MUSIC

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue VIII, 14 August 1897, Page 235

MUSIC

THE Auckland Orchestral Union gave their second concert of the season in the Choral Hall last Thursday. A varied and popular programme had attracted a large audience, and the entertainment provided was in every respect up to the high standard which this organisation maintains. In passing we may remark that there has been a steady improvement of late in the orchestral work of the Union. The concert opened with * Raymond,’ by Ambroise Thomas, a bright and vigorous composition, full of delightful changes, in which both strings and brass have full scope. It was followed later on by MacKenzie’s ‘ Benedictns, ’ a very refined and suggestive composition that reveals the wonderful resources of the violins. The piece was well played by the orchestra. Keler Bela’s ‘ Ungar ische ’ is wellknown in Auckland, but itsjoyonsspiritedmusic never fails to please an audience, and on this occasion the piece was applauded. The medley of patrotic airs woven together under the title of * Britannia ’ was also well received. Scharwenka’s familiar * Polish Dance ’ was, as usual, successful, while the nocturne, ’Romeo and Juliet,’ by German, was undoubtedly one of the most pleasant surprises of the evening. There are some passages of rare beauty in the work, and the finale is magnificent. The orchestra gave an excellent rendering of the piece. The playing of Verdi’s ‘ II Trovatore ’ also deserves notice

and commendation. In addition to the instruments contributions of the Union there was a wind quintette, • Shetzo ’ (Onslow), by the Auckland Wind Quintette Club. The rendering of this reflects the greatest credit on the performers, who have attained a high perfection in concerted pieces. The vocal part of the programme consisted of solos by Miss May Dudding, and quartettes by the Waiata Glee Club. The lady, who has a pleasing soprano, sang De Koven’s ‘ Ask What Thou Wilt,’ and ‘ Leila’s Song,’ by Suppe. The audience demanded an encore in the case of the first, and Miss Dudding was recalled after Suppe’s song, in which she was especially successful, singing with much grace and feeling. M. de Willimoff contributed to the effect of the last number in no small degree by his fine violin obligato. Schafer’s * Come Away, Come Away,’ and ‘The Banks of Allan Water’ were the two glees of the Waiata Quartette Club, a combination of gentlemen that is always welcome on every concert platform. Mr Robert Parker’s Chamber Concert was to have taken place in the Art Gallery in Wellington, but is postponed until Tuesday next, owing to the illness of several of the performers. The concert is to be devoted to the music of Brahms and Chopin. A concert given by Miss Freda Marsden’s violin pupils on Wednesday in Christchurch was a unique affair insomuch as the pupils were all juveniles, some quite wee tots. Their playing was wonderful for such young performers, and quite a surprise to many of the parents and friends, who appreciated Miss Marsden’s kind thoughtfulness in giving them such a pleasant evening. A beautiful bouquet was presented to Miss Marsden before the concert by her pupils, between whom there seems an excellent understanding—a kind of hero-worship on the part of the little people, that sympathy going a long way to their advancement, I should say. Misses Ruby Edgar and Dulcie Fraser were distinctly good, while a little lady’ssinging (MissE. Partridge) was much enjoyed. Mr Philip Newbury has been engaged to give two productions of ’ The Golden Legend ’ in connection with the Brisbane Exhibition next month. If you want to keep the voice sweet-toned, never scold ! The peculiar tone taken by the voice at such a time is said to act most injuriously on the voice, and a further bad effect is that children, being great mimics, catch the tone in speaking to their dolls and to one another, and so the evil habit spreads through the home. The Czar of Russia plays on the cornet, it is said, with such utter disregard to time and tune that someone once hinted that it entirely accounted for the existence of Nihilists. Rubinstein’s memoirs, for which the musical world has been waiting more than two years (the great composer and pianist died in November, 1894), have just appeared in Leipzig. Always original in his writings, it is only natural that his memoirs do not tell a continuous story, but are made up of aphorisms jotted down at different periods of life. Here are some of the most interesting sayings in the little book : — ‘ I am a Christian in the eyes of the Jews, a Jew in the eyes of Christ'ans; Russians regard me as a German, the Germans say that I am a Russian. Those who believe in classic music claim that I compose music of the future, the Wagnerites call me a renegade. Consequently, I am neither fish nor fowl—a nondescript individual.’ • An artist giving a concert should not demand an entrance fee, but should ask the public to pay just before leaving, as much as they like. From the sum taken he would be able to judge what the public thinks of him, and—we would have less concerts.’ ‘ When I receive a piece of poetry from a friend, with the request to write music for it, it strikes me as if some one introduced me to a woman in order that I might fall in love with her. I could fall in love with a woman whom I met accidentally ; a poem that I run across in a magazine, or newspaper, or book may allure me to set it to music, but I can neither love nor compose to order.’ ‘ God created the world out of chaos ; Satan thrust it back into chaos. Between these powers stands man, for ever repeating the query, “ To be or not to be ?” ’ ‘ A young girl laughs at the man of sixty who talks to her of love ; the public has the same right to ridicule the artist of very advanced age who sings to it of love.’ A Californian paper states that Miss Elaine Telfor, a young lady of eighteen summers, has become such an adept at bagpipe-playing that she is * sought all along the coast to give colour to the gatherings of the men from Burns’land.* It is explained that Miss Tellor, though an American by birth as well as residence, comes of Scottish stock, her father being an Ayrshire man * who traces his ancestry to Robert Bruce.’ Miss Telfor is a slightly-built maiden, but * she carries herself with the proverbial stateliness oi the piper, and marches to the

tune she plays.* She is fairly ablaze with medals and decorations, which have been bestowed upon her by the admiring Scottish Societies of California. It seems that in Hungary the municipal authorities take a paternal interest in the pocket-books of the voters. An operatic manager who recently demanded the required permission of the City Fathers to give a series of performances at Kecskemet was answered by a firm refusal. The Burgmasters and the members of the municipality gave as their teason that the population has been very much tried by a long winter and that the hard times would not justify them in having an operatic season. The voters might have been of a different opinion if they had been consulted.