Music and Musicians.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue I, 5 January 1901, Page 9

Music and Musicians.

Art and Artlessnen. Ambitious young musicians are continually forwarding to us specimens of their work, with the request to publish them, and thus give them the opportunity to make their first round on the ladder of fame. Unfortunately, the writing of music is not an easy matter, and young composers are very apt to confound enthusiasm with inspiration. Here, however, we wish to refer to a more practical matter; the youthful, and sometimes the aged composer, very frequently attempts to write in a language of whose grammar he is ignorant; and whatever may be their other merits, C-5 per cent, of the compositions forwarded show an unexeusable lack of knowledge or of harmony. A knowledge of grammar will not. make a composer, but ignorance of the grammar of music prevents a composer from properly expressing his thoughts. It seems absurd to insist on the common-place that a knowledge of harmony is a necessity to a composer of music, but if anyone should doubt. that the truism needs to be repeated again and again, let him glance over the works of the composers of popular music, and be horrified by the ignorance displayed. Let the young composer, then, remember that however valuable may be his thoughts, however soaring his imagination, he is helpless until he has thoroughly learned the grammar of his art. Art without technique is artlessness; a Raphael who did not know how to draw, to mix his colours, or to use his brush, might be filleil with inspiration, and yet stand idly helpless before "his canvas. What-, then, shall be said of the. uninspired man. whose ignorance of the grammar of his art only the more plainly shows the poverty of his ideas? Here is a safe rule to follow: Let the young composer resolutely refrain from writing until he knows how to write correctly, or at least let him keep his compositions in the secrecy of his own desk. It is curious how many geniuses of yesterday became the nonentities of next year, and even real genius is liable to" do that of which its more ripened experience is ashamed.. o o o o o True to Art. Here is an anecdote which has appeared in many of the Italian newspapers:—(ieneral Tour'non, on his way ' to Ravenna, began a conversation, with an old man who sat opposite to him in a railway car. Musical topics were touched upon, and the. General expressed great .aversion to German music, while the other man declared that Germany had surpassed Italv in music. The General became more and more excited in maintaining his opinion, and finally exclaimed:— - “You may say whatever you please, but I, for my part,'care more for a single act of ‘Rigoletto than for all the German opera put together.” Whereupon the other man bowed, and said: “I thank you for your very kind appreciation, for I am Verdi; but I adhere firmly to my opinion.” Humoresque. Father: “Do you think my daughter will ever be able to sing?” Teacher: “Nevare, Monsieur.” Father: “Then what’s the use of giving her any more singing lessons?” Teacher: “A great deal of use. Monsieur. I give her lessons two —three months more, and by and bye I teaeh her that she cannot sing. That is a very good musical education for the young lady.” Father: “You are right. If she can’t sing, and you can convince her she can’t, the lessons won’t be thrown away.”

At an examination at an English music school, one reply was that the letters MS., in a piano piece, mean “mezzo soprano”; another, that D.C. stands for “de crescendo.” Yet another decided that V.S. at the bottom of a page of Beethoven meant “violin solo.” The most remarkable answer was that which understood “loco” to mean “with fire.” The reason given was that “loco” is an abbreviation of “locomotive.” ‘

“What’s that?” asked a country’ gentleman in a music store. “That? Oh, that is used on violins. It is called a chin rest.”

“Chin rest, is it? Well, gimme one It’s just the sort of thing 1 want for a New Year's present for my wife.”

Hostess: “Are you a musician, Mr Jones?”

Jones (who is dying to give’ an exhibition of his ability): “Well, yes, I think 1 may' claim to some knowledge of music.”

Hostess: “I am delighted to know it. My daughter is about to play, and I should be very glad if you would kindly turn the music over for her.”

A lady from the rural districts took her daughter to town, and after consulting a number of professors inspecting her musical abilities, returned home very much discouraged, and reported to her husband the result of her expedition as folows:—“The first professor said that Almiry sings too much with her borax. If she keeps on she will get digestion on the lungs. He said she ought to try the adominable breathing. Then the next teacher told her that she ought to sing with her diagram and not smother her voice in the sarcophagus. The next he poked a looking-glass down her throat, and said that the phalanx was too small, and the typhoid bone and the polly glottis were in a bad way. I never knew that Almiry has so many things the matter with her. and I’m afraid to let her sing any' more."

Elder Berry: “Opr soprano was sarcastic again to-day.” Dr. Thirdly: “What did she say?” Elder Berry: “She thought no one should be put on the Music Committee until he had passed a Civil Service examination and demonstrated that he knew absolutely nothing about music. “I have a wonderful ear.” said a conceited musician in the course of a conversation. “So has a jackass,” replied a bystander.

THE DRAMA. THE NANCE O'NEIL NEW ZEALAND SEASON. BRILLIANT OPENING IN AUCKLAND. The Nance O’Neil New Zealand season commenced on Boxing Night in Auckland, and will assuredly long be remembered as one of the most notable dramatic events in the history of the New Zealand stage. Whether Miss O’Neill is the greatest actress who has visited us, is a matter of opinion, but there tan be no possible question that she possesses a fire, a passion, and an individuality ns impressive as they nre amazing in one whose reputation is yet so young. Her versatility, too, is evidently one of her strong points, bnt her chiefest charm is her utter freedom from stage mannerism or convention. No doubt this latter leads to a somewhat impulsive rushing of the part which occasionally

recalls amateurism, but on the other hand it allots the actress to achieve results which experience and convention would have feared to attempt, but which are magnificently successful. Moreover, no actress who has ever come to New Zealand has ever possessed the stage presence of Miss Nance O’Neil. Mrs. Brough. Janet Achurch, Mrs. Potter, Genevieve Ward the stately—all these were beautiful, but noue have the absolutely regal presence of Miss O'Neil. Without for a moment wishing to detract from her intellectual performance, there can be no doubt that the talented American scores over and over again by reason of her physical perfections. A woman who towers naturally over every man on the stage, and who is a model for a sculptor in proportion, finds no difficulty in impressing one with her scorn or her anger, or, indeed, her love, when she very literally stoops to conquer. Miss O’Neill is during and fresh in her conception of her parts, and carries them out with a vigour that is irresistible. She made her first appearance in “ Magda.” Herr Sudermann's play has been pronounced a masterpiece. It is of the style and school of Ibsen, and is more suited to the study than the stage in many ways. It gives, however, an unrivalled opportunity for the creation of a character part, and as such has proved attractive to such great artists as Bernhardt, Duse, and Mrs. Pat. Campbell. The play is not, however, one of great dramatic interest. It is the battle of wills between an imperious, passionate woman, whose love of lilverty and the fulness of life is her most notable characteristic. with a narrow, bigoted, and fanatic autocrat of a father, whose limited intellectual horizon is admirably shown in the early scenes. We are kept from the moment Miss O’Neil appears on the highest notes of passion, and we long occcasionally for a lower key. Still, “ Magda ” gives great opportunities, and of these Miss O’Neil certainly makes much. If there is a fault it is that we never see the actress save at white heat, and the strain is rather much, both for Miss O’Neil and her audience. In “ Peg Woffington ” Miss O’Neil scores an immense success. She is without doubt the best Peg ever seen in the colonies. Her triumph here is complete, and not, one fault can be found with it. The company, too, are much more at home in the comedy, though Mr. McKee Rankin in the former was magnificent. To-night “Queen Elizabeth” is to be staged, when another treat is anticipated.

“The Power and the Glory." a fine sensational melodrama, has been drawing crowded houses in Dunedin.

The Biograph was one of the principal holiday attractions in Christchurch last week.

The Charles Arnold season in Christchurch was a veritable triumph. It closed on Christinas Eve in Hans the Boatman.”

“ Floradora,” the new comic opera, has captivated Melbourne. It, is said to be even more attractive than “ The Geisha.”

“The Scarlet Feather” docs not seemed to have altogether boomed in Australia, and but for Nellie Stewart would probably have fallen rather flat.

Despite the awful weather, Wirtli Bros.' circus did good holiday business in Dunedin in Christmas week. The show is said to lie one of unusual merit even for Wirth Bros., which is saying much.

“ With Flying Colours,” a war drama with a huge quantity of soldiers and scenery, was the Bland Holt holiday attraction in Melbourne. January 4 is to be devoted to a free theatrical performance to the poor of Sydney. Including standing room the theatre managers offer accommodation for 8,300 persons, but as crowds of children will be invited, 10.000 will probably represent the numbers present. The theatre managements undertake everything but getting the audiences together, which duty has been delegated to the Government Charities Department. The only expense Government will be put to is the. issuing and printing of tickets; the theatres generously provide for all else. But great care will have to lie bestowed on the necessary arrangements in order io get the entertainments safely through.