MUSIC ABROAD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1154, 15 June 1911, Page 7

MUSIC ABROAD.

—.—<. RETURN OF ■ME. HAMILTON , • • HODGES.

Mr. Hamilton Hodges, one of the bestknown vocalists in New Zealand, returned yesterday from a two years' visit to America and England. The greater part of that time he has spent in America, giving recitals and appearing at receptions with great success in New fork, Boston, Washington, and smaller towns, and at Ihe same time perfecting his musical education and expanding his already extensive repertoire. "America has gone forward in a musical sensa wonderfully since I was last there, and there is much to be learned by ujtyune going there after a long wjouru in this part of the world," said .Mr. JT*.r:g-rs. "America has developed a number of tine song-writers, of whom we hear ] i 11!o or nothing, and one of my greatest, pleasures was not only to secure these -.ongs, but lu get into personal contact with the composers. It was quite a treat to find Hint the modern American Long-writer* have really fine ideals, and seem t« hr.ve got past writing the rubbishy snitf they used to turn out. Such writers as C!;.vton Johns and Arthur Fcote and others write songs that should be better known, and it is my intention to introduce thnn to Xew Zealand as s;on as possible, I'cote's 'Requiem' (words by Robt. Louis Stevensoil) is every bit as good as Wallace's 'Son o' Mine,' and is likely to be as popular. Schmidt is another good writer of songs. Eis 'Lo, My Shins' is a particularly line song, and well within the scopo of amateurs." Interpretation has ever been an important factor with Mr. Hodges, and realising that no one should ever cease to learn, ho took a course of studv in ihat department under Samuel Richard Gains, ol Boston, who, put him through a series of modern French and Italian songs, and as the result he returns to Xew Zealand with twelve new rccital programmes perfectly arranged. "In London." said Mr. Hodges, "I had the nle.isure of singing before jlr. Harris's, of Sheffield Choir fame. At his request, i sani? "Lord God of, Abraham," and he played the accompaniment. "One of the greatest musical treats I experienced was hearing "Elijah" at the Crystal Palacc, with a chorus of 10 voices. To hear Sir Charles Santley sing the music was worth the trip alone." In Boston, he saw Bernhardt ploy ton performances in a weelc. "Camiile" lie saw twice, and the interoretntion of the character differed entirely. The great actress still retains her marvellous magnetism and charm—at OR. She is the most amazing dramatic artist the world has ever lmown.