on Hie forehead testifies to the violence of the meeting. The story of the scar was told when the interviewer asked him how his musical career began. "When I was two years old I hit my head on one of those ledges near the pedals,” lie said. “I went to lied for a week after that. So annoyed was I over this that I’ve spent thirty years getting my own back on all sorts of pianos I” Some time after the first meeting he was given a toy piano for a present. Its range was an octave and the notes were conveniently marked. He mastered this, then lost the instrument. From the toy piano, he went to a real piano, and from the real piano he went to fame. That’s his biography epitomised. A Gift For Interpretation. Backhaus is not a man who practises a great deal. He does not think it necessary, for his great gift is the interpretation of music. He feels that he was horn with Llic technical ability, and therefore the intense musical mood is all that lie requires for concert work. As a young man he dabbled with composition, hut lie does not do so now because, as he says, his talent does not lie in that direction. "I may be able to compose as well as many men, but why should I do it? A man should not compose unless his work is strongly individual. Chopin, Schumann, Beethoven, their music could' have been written by none but them. But with much of the modern music any name could stand at the top of the piece, and no one would be any the wiser.’ ’ Not Impressed by Modern Music. Speaking of modern tendencies in music, Backhaus said that the present would be regarded as a transition stage. None of the modern compositions would go down to posterity. "I’m not impressed with modern music at all,” he said. "There is a cult of ugliness in music, and present day unrest also has its reflection in the work of the composers. Art slrnuld stand above the unrest in life. It should bring spiritual tranquility to the people. Its inspiration should come from the spirit.” Backhaus is a disciple of Beethoven, Schumann and Chopin, and through the medium of their works he tries lo make his audiences happy. "Sonic modern music leads almost to chaos,” lie said. “The best effects have always been made by contrast; the listener should have his car assailed by properly regulated harmony and discord. lie is taken through discords to make the harmony appear all the more sweet. AVcll then, ii discord is omitted, the music becomes monotonous. Jt is more cool, and there is not (lie same opportunity for poetry and finesse in playing. The audience appears lo be happy when I play Beethoven, Schumann and Chopin lmt if 1 plaved modern music it would take time for it to sink iu and I am not here long enough for that.” Backhaus is not gloomy regarding the effect broadcast ing is likely lo have on lhc world’s best musicians. “The ptiasc is only lemporary,” lie savs. “In some eases people prefer lo stay at home by Ihe fire without having to search for a taxi on a wot night, and enjoy llm music that n given to them by this means, ln.it lie radio concert lias not yet reached a very high, standard.” Music Criticism. It was interesting Lo hear Backhaus on the subject el' music criticism. A«kcd if there was any one city whose opinion he valued as final, he said: “There is no one place, ot all I have visited, to whose judgment I would absolutely bow down in opposition to tbo judgment of oilier centres. _ lam bound to add, however, that m my estimation the most gifted and the best-qualified audiences are m Menn.i The Viennese have the natural talent lo understand and appreciate. they have been suckled on music lor general ions. They are bred on it. H»» with them not an amusement, but part of their daily lire. Alusic is to them what Toot hull is in oilier communities a subject lo be commonly discussed and thought about. They go lo concerts without Ihe slightest sense Of performing a duly in the cause of education."

Other Interests. "Have.' you any other interests besides your music?” asked the interviewer. “That question should be, ‘AVliat are your hobbies?’” lie replied. “Yes. I have a hobby," he said. "It’s the piano." Apart from that, however, tie likes walking and a little bit of unambitious mountaineering. Being out-of-doors appeals lo him, and he has apparently a love of nature, because in searching for a skylark the other morning he inlcmipted a perfectly good game of golf. As one of the players said, lie was trying lo get its wave-length. Backhaus is a lover of literature, and Madame Backhaus, who was sitling by him, said that lie generally read till one or two o’clock in the morning. "My wife and I go lo the pictures sometimes. Wc sljould be interested, because, we’ve been on lhc films,” said Backhaus. The interviewer looked surprised, and I lien Backhaus added as explanation: “Yes our arrival in Auckland was filmed!’’ Pleased With Reception in N.Z. "I am glad to he able to 101 l you,” said Backhaus, “that I am quite touched by the receptions I have, had m New Zealand, and feel surprised at the large audiences and the interest dis-* played. In many instances people have travelled long distances —as much as 100 miles, and more, as. I have heard was done by some Hamilton people on the occasion of my Auckland concerts —and that is a novel compliment that I much appreciate. We musicians do not get that attention in America and Europe. I am impressed, also, by tho attention of the people at the concerts. It reveals knowledge and understanding, and I like, to play io people who know how to listen. I would not tell my audience how lo listen. It. is part of my work to make them listen. And I am quite embarrassed by New Zealand’s charming hospitality. I had, of course, heard of New Zealand before coming here, and T know’ several very fine musicians who belong to your country, Rosina Buckman for one —she is a great friend of ours.” “I shall leave New Zealand on Tuesday with a good deal of regret,” concluded the great pianist. “Audiences have been very appreciative, and I have made many good friends in your delightful country.”