Matters Musical.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 9, 5 October 1907, Page 5

Matters Musical.

(By Treblo Clef.) _ The origin of tho guitar aud of the iiddlo was recently tho subject of a paper read by Professor Kidgoway, belore the anthropological section of the llritisli Association, at York. He con sidcrs that these 'instruments are d;veloped from the shell of the tortoise. According to - classical traditions, Hermes made a musical instrument from (lie shell of this animal, which Pausanias tells us existed in Arcadia; and it is said that guitars made of tortoise shell are still used in some Mediterranean countries. The waist of the guitar or fiddle has developed from the slight narrowing in tho shell of the tortoise. Christmas conies but once a year, ami when it comes the usual gossip of tho imperfectly informed paragraphist about tho "waits." In 1825, Hone, the antiquary, tells us that in "London thewaits are remains of the musicians attached to the Corporation of the City. To denote that they were the Lord Mayor's musicians they anciently wore a cognizance or badge on the arm." It is not generally known that there was a musical instrument called the "wait." It obtained its name from being used principally by watchmen or "waights" to proclaim tho night. We may regard it as om of the poor ancestors c' our fine oboe and clarionet. was once induced to mako selections" somewhat after the style ot the hundred best books. First, his six favourite operas. There is nothing ■ to remark on that score except the in- • elusion of "Dor Preischutz." Next, the seven greatest composers in order. You might as well try to arrange the names ot a lot of fixed stars in order. But the nature of the list, is so very, singular as to be worth quoting. Here it is — Beethoven, Chopin, Scliirman, Wagner, \Vebor, Mozart,. Bach. The position nt Chopin—3 step.-, in advance of Mozart and Bach!—is staggering; it seems like a-]Oke. What one work of Chopin would the distinguished pianist select to balance, say, tho B minor Mass, the ;G minor Symphony, "Don Giovanni,", or.the fienuiem? Now,' turn in another direction. Oiice, two great authorities. Kubiiisrein and Dvorak, were asked whether they did not consider Schubert to bo one of the three greatest musicians, and the reply in either case was in the affirmative. The trio approved ot by Dvorak and the Querist contained the name of Beethoven. Rubinstein wished tho name of Mozart to be substituted. Personally, I believe Schubert to bo one of tho select band of supreme genii—only the most lovable! Now we find that. Schubert has been left out in the cold in order lo mako room lot both Chopin and Weber. Leaving tho question of the Pole as disposed of, what a'ro tho claims of Weber? Unquestionably ho 'was a ffonuis of marked ability; yet"in truth his name is kept r.live by a meagre list of works, including a fascinating piano waltz (usually performed in 1 orchestral guise), and a small group of tho most brilliant , and soul-rejoicing overtures extant. Then asserting the prior claim of Weber—not .to mention Handel and ono or two more—appears so inconceivable that it is difficult to lake it seriously. Selecting the ten greatest names, is not without interest, but seven is an awkward number for selection. Tho Rtvangc Obsequies of Pnganini! Poor Paganmi! He died at Nice in 18(0;_ and although he made confession, ho (lid not receive the Sacrament, for medical reason's which the doctor made in writing. The Bishop refused Christian burial to the -body, and (be son appealed to the Nice Tribunal, which upheld, the Bishop; but a fur- . ther appeal was made, to Rome.' During the delay,, the body (incomplete! j- ■ embalmed) was deposited at the hospi- " tal. From thence the coffin was' removed to a lazaretto, at Villcfranche. After a month the authorities (here determined to get rid of it. and deposited -it-by the side of a stream, formed by tho Tc'fuse coming from an. old mill. After some days an old friend of Psganini decided to remove the body, which he did by night, having it carried along the seashore to Cape St. Hospice. Here it was buried and lemiiined for two years, when the great violinist's son determined to take his father's body to Genoa for burial. The ship, however, was refused admittance at that placo as it had- originally come from Marseilles, where there was cholera, so . Paganini's .remains were placed in a hole.in tho rock of a tinv .uninhabited island near Cannes. Five years later tin body was taken to Gajona, near Parma, and was buried there ori Paganini's own property. This .was in 1813. In 1853 the body was- exhumed and reembalmeii; in IS7G (38 years after the musician's death) the. Papal Court authorised burial in a church at Parma, 'with Christian rites. Twice again the body was exhumed, apparently out of curiosity,, and finally a pane "of glass was put into the.coffin to render the face, which had been preserved, visible A vague paragraph has been going tho rounds of the Press in Bugland . about "a new system.of music" which has been devised by the Rev. 5. W. Thackeray, of Trinity College,: Cambridge. It. seems that Dr. Thakerav conceived the idea of (bis system pome twenty years ago, when, as Vice-prin- . cipal of the Episcopal Training College at Edinburgh, ho had to give instruction in.music. Since that time las we read) he has "spent ,£41)00 to ,£sflOD"in perfecting his method, "which is based upon equal intervals with a corresponding system of notation, and- a modifiedkeyboard." Alas!- to . think that so much money should bo thrown away! -Musical notation may indeed stand a . litl simplifying, what chance is there for a modified keyboard?-Mean-while, Dr. Thakeray has. patented his ' system (the Ifniclef System ho calls it) in twenty-nine different countries; and ho is now arranging for trials before municipal authorities in all parts of the world! The "municipal authorities," being mostly irresponsible iucom- . petcnts. Will, no donbt, nibble, at the bait. It will be interesting to which the trial of tho "system" in Wellington. Sir Edward Elgar: "With all our achievements, we are, only on the verge of what is possible in" modern harmony !" More text-books necessary! Signor, Campanini, tho Italian conductor, who made.such a deep impression ■ on'.the musical'critics of New York during the memorable season of this year,- was director'at'La' Scala, Milan, prior to leaving for America— the most coveted position in all Italy. His departure from Milan was cliarac-' toristic, indicating as it does;his dc- . termination to insure performances of the highest degree of finish and smoothness possible, and his unwillingness to spare himself and others in the attainment of this by rehearsing. The orchestra, at La Scala- had formed a union, and had decreed that no rehearsal should last for more than three hours. Sooh after this Canipaniui was conducting a rehearsal of an important work. The time limit was reached, and "one of the professors," as he alluded to him, came up lo tho director, and rcvcqucstrd him to stop the rehearsal al- . though it was not nearly finished. "1 throw down my baton, look my hat, aud caught an, express train for Parma," said Campanini simply. "Then I wrote my resignation to the directorate in Milan. This is composed of a body of men. not a single malinger, * and two weeks later I signed my con-, tract to come to America. I have found my work here very sympathetic The members of (he orcheut.ru are most responsive to my ideas, and I think I have won their liking. The chorus is a surprise to inc. The voices, of the American women arc remarkably good, ivnd that is not all. They do not sing the choruses like chorus singers, but lil:3 young iirlisls. They try to adapt their appearance and expression to suit each situation, in the opera they are ringing. 1 am glad to return' next season." Signor Campanini has stoned a three, years' contract with Mr. Oscar llammerstei'.i, but meanwhile will make his appearance at Mm Covenf- Garden Opera, London-

Mciba has decided not to sing at all during her present visit to Australia. . Her extreme affability to 'cveryoue"sllG;' meets is said to bo a' pleasant contrastto her demeanpur-of.'. three: iyehlrs ago, when she visited Australasia professionally. -,fi\" I*?' 11 ' 0 " is at present raving over 1 Mile. Maria Gay, who sang Carmen in . tiie lately closed'seasoii of Italian opera.. I (says Geo. C. .Tonics, in a New York magazine) catt""testify that she is !amost wonderful representative- of the' passionate cigarette, girl. ... To, begin" w jtli, her voice has an immense range. J.lie lower register is' as' grand' lis the diapason of a> church organ; while-her upper notes ore clear.,and full .as-the trill of a lark. In saving this I "ami merely repeating'what'T-havc' heard 6m iV l ?" lps >JJothi,in and, out:ofiMovent Garden This Carmen' has„all .thij:fire, to winch we have been accustomed in. Ciih-c, plus m'ore'yoiitTV;' and'hence a' little more strength' ibt fury.""'All through Es Camilla's groat,song ",The" toreador ' she had.boon, watching liim ' and now with one (if Her castanets above her head, she twirls oii'liei-'toes l and' assumes' theapothesis of the Woman above'' Man. There.is nothing,; new/in. this: , reading of Carmen's great scene; Tonly' refer to it because:it is here,more than at any other time in .the opera,.that we see why Maria Gay is the groat Carmen;" / JOACHIM; '"■:■' ■;..",. DEATH OF A" GREAT VIRTUOSO. The musical world,Las,lost ;oiio of its most distinguished ..figures' iji'.tho.. death' of Dr.', Joachim, 'tlib worldfamed violinist]" who""dietl in. .Berlin a few weeks ago 'after' a'brief"illness.■ Stricken by paralj-sis i a''f6w'aa'vsj ago' tho condition' 'of _ the.^sufferer.' - 'lj.ep!ime rapidly worse,,and hp.passetV'aw.aj at a quarter to two' in'tno"afternoon; . Dr Joseph Joachim"' was, born hcar : Presburg, in' Hungary,' l bf .'Jewisll'jj)ar- : ; eritago, on July .loth,' 183^,,. ho lias died in'liis. seventy-seventh •year. He ■ha'd"'h'ardly"begun". to'"talk before ■ his musical _'talent'' showed' it-, self in'an attemp't'''to.'pic l lc l 'oiit , ''his'oklor sister's .songs'"on a"ioy 'fiddle. . Encouraged by"'these signs', .liis'n'parcnts spared no'plains "or money to'give him a good education,, sending him in tho- first place. tp.iold.iSerwaczyruiki, tlio director of. the opera .at. Buda; Pesth. Such good, progress did ho : make that at "seven years, pf ago.ho. 'won the" approbation" of, musical .cri-: tics, by playiiig j.in'public'a .difficult sot of -variations on a Schubert 'waltz. : In IS'IL he ..went'''to' Vienna and stud-' ied successively' with' Miska' Hausor,. G. Hellmcsbcrgcr, tho tolder ami lioclym. - -■■ " '-..■■.■ ■■< .- - At twelve;years of ago he was sent to Leipzig, wliere?'ho. received some invaluable ad}<ioq -from .. Mcdolssohn, and in the following year, .when he travelled to London,'it was-with' a note of recommendation from the .great master..,' His: .first 'appearance in this oountr.yiwa's at J)rury Lane on March 28th,: ISii, at ; n >' benefit given to Bunu, ■tlic'lcimprosario; Two months later> .Beethoven's ■Violin Concerto- at a Philharmonic concert with Mendelssohn conducting, when lie was '.hailed,' with, ..rantnre.' ■Adult violinists 1 were dismayed at,-the' intellectual difficulties"of this' 1 com-, position, but the" boy .'of' twelve .played' it with such rtispifatioh, that'.'the'ap- ' plausc which brbkefro'ni'.'tlic.'audieiice. at every rest iii tlie ; solo part' almost unnerved'him.-' From, '.that;',, timeithe-: great violinist,' becain'e a regular visitor to this country; 'aiid..three*', years ago, on tho 'his' attaining ' , the sixtieth anniversary'',,.of '..his 'appoaranoo amongst .us',' was' presented •': at tho Queen's' Brill', whore 'a'notable ■ gathering, which, 'included Mr Balfour, had assembled, '.with' Ilia portrait ' painted by Sargent. ' ! ','Cir .November 25th following' h!s' !! tirs,t'appcafarico'in Eugiahd, Joachim took''pari;'hi a per- ■ formanco at tlio'tldwaiiilhaus, Lcip-; zig,. of, J'-iurer's 'Co'nccrtarite for"four -. ".■violiiis'v.'.iii Eiistj BazKiiii ,'a'iid"David, - all very imich','''liis'"sciii6'rs., ' Hc"''re-''' maiiied at Leipzig 1 fbf"'stj'vfera'l 'years, continuing his studies uiid'or'Sfendelssohn's- powerful mltueiiceand "stiicly-' ing with David' rirb'st''of th'o'.classical worksifor the violiii. ,-' /'".'..''"-■ ; In-1849 Joachim acccjitcd the .pbsi- , tion of leadcr'-or'tlie'Grand Dlilro's' Band at AVeim'ar.''Here lie'met Liszt,' who had. given- 'Up;'his' career' as' a pianist and was'coiitlucting operas:ahd concerts. The violinist luul'the; privi- ; ' lege of being p'rbsent"a't'.'t)io; 'first pro-'' duefcion of Loliengriu, uii'dcr ''Liszt's direction, and'?siibs'6qucri'tly': ho met Wagner, who ranke'd' liihi'next't'o ". his friend Liszt as ; ,';an : artist.-"Joachini,. however, had' 1 noff)' mucli! opiiiibn'of', Liszt as a composer,''ahcKwhen Wag-" nor also had ! CViticisid aV.'d attacked', Mendelssohn in'a-'pamphle'fc Cri'"Juda-1 isiii in Music,";. Joachim' i was"aiiho'yed, and his influence Va's'- thrown; intpHlie ] scale against that-of 'Wagner iii-tlie upholding of the ideals Of "'dl'aSSic'a'l as . against that of in'odcf n'' niusibV "An-.' other great master with'-'ylioml'Joa-chim came much into ''eonta'ot ■ was Schumann, whom hc : had'-known' since his' youthful days;; 'lit' 1 maun's house thai' Joachim; 'whs paid . a compliment byi'the celebrated' com-' poser. The two wore sitting together ' ono lovely evening watching -tlio stars, come out against;thb dco'petiingr.blue . of the sky. "I wbhdcfy 1 ! said;nSchu- . mann/, "wliothef ! boing3 exist upHhcre who Jcnow h'owj boailtifully a' little'.boj . , here below has just'played'the .'Krout-, , zcr Sonata' with"-luoiidolssohn.V. ; '.'! . , ■ Schumann was, alwsfj-s-'kindly-.idis--posed towards the y'duiig'violinist.i In the year 1853 4e?wciit-'to' Dusseldorf ; , to play a- concert/.and'-was'greatly dc-; lighted at receiving; a; token .of regard..", from.tho illustrious'composer;.'couched in the kindest terms.-' -Itwas'a sonata , , composed by Schiuhann>-in'conjunction, with Diotrich-iaiid-Briihms) and'-Vthb''. inscription on' the title <paga! was. to, , tlio following efTeet.:':."ln;'anticipntion - , of tho arrival of oar'honoured -and-be- ■ loved friend, Josoph. Joachim,-,.this sonata .was written;.by^Robert-Schu-mann, Albort Dietrich, and' Johannes Brahms." /Needless; to.,say,.,Jbachim . preserved this as'bho of 1 tliC'Vgreatest. ; treasures'of his early Jifo. ■;::■>. .: After leaving-.Weimar,'in.lSs4,"Joa- , chim became conductor..of concerts-in . Hanover, where ho married Amalie.. \Yois3,' tho welMin'ownand justly,.pelo- • bratcd contralto';!singcr,-,"iiylio -, pre- . deceased him about eight 'years ago'. In 18GD Joachim .became a member of' . the Senate of' tile'"- Be'i'lii'v 'Academy,,., and was nominated-. Director' of. the School of Instrumental Musioj in the • 'newly-established, conservatoire- in-tliat city. In 1877 he was-given the Hon. Mus. Doc. Degroc of Gambridge; Oxford followed in 1809-with the.; Hon. , D.C.L. Degree. .■■-, ;,Hc ...was ialso an LL.D. of Glasgow.--. In-ISB2 ho became conductor of. the Royal-Acadomy of Music in 8er1in...,.', ... Dr. Joachiiv was also -a successful composer ,his host-.known works being those for ■ instrument, tho violin, the most ,;notable being the Hungarian Concerto, on melodies resembling thoscplaycd by gipsies, and heard in Joachim's boyhood. In addition to a longr.lisb of compositions for the violin, ->Dr. .Joachim has also 'composed soveKil; charming Hebrew melodies for tlie.n'iola.and the piano. The world-famed; Quartette, founded by him at Berlin'.,in ISG9, occupied a supremo position in tho. world, of chamber music. During the..whole, of. the . time that tho .;Qii:ir,tette» ; has- i| bcQU-. in ■ existence, Joacliini 1 -,oc,ciipisd-.thQ., post. , of loader and llist,. violin. The Quartette was not heard -iii 'England .till ~ 1900. but the popularity of.tho com- ' hiuation was ho.loss .pronounced 'than • in other parts .of, Europe,.,. Like, tlic . truly groat, Josef Jcac'iim.dicd a';poor "„ man. His body.dira in - demy, at Beiim, ■p.f.whicli,, institution ■-. he wan president, and there also a . mmnoiial servico will bo bold. ,']' '