MUSIC NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1150, 25 April 1912, Page 18

MUSIC NOTES.

Mr Hamilton Hodges gives a song recital in the Concert Chamber of the Wellington Town Hall on Friday evening, the 2 6th. He will be assisted by Mr Baxter Buckley, Mr Herbert Bloy, and Mrs E. H. Queree. Here is the latest unkind hit at the poor British composer. A party of musicians were discussing the acoustic properties of a concert hall, notorious for its echoes. One of the party noted for his caustic wit (a musician who has not a caustic tongue is a rarity) said. ‘Do not speak ill of it —for, after all, it is the only place where a British composer can be sure of hearing his composition twice.” Kubelik, the famous violinist, injured one of his fingers at New York while using a manicure file, and several concerts had to be postponed. His ten fingers are insured

for £4 7,000, and his managers state that a tenth of that sum will be claimed from the underwriters.

Musical Director (selecting chorus) : “Gif over! Gif over! I dry you on der white notes and I -dry you on der black notes. Mein Gott, you sing between der cracks.”

Priceless manuscripts of some of Handel’s best known compositions halve just i been ‘presented by £.he King to the British Museum. They fill six volumes. Pages of “ The Messiah,” containing some of the best known passages, and the Dead March in “Saul,” are among the valuable books in the coPection.

Mr Andrew Carnegie has anouneed that he has been obliged to limit his organ gifts to churches. Charles Cuvillier’s new opera. “Lila Domino,” proved a marked success

on its recent production at Leipzic, where the curtain had to be raised ivventy times at the end of the performance. Arrangements have already been made for its production in English in New York and also in Buda Pest.