THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 225, 22 September 1928, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

GOSSIP OF THE PLATFORM.

HtOM F&S A2TD /TEAR.

(By ORPHEUS.)

The Royal Auckland Choir began rehearsals for its next concert (Nov. 8) last Monday night. The members of the choir are remarkably keen, about 70 to 75 of the 85 available voices turning up to rehearsals as a rule.

"A great deal of Schubert's symphonies and chamber music is full of both laughter and tears —the two being inextricably united in all that is intrinsically beautiful," says an English writer. "But from their contiguity results no note whatsoever of sentimentality. Neither is there a vestige of this odious characteristic in Schubert's character or in any of his work. Those who_ fancy they find tokens of it in his music are their own purveyors of what they fancy they discover."

"Country Doctor," writing to the "Musical Times" on the subject of ~. "wobbling" radio singers, says: "Speaking 'as a medical man, I say that this disease, if disease it be, is getting serious. Is it a form of musical paralysis agitans, imported ague, of habit spasm!" Replying to some defender of the wobblers, he says: "That it is 'nothing more than the natural vibration of the singing voice, intensified by the mechanism of transmission and reception,' is 'all my eye and Betty Martin.' And we are not all horse marine receptionists." ■

The Christchurch Orchestral Society's Schubert centenary concert was given the other night, and proved a great success. A writer in a Christchurch paper remarks in connection with the centenary that "in contemplating the tragedy of Schubert's life, nothing cou|d be more touching than to read the inventory of his possessions at his death. The record, in summing up, values these at the equivalent in our money of £2 10/. Listed in it is 'a quantity of old music valued at 8/6.' This pile was the whole of Schubert's unpublished manuscripts, including the famous "Unfinished Symphony' and the 'C Major Symphony/ which Schumann later unearthed in Vienna, and launched on a wondering world. The now-famous song cycle, •Swan's Song,' would also be among thiß pile of 'old music.'"

The Hutt Choral Society's concert, which we heard over the air last Tuesday evening, was a most enjoyable entertainment. Mr. Douglas Tayler, the Director of Music in Schools, is the society's conductor, and his delightfully informal manner, especially in his remarks on the sea chanties, which the chorus sang, gave a note of ease and relaxation to the performance. There is no apparent reason why a conductor should be stiff and formal at concerts of this sort. In a sense he acts as host for the evening and aHouch of informality helps to break down the frigid atmosphere that s o often sets in at such functions and to put the audience at their ease., Mr. Harison Cook, the Wellington bass, sang a number of items. It is a pity we do not hear .more of Mr. Cook from 2YA. He has probably the finest bass voice in the Dominion, yet he is rarely heard over the air.

An English writer, discussing the problem of wireless programmes, says: Attacks on the British Broadcasting Company a programmes are establishing themselves in the daily Press as a "silly season topic. Many faults may be found with the 8.8.C., but their policy throughout has had one prime virtue; it has been based on an elementary fact that its critics as a whole have overlooked, namely, that in regard to taste and receptivity, there is not one public, but a score. In fact, the 8.8.C. rightly visualises the nation as a hydraheaded monster whose separate heads all demand different fare. Yonder red chap, with the bristling moustache, fourth from the left—in private life a majoris nourished entirely on curried tripe>. his neighbour, "Home Lover," has a taste for nothing but the feeblest kind of musical comedy; "Disgusted"— the horrid spectacle with no forehead and yery little chin—objects to any literature that is not and profusely illustrated, and has no ear for nmsic other than that of the dance band. And so forth."

The Musical Times" becomes bitterly sarcastic in dealing with the "Dailv Mail's" latest scheme to boost circulation—the tour of their yacht Ceto round the coast, "inflicting concerts on the shore folk. It does not seem to have occurred to the •Daily Mail,'" the paragraph continues, "that the broadcasting per 'super-loud speaker,' of music which may be heard two miles off mav cause far more annoyance to some folk than pleasure to others. (A two-mile radius was proudly announced in the 'Dailv Mail' of July 20.) Wjthin that area thens must be a good many people"who, for some absurd reason—sickness, work, need, of rest, and so forth— would prefer to be without that 'super-loud speaker.' gave the)r no right to consideration 1 However, the circumstances ate not without their comic side. At the time of writing the 'Daily Mail' regularly contains on one page articles and letters protesting against the unnecessary noisiness of modern life; on' another page is an account of the preceding day's doings on the Ceto, with its super-loud speaker, warranted to hit everything within a range of two tniles." °

, The Royal Wellington Choral Union had bad luck with its soloists at Berlioz's "Faust" concert .last Saturday. to begin with. MrC Hubert Carter, the tenor, had laryngitis so badly that he was compelled to drop out at the last moment. Mr. Edward Dennis filled the breach at three days' notice. Great credit is due to Mr. Dennis for taking up a difficult role with which he was unacquainted, at such very short notice. as the success of this work depends very largely on perfect co-ordination of soloists, chorus and orchestra. Mr. Dennis* unfamiliarity with his part unavoidably nut things rather; out of gear. - .Madame Winnie .Fraser, who sang the ;pjt£t" oftMafMiria/ from a malaise, but gave' an excellent-rendering of a* rather unattractive role. Aucklanders will be ihlteresteddn ,tbe reiharks, of the "Pomin«»n? critic; "As far as the soloijt* W«fe concerned the honour* were with .Mr. Baij«y <soney (of , Aucklalndl as Mcphistophele*. who simply revelled in the sardonic" humour of the "rote, and* sang the music with ease ami a dramatic conviction. Iterjiffirtr- eoncepV tion of the paft savours of -tj^S ebmfc; aa witness his mocking serenade and his; "Song of the Flea." which'MrV-.Coney. Mng with rare' unction, The Qrcßestr|' is a greatly improved body of mtfsicians. I T J lere was apparent a much fuller tone h.tnan formerly, greater security, and a »^ w spirit ( pervaded their.