MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 604, 4 September 1909, Page 9

MUSIC.

L ■ ' ■ ■'• 'I (Br TnEntE ClM.l ■ Music at St. Peter's, Rome. It is announced that a new organ is to bo placed in St. Peter's, Rome. The old one is Over two hundred years old, and is tuned about two whole tones below tho modern pitch. It h so worn- out that ■an organbuilder is in attendance at every servico to make repairs at a moment's notice. The bellows leak, tho stops stick, some notes have- a chronic tendency to "cypher," and the pedal "trackers" unhook themselves unexpectedly. ■ Should the new organ bo tuned to the modern pitch it would affect tho music, which, is all written for tho existing organ, and could not be performed two notes higher, not to mention tho confusion that would arise when all tho music is sung at sight. This is a fact not generally known, but worthy of notice. Marion Crawford; a learned authority, says the music in St.' Peter's, aud, indeed, in most Roman churches, is never rohonrsed or practised. The music itself is entirely in_ manuscript, and is the property of the choirmaster, or, as in the case of St. Peter's, of tho Chapter, and thero is no copyright in it, beyond this fact of, actual possession, protected" by tho simple plan for never allowing any musician to have his part in his hand, except while ho is actually performing it. In tho course ■• of a year tho same piece may be, sung several times, and the-old choristers maj become acquainted with a good 'deal of tho music in this way, but never otherwise. Mozart is reported to have learned Allegri's "Miserere" by ear, and to. have written it down from memory. Tho other famous "Misereres" which are now published wero pirated in a similar way. The choirmaster of that day was very unpopular. Some of tho leading singers, ■■ who .had sung tho "Jlisoreros": during many years in succession, and had thus learned their Tospective parts, met and put together, what they knew into a whole, which was at once pub-' lished, to • tho no small annoyance and discomh'turo of * the enemy. But much good music is quite beyond tho reach of tho public—Palestrina's best motets, airs by Alessaudro Stradella-, tho famous hymn of Raimondi, in short, a great musical library,, an archivio, as tho Romans call' such a collection, all of which is practically lost to the world. '' ' ' ■'■'.•, .'■'■ It is wonderful. that under such circumstances tho phoiri of St., Peter's should.ob- : tain even'such creditablo results. At' a moment's notice an organist and about ono hundred singers aro called upon •to ] execute a florid piece of music, which many of them hayd nover seen or heard; tho accompaniment is played at sight from a mere figured bass, on a tumble-down instrument . two hundred years old, and the singers, both tho soloists and. the., chorus, . : sing from thumbed bits of- manuscript parts written in old-fashioned chtiiacters on paper often green with'age.' No one has ever denied the extraordinary -musical facility, of Italians, but if \ tho general musical world: knew how Italian church music is performed it would bo very much ; astonished. ,'\." . .

! It; is no wonder, that such music is some-, times bad. But sometimes it is very good, for * thero aro splendid voices among . tho singers,, and tho Mnostro Ronzi, tho > chief organist, is a man of real. talent; as well as of amazing facility. His modernising inlluenco is counterbalanced -by that of the old choirmaster, Maestro Meluzzi, a firstrato musician, who would not for his life chango a hair of the old-fashionod traditions. Yet there are , moments, on certain days, wben tho effect of the great old organ, with tho rich voices blending in some- good harmony, is very solemn and stirring.. .Tho outward persuasive-' fbren of religion lies largely in its music, and the religions that have no songs makes, few proselytes.

Muslciana not Business, Men. "Tho news that/Sir F. Paolo Tosti has just, written'for : Mme. Tetrazzini a .cadenza to his well-known 'Sorenata' reminds us," says tho "Musical News," "of tho vicissitudes through which this song passed. It was written about 20 years ago, and for a long timo no publisher would look at it. But Tosti exploited it amongst his pupils, and after it had been sung by them Jlessrsi Rdeordi mado a small offer for it, and bought it outright. It,' therefore,' brings tho composer no income, but, as it may be imagined, Sir Paolo does not do business on that method nowadays. It was dedicated to Signor Julos do Soria, a popular singer at that time; but ho'refused to sing.it, considering it beneath his notice.' It is said that several years later this Bamo singer asked permission io sing it, but was refused. This, however, may bo taken/cum grano salis,. for we havo yet to learn that the publication of a song docs not carry with it tJio right of ordinary performance. If plain John Smitii can sing it, why not Signor de Soria R 'Serenata' was. immedi- , ately successful, anil wo learn that more than a million and a half copies have been sold by ■'Messrs. Ricordi. But .poor' Sir jPaolo reaDS-no definite benefit .therefrom— which reminds us of tho sad caso of tho late Sir Joseph Barnby and his populair •'Sweot aiid Low, , over which ha made a bad bargain with Messrs. Novello. ,-Ho sold it for two guineas, and Novello's havo realised thousands from, it." Wagner per Banjo. ' .. Wagner, on tho banjo should come, as a shock, if not as a surprise, at the popularity of the Bayreath master. ; "Yet if thoso curious to perceivo what genius can;accom-, plish on this descendant of tho old cittern will go to tho Alhambra (London); 'they will hoar Franco Piper play witli extraordinary effect, tho Pilgrim's Ohoniß from 'Tannhausor,' accompanied by the orchestra; tho chords evolved and tho .volume of tono produced aro amongst the marvels of this extraordinary performance. Besides clover' thicks of tho music-hall typo, Piper plays an overture of Rossini's, which would' almost bo cqmpleto oven if no orohestra wore accompanying." < < • ' A Sister to Him. A century ago (says "Musical Opinion"), Madame Catnlnhi was tho leading prima donna in tho world; but for tho London season of 1809 her terms wore so exorbitant that the manager was obliged to open tho season without her. Ono of her conditions was rather curious. Sho had a brother who was an indifferent oboe performer. Madame Catalani was then making about £17,000 a yoar, but could not afford tho young man any'assistance. Therefore he was to oo billeted on to the opera orchestra,- to tho exclusion of Gricsbach; or, as the-manager said, "the best oboe player in Europe bad to be turned out to mako room lor the sroxst.' 1