Music

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XVII, 24 April 1897, Page 513

Music

A CONVICT in Sing Sing Prison, New York, is now engaged in constructing what is claimed to be the largest church organ of the reed type yet known. It will contain (savs the New York Times) sixtyeight notes more than the largest standard reed organ of which there is any record. The instrument was designed expressly for one of the chapels in the new administration building, and its designer’s plans and elaborate music scheme have been examined and approved by some of the best organ-makers in the country. The designer and builder of the organ is an intelligent young German, who, after mastering his trade of organ-building, got into bad habits, committed a felony, and is now serving a few years* term in the State Prison. Warden Sage learned of the young convict’s capabilities through some drawings which he made, and, finding him competent and eager to ply his trade, fitted up a small room for his use, provided the necessary materials, and set him to work. This employment caused a visible change in the demeanour of the man. Naturally frank and free from viciousness, the moment he found he was trusted with the responsibility of an important piece of work the chronic sullenness of prison life left him. He is now working zealously ; his artisan pride is aroused and he proposes making two first-class organs—the larger one for the Roman Catholic Chapel, and the smaller one for the Protestant Chapel. That * example is better than precept ’ is nowhere better exemplified than in learning to sing. The intelligent student will gain much more from hearing good music well sung than from the lessons of a teacher with a system of bis own, and a contempt for that of everyone else, which is the rule with most ‘ voice builders.’ Lately there have been many opportunities for students to study the effects of years of labour and application, added to the gifts of nature, and resulting in such artists as Yaw, Nordica, Scalcbi, and Trebelli. Money expended in hearing these artists is well spent, and if the only lesson learned is to appreciate the smooth, clear note as opposed to the ‘ wabble,’ then, indeed, the teaching has not been in vain. J. D. Me han, in answer to a question, says : * No, the vibrato is not a pet of mine. The habitual employment of this infirmity should be firmly discountenanced, no matter who the offender happens to be. The fad is not musical, neither is it musicianly nor artistic. Mr Charles B. Stevens, of Detroit, wittingly alludes to it as “ cluster singing,” as though one individual were trying to make an ensemble of himself.’ M. Gaston, Paris, of the Academie Francaise, has struck a deadly blow against Germany in declaring that many of Wagner’s plots are not German. ‘ Tannhauser ’ is an Italian legend of the fourteenth century, • Lohengrin ’ is French, while ‘Parsifal’ and ‘Tristan’ are Celtic tales from the King Arthur cycle. Max Nordau calls attention to this fact in his ‘ Degeneration.* The most gigantic harp ever constructed was made in Switzerland in 1787. This colossal musical instrument was 320 feet in length and on that account was constructed in an open lot instead of in a harp factory. It was most simple in construction, consisting of fifteen wires strung tightly between two poles. These wires were of different sizes, the largest being one-sixth of an inch in diameter, and the smallest one-twelfth. This queer instrument was made for the purpose of foretelling changes in the weather, which were calculated by Professor Veritan. the inventor, according to the different tones the instrument made when the wind was blowing through it. The death is announced from London from pneumonia, at the age of 43. of the well-known stage manager, Mr Charles Harris. The deceased was a younger brother of the late Sir Augustus Harris, and has been known for the past twenty years as one of the best stage managers in London. The public is familiar with his many triumphs in the mounting of operas and plays at the principal theatres. The National Opera House in Paris is given free to its managers, and they receive in addition a subsidy of 000 But the management gave only one absolute novelty last year, although it is said that they are required by their contract to produce every year three new works by French composers. The new opera sung was • Helle ’by Duvernoy. The work was not a great success At the Opera Comique, in Paris, which is generally a much more progressive theatre, two new operas were This theatre is likewise given rent free to the manager, who receives a subsidy as well.

The Gazette Musicale of Milan reminds its readers that some time ago the * Barbiere ’ was performed at various places in Italy with all the parts sustained by women. The director of an opera house in Buenos Ayres has, it seems, reached a still lower depth by giving the second act of the same opera with the male characters impersonated by women, and the female parts by men. Here are some of the eccentricities of famons musicians : Gounod declared that his finest inspirations came while he was having a quiet game of cards —* Patience ’ for choice. Sir Arthur Sullivan finds his ideas flow most freely in a railway carriage, the rapid motion and the clanging and whirring noise exciting his imagination and supplying material for a host of harmonies. Gluck so loved beautiful surroundings that he used to have his piano moved into a lovely field when he felt the fire of his genius burn, and there, amid scenery which delighted his eyes, and with a bottle of champagne at his right hand and one at his left, poured out his soul in harmony. Beethoven was a slave to two habits—that of moving his lodgings and that of walking. Scarcely was he settled in a new lodging than he became dissatisfied and began looking for another. Mendelssohn was like a child in his love for pastry. He could never resist it, especially cherry pie, and it always disagreed with him. Rossini was one of the most indolent of men. On the very day the opera ‘ Gazza Ladra ’ was to be produced not a note of the overture was written, and the manager, getting hold of Rossini, confined him in the upper loft of La Scala, setting four scene-shifters on guard over him. These took the sheets as they were filled and threw them out of the window to copyists beneath. Verdi, the veteran composer, is a great lover of horses ; his stables near Genoa contain some of the finest horse flesh in Italy. Hes equine friends are his hobby, and he cares as much for them as for music. Haydn always dressed in his best clothes when he wished to compose, had his hair freshly powdered, and put on his finger a ring given him by Frederick 11, without which, he used to declare, he had not an idea in his head. The Wellington Orchestral Society gave the third concert of their seventh season in the Theatre Royal on Tuesday last. Taking it as a whole the concert was very good, though in parts the orchestra showed a want of rehearsal. The violin solo played by Herr Clemens Lehmann with orchestral accompaniment was excellent, the soloist proving himself to be a thorough master of the instrument. In the Cantabile for violincello and orchestra, the solo part was taken by Mr S. R. Kennedy. The only vocal soloist was Mr R. S. Gibson, who sang ‘ Stars of the Summer Night ’ (B. Tours) and ‘ Across the Minster ’ exceedingly well, the latter being enthusiastically encored.