Some Auckland Musicians.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 June 1901, Page 719

Some Auckland Musicians.

By Hugh McLkod

|pi|ROFESBOR WILLIAM EDWIN THOMAS, pOMf Mus. Doc. (Oxon.), at present i |=™ Professor of Music at the Auckland University College, was born at Oxford, England, in 1867. He comes of a musical family — his grandmother was a celebrated pianiste, his father, the late Mr. E. J. Thomas, was a singer of note, and his sisters also display great musical ability. Professor Thomas began enrly in life to show his penchant for music and at the age of seven played the oi'gan at St. Thomas', Oxford, and

five years later could write

counterpoint in eight parts, and play from full vocal score and figured bass. Dr. Corfe, organist to the Oxford Cathedral and Examiner to the Oxford University, for some time had charge of the direction of the musical tendencies of the future professor, and ultimately the Oxford University course was entered upon. The young student obtained his first degree in 1888 under Sir Frederick A. Gore Ouseley, then Professor of Music at Oxford, and widely celebrated for his musical attainments. In (1893 he

won him the greatest appreciation. As a composer Professor i Thomas' talents are well recognised. Among the best known of his published compositions are an oratorio, "In Te Domine Speravi ;" a madrigal, " And Wilt Thou Weep?" which waß awarded first prize at the Brighton Sacred Harmonic Society's competition ; a sacred song, " The

took the degree of Mus. Doe., for wliieli he was presented by Sir John Stumer, the head of the musical profession in England, who quite recently " crossed tho bur " at the age of sixty-one. After leaving Oxford Dr. Thomas vvas appointed organist and choirmaster at Ellesborough, Tring, Buckinghamshire. After resigning that position, wo

ing similar positions at Cow Icy, Bloxha w, an d Bournoraouth, On the death of the lute Professor Carl Schmidt, Dr. Thomas' reputation secured for him the appointment of Professor of Music at the Auckland University and the conductorship of the Auckland Choral Society. Since his arrival here his high musical attainments have

Holy Child ;" an anthem, " Bleused are they that dwell in the Lord ;" a part song for four voices, " Hail, 0 Merry England ;" and the school song, "All Saints for Ever."

Mr. Arthur Towset at the early age of seven commenced the study of the pianoforte with Mr. E. H. Thorne, and two years later went to the College of Sir E. A. Goi'e Ouseley, at Tenbury, Worcestershire, as a probationer. He gained a scholarship for singing shortly after, entitling him to free

he also taught masic until 1878, when he visited England, and spent nearly two years pursuing his musical studies under Mr. Berthold Tours and Mr W. Shakespeare, besides attending lectures at Trinity College by Dr. Lennox Browne and Dr. Llewellyn Thomas, and studying laryugoscopy with Herr Bmil Behnke. While in England he acted as deputy for Mr. Fred Archer at the Alexandra Palace, giving daily organ recitals, and frequently took the week-day services at St. Paul's Cathedral for Sir John Stainer. He returned to an appointment in Dunedin in 1880, and three years later accepted an appointment in Christchurch, where he also conducted the three principal musical societies, viz., Liedertafel, Musical Society, and Amateur Opera Company. In 1888 he visited Melbourne, and gave organ recitals in the Exhibition Buildings, then returned to his old position in Dunedin, and the same year was appointed Musical Director of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. In January, 1892, Mr. Towsey came to Auckland as organist of St. Matthew's Church and conductor of the Orchestral Union. Soon after he arrived the Liedertafel Society was started, and is now the most successful Society in the city. At the death of Herr Carl Schmitt, he was appointed conductor of the Auckland Amateur Opera Club.

Grasteyer, who was a pupil of the celebrated artiste, Signorina Orgeni, the teacher of many celebrities. Her professor for violin, Herr Froberg, himself a brilliant executant, was a pupil of Rappoldi, one of Germany's leading violinists. Madame Chambers holds full diplomas from the Dresden Conservatoh'e for singing, violin, and other subjects, and her qualifications are fully testified to by the success she has achieved on the concert platform ; she has on many occasions appeared as a soloist for the Auckland Choral Society, and other kindred societies, and has been associated with numerous Concert Companies, including Mr. Chas. Saunders, Chevalier De Kontski, Madame Groldenstedt, Herr Marquardt and othors. She has also played leading roles in opera bouffe for the Auckland Amateur Opera Club.

Mr. Wilfrkd Manning, one of Auckland's musical career as a choir boy in St. Thomas'

most popular baritone vocalists, began liis Church. He then studied under Mr. Percy Dufaur and Dr. W. E. Thomas. Mr. Manning gained the gold medal in'tlit; Baritone Solo Competition at the Auckland Exhibition in 1898-99, his test song being the well-kuowu and ever popular " Will-o'-the-Wisp." He has not confined himself to the concert platform, for he has taken the part of " Florian " in the performance of the opera "Princess Ida," and the baritone solos in the oratorio, " Moses in Egypt." Hi.s latest success was scored in Andrea Rombcrg's cantata, "The Lay of the Bell," a melodious setting to Schiller's poem of that name, which was given by the Ponsonby Musical Society last month. Mr. Manning's contributions at the numerous cantatas and concerts, at which he has assisted, have been always well received.

Miss Ada Matheson is a young lady who has come into pi'ominence quite recently in Auckland musical circles. Born in Dunedin, and living in a musical world, she began to

sing in public at an early age. Her sister, Miss I. L. Matheson, student of the Royal Academy of Music (Lond., where she gained three medals and a special certificate for teaching), was her first preceptress. Sliu studied singing also outside of the Academy under William Shakespeare (Lamperti method). Miss Dunlop, another of William Shakespeare's pupils, had also a share in the musical training of Miss Ada Matheson, whose voice may be classified as a mezzosoprano of wide range. Miss Matheson has sung at the Banjo and Guitar Club's concerts, and has been engaged to take the soprano solos in Gade's " Crusaders " and Gluck's "Orpheus" at the coming Choral Society's concert. Her last appearance was at Miss Dora Judson's concert, where she scored a distinct success. Miss Matheson has sung before Lady Glasgow and her daughter, and in Dunedin has appeared on the concert platform on many occasions. Miss Matheson is also a very good pianiste, and sometimes accompanies herself for her

singing. For some time before she came to Auckland she was leader of St. Matthews' Church choir in Dunedin. Mr. A. L. Edwards, the wellknown tenor, has been singing before the public since 1873, having made his first appearance as a choir boy in Ohigwell and London. At the age of eighteen he went to the Guildhall School of Music, and studied under Isidore de Lara. Mr! Edwards has sung the principal tenor parts in many well-known works, including " The Messiah," "Elijah," "Samson," "The Creation," and in the operas, "The Pirates of Penzance," "The Mikado," "The Gondoliers," and " Maiutana," has performed in a similar capacity. From 1896 to 1898 Mr. Edwards was professionally engaged in many of the large towns of England, a

great part of his time being spent in London, when he appeared in most of the large halls. The performances at which he sang were many and varied, and

were under the auspices of some of the leading " Home " clubs and societies. Mr. Edwards had the honour of singing befoi*e H.R.H. the Prince of Wales (now Edward VII.) at a concert given in aid of the Prince of Wales' Hospital Fund. Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild was in the chair, and in the programme I noticed the names of such well-known artists as Charles Arnold, Charles Collette, Phil May, Frank Celli, Franklin Clive, Reginald Groome, and Courtice Pounds. In most of the principal concerts given in Auckland, Mr. Edwards' services have been secured, and he has always been ready to give a helping hand when the object was for charitable purposes. He is a member of the Savage Club, the Orphans' Club, and in fact most of the musical clubs here. As he is now taking pupils there is every probability of Mr. Edwards leaving his mark in this city as a master as well as an artist.

Few singers are better known in Auckland than Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Hodges. Mr. Hamilton Hodges is an Americau, having been born in Boston, Mass. In his native

town he studied in the principal music schools, but much of his success is due to the tuition of Mr. H. C. Slack, of Boston.

Mr. Hodges has a splendid basso voice, uiul he and Mrs. Hodges, who may bo called a dramatic soprano, have frequently been

heard with much pleasure in thoir extonsivo repertoire of oratorios and operatic and concerted work. Mrs. Hodges is also an Americau, born in Harrisburg, Perm. Her fine voice received much of its cultivated quality from the tuition of Grottsehalk, in Chicago, Professor Tubbs and John Howard, in New York, and Woodward, in Boston. Mrs. Hodges also spent four years in the New England Conservatory of Music. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges have now been settled for some time in Auckland as teachers of music, and the appreciation in which they are held is evidenced by the largo number of pupils they have under their care. The " Sbriglia" method is the one adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Hodges in their teaching.

Miss Lily Thomson, the mezzo-soprano,

was

born in Auckland, and developed musical talent at a very early age, being assisted by her father in her first efforts. Later she studied singing under the late Herr Carl Schmitt, and pianoforte under

education, boai'd and residence so long as his boy's voice lasted. He subsequently studied the pianoforte and organ under the late Sir John Stainer and Mr. Langdon Oolborne, receiving lessons in harmony from Sir F. Ouseley. On leaving the College Mr. Towsey studied with Mr. H. 0. Deacon, of London, and held an appointment as organist. In 1866 he was selected organist and choirmaster of St. Paul's, Dunedin, where

Madame Chambers is a soprano vocalist and violinist, whose per-

formances as a soloist, whether in

ballad, oratorio or opera, are most favourably received by the musical public, both, in Auckland and elsewhere. This lady came to the colony as a child, receiving her early musical education from the late Mr. Fred. K. Leech, of Dunedin, and Professor Carl Schmitt, of this city. She subsequently spent three years under thebestmasters at the Royal Conservatorium, at Dresden, studying singing and voice production (Italian method) under Fraulein

Miss Shanahan and Mr. W. H. Webbe. At the Auckland University College, Miss Thomson devoted herself to the study of

stock Hill, as organist and music teacher. At the Orphanage there were nearly five hundred children, and the chapel contained a fine three-manual Willis organ, and under Mr. Hunt's direction many very successful concerts were given. He was connected with a number of Musical Societies, and was a member of the St. Paul's Cathedral Special Sez'vice Choir, under the late Sir John Stainer. He also acted as choirmaster at several London churches. He left London for New Zealand in November, 1891, and was appointed organist and choirmaster at St. Mary's Cathedral, Parnell, in 1892, which position he still holds. He was conductor of the late Parnell Musical Society for three years, and in September last was appointed conductor

the theory of music, taking five certificates, and finally receiving the diploma of Associate of Music. In connection with the Trinity College examinations Miss Thomson was equally successful, as she took the highest certificates for pianoforte playing and theoretical knowledge. Miss Thomson has been frequently before the public, and is a popular performer on both operatic and concert platforms. She filled most creditably important parts in the recent performances of " The Mikado " and " The Gondoliers '' as presented by the Auckland Amateur Opera Club. She has also been engaged as leading soprano and organistat St. Benedicts' and the Sacred Heart choirs. Me. R. Leslie Hunt was born in London, and was for a number of years on the staff of the Maitland Park Orphanage, at Haver-

of the Ponsonby Musical Society. Mr Hunt is one of the Visiting Masters at St John's, King's, and the Ladies' Colleges.

This is the first of a series of articles in "which we propose to give short accounts of leading New Zealand musicians. Want of space this month permits of our dealing with only a few of Auckland's musicians. — Ed.