OF MUSIC PAST AND PRESENT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20180, 7 March 1931, Page 13

OF MUSIC PAST AND PRESENT.

♦ . (spiciai.lt warms yea ths raxss.) [By Stbad.] drowing rapidly to gigantic dimensions, the 8.8.C. may justly. claim to i bo now the greatest centre of musical activity in England. With a coll of millions of subscribers, maintaining an almost continuous daily service, in which notabilities of the highest rank are proud to figure* at their command, Desides a magnificent orchestra, they hold the keys to every enterprise hitherto confined to the concert room, A complaisant Government stands behind tnem and they have little to fear from Parliamentary nosings. When their latest scheme in; grand opera matures, theix power and influence will yet be vastly extended,. but their ambitions fly to _ even greater heights. Nothing less will do than the girdling of the Empire with their wireless feats. It will be only a matter of a little time, they_ assert;, before the extension is accomplished. 1 Unavoidably they are subjected to severe criticism,, for their very unrestrained power appals and'challenges a controversy, that is respectfully declined. At the recent conference of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, Dr. John B. MclSwen, principal of the Royal Academy of Music, admitted that the State, through; its deputy, the was the largest purveyor of music, and the largest employer of musical labour in the country, but, unless adequate _ safeguards and checks to their operations .were provided, it was a condition of affairs,which carried the seed of professional and artistic degeneration. Arguing from experience he distrusted bureaucratio tendencies as detrimental to ideals and efliciency. "It is hardly an'exaggeration to say that the whole musical future of the country is - involved;?' The president-elect then proposed "that the Society claim to be definitely represented in an adviaonr capacity with respect to the musical activities of the 8,8.C." • There is- enough to say on the subject to fill a volume. It can hardly >e assumed that the 8.8.C. is at present acting without professional advice, although it would be desirable, to appoint a strong consulting body of eminent musicians, well-known and. trusted by the people at large. For even the moat perturbed lover of music must admit' that interest and knowledge have been advanced all over the' country by wireless agency. Perhaps wo may even overrate its dangers. Tne question of its artistic inspiration may be left untouched at present. Certainly we should never forget that the vital'element in art is individualism. After all his strenuous efforts we can .sympathise: with Sir Thomas Beecham's failure to launch his pet scheme of an "Imperial League of-Opera.'? Even many of the original supporters, turned, against him- atad the trustees brought an action preying: for the winding up of the trust; amounting to £55,000, previously paid in ps subscriptions, on the plea "that there appears. to be no reasonable prospect of the objects of the Leaguo being;-carried out.'* For mean-* : vphile the operatic scheme of the 8.8. G. to.ak;form and was granted a Govern*' ment subsidy: Sir l&bmaMhen aug- : gested ,the surrender. tohiin of the accumulated. funds in ord«r, to start s a, Kmited.Jiability; company>>but tothis course the trustees woul|tf not con✓sent, and as an attempt was made to | overrule their action, they mfcjfa their appeal to the Court for relief,,, ftom tneir responsibilities. There is,-how-, ever, every prospect of, the .8.8.C. engaging Btr Thomas as one of. their operatic conductors for then- Covert GmxdeiS peHorinancefr; * 1 '-j*'-' - | ' Old* - -pennijftss, and 'r disillusioned, , Wateom in _this (lovely ■?**** mournfully.' ° lo 4 ern Sing] SJsbtiflaalel, 'still thoss i ThJ uiuric Wbi awent. j»■*, * I Chant thina old ctmt—till U»,mw fi*hion» pt if iMiftf]..,•.. i.ij/ ~fcs. *" ' + ■: f \ f j] » 'i The a wcent port* i • spondence on t|io denrelopment of gemiUß ( aeenia to point to the ■ -exclusiontSat music. may £ ..the : , nine,' mastering most of, the . intricacies of composition. A Jong list • of great, music, men who were pubho ;i t&efore.the^ aga jrf aft inI names of Schubert, Mendeu- ■ Ibpltbi lW) f ) , W i Meyerbeer, and Stephen .Hdler. But i "to reason on the of thiß arrny ! manual dextority in rhildhaid w mo™ » %mWn .thaii we toow, ;|eadjing ; ;no 1 by i s-K f" fffantafiiii; J#lr\ Sufisex Folk-soivp f jssrsar atanS'sfflß j fits khb braes ;,bantf; ehamplohship^Sir I 'maatenr of a medlum fpr. any ori- :: A.',new¥onata I ©siSin%:3?^r- h " twa-ifaiso specially mentioned. <; j " We We f a« ia;% 'Wge I of toachinery, music bearing an ample \ iii&re. "sall records, however, ,are' beateA } ;byM I for Machines," described M "an imijresl. W ofithe ,OTQ enorgy of an iron $ foundry." tft'last's' only severf mtoite^y 4 happily, ata>? the xeporf % 'strument,, In ,the shape,, of plate of steel 3a made 1 >to yibrate by shaking at Ltervils.',; - It' certainly . will,,.beat the " Siphon? libll6wJ'; What j I ■ eitMnaista of' modern, com--5 pos'ersj'Stretviasky. is an apposing figure. His productive capacity by I unfailing inspiration, and little.by little he wins respect'even from his de--0 tr'actOrs 'outside' Bussia. .His latest ® worlc,' "Sym'ghonle ;de Psaumes," just perfornled iii Brussels under his own r f dwWbed as' a yery ■ interest- ® 'jng r work, ( sevfere in styie> yet .modern in II treatment I .' -Itis in three, movements, a 1 four-part words, 9 ncOQßipa'oted.-jSy an of woodI' 'wind, br»ss and drurtis, tyjlhw arid double no ~ifioJinß ' ; or, violas. Pr, r, Malcolm-fiargent; a dding <?f 11 the 8.8.C., was much .impressed by the e -work, and intends-'to introduce it in f London 'in. the'nehir future; 11 i. f programing . f?t l tlie iMoiart-Wag--4 ner to be hsld' presently at e .Munich, haj.been madb, public, 't 'wiH. bv Idoßjeneo, Don e , .Giovanni, *Marmge; Magic j Flute, find Cos! fan Tutti, the last-named 1 \t® --b e * conducted Richard, Stratrts. e -wagner , s.,works'chioaenJnclude the MasI >t6rsing?rfli" TriKtan a', the wjiole Binj?.-' a propession'tof ini [i i i, fit\4'*>-?'*!rrr?i y <'; 1, t Writing abotit rVcent centenary .iJ if. ripii^tika^V^ ...yirgija'ia . ,WoqM e ? qupt^» 5 ijne -of 'the letters Sip Walter MiliiiiiiM thing that Christina makes me want to do,