Music

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XII, 20 March 1897, Page 350

Music

THE many friends of the Greenwood family in Auckland are looking forward to their appearance on the stage again. Mrs Greenwood has taken the City Hall for Easter week, and her talented daughters, with able assistance, will provide exceptionally good entertainments for the various evenings. Since these clever young ladies left Auckland they have had special advantages for improvement in all ways, and have profited greatly by their Australian experiences. The various stage accessories, scenery, dresses, etc., are being arranged in a very rich and artistic manner, and bumper houses are expected. Mlle. Rachel Hoffman, the pianist who will be heard in America this winter, is a graduate of the Conservatory in Brussels, and is the first woman who ever received the gold medal there. Mrs Oakes, the leading soprano at St. Mary of the Angels Church, Wellington, and Mr Oakes, conductor at the same, played a conspicuous part in the singing at St. Patrick’s Church, Napier, on Sunday. Mozart's ‘ Seventh Mass ’ was the work presented by the choir in a really admirable manner. The soloists were Mrs Oakes and Mrs Allen, Miss St. Clair, and Messrs Oakes and Allen. An ‘ Angelus,’ composed by Mr Oakes and sung by Mrs Oakes as an offertory piece, was splendid. Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father Grogan. At Vespers Mr and Mrs Oakes sang two duets, ‘ Ecce Pan is ’ (Meyer) and ‘ Beata Nobis Gaudia ’ (Bonfichi). Miss St. Clair accompanied on the organ, and Mr Madigan conducted. Stainer’s beautiful work, ‘The Crucifixion,’ given in St. Matthew’s Church, Hastings, on Sunday night, was a genuine success, the church was crowded in every part by an appreciative congregation. It was sung by the choir, assisted by a capable orchestra, and the conductor was Mr H. H. Hunt. At Porangahau, Hawke’s Bay, on Friday a very enjoyable concert was given in aid of the church funds. Miss Tanner gave ‘Il Bacio,’ in admirable style. She was next heard in ‘What am I Love Without Thee ?’ Both were deservedly encored. The popular little catchy song, ‘ I Don’t Want to Play in Your Yard,’ sang in costume by Misses Arrow and Pemberton, brought down the house. The remainder of the programme consisted of selections both sentimental and comic by Misses Simcox (two), Macarbe, Kingston, Cropp, Mesking, and Messrs St. Hill, Ormond, Rudman, Hunter, etc. Mrs St. Hill and Mrs Rudman presided at the piano. A most enjoyable evening was brought to a close by a dance. The periodical union of the amalgamated choirs of the Presbyterian churches from Napier, The Port, Havelock, Waipukurau, and Hastings, took place in the Theatre, Hastings on Wednesday. The Rev. Mr Conner took the chair. The combined choirs, under the baton of Mr Renaud, numbered close upon a hundred, opening with the hymn, ‘When Morning Gilds the Skies’ followed by ‘Hark, Hark My Soul.’ etc. Three anthems were given in very good style —‘ Lift up Your Heads,’ ‘Who Are These?’ ‘ Arise, Shine.’ During the evening Mr Renaud addressed the meeting, regretting the indifference of church people with regard to music and singing, and urging them to take more interest in the future. The Rev. Mr Fraser closed the meeting. It is decided to hold these concerts at different centres, and the next will most likely be at Waipukurau.

One of the finest accomplishments for a woman to master is the acquisition of a low, well-modulated voice. It must be clear and distinct; it should have individuality. It should not distract the attention and worry the nerves. Children would often obey quicker if they were not rasped and irritated by the harsh, excited command that gives bint of great lack of self-control in the one issuing the order. With reference to the revival of ‘ Don Giovanni’ in Paris, the journal Gil Blas publishes a letter addressed by Napoleon I. to his brother Joseph, in which politics and music are curiously associated. The date is October 4th, 1805, the Emperor being then, apparently, in Munich : —‘ My Brother, I start to-night. Events will become everyday more interesting. It will suffice if you state in the Moniteur that the Emperor is in good health, that he was still, on the 12th, at Ludwigsburg, and that the junction of the army with the Bavarians is effected. I heard yesterday at the Court Theatre here the opera of “ Don Juan.” I suppose that the music of this opera is the same as that of the opera which was given in Paris. It seems to be verygood.—Napoleon.’ The work must have made a great impression upon the Emperor for him to speak of it thus at such a time.