MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1198, 5 August 1911, Page 9

MUSIC.

(By Treble Clep.) Franz Lehar. Tho man who was made, famous I>v "Tho Merry Widow" went from Vienna to London to witness tho production of his new comic opera, "Tho .Count of Luxemburg," by Mr. George Edwardes. While in London 'lie prosperous musician chatted about his piethods of work. "I wrote 'Luxemburg,'" ho said, "in two mouths, which you may regard as a fair average. But that is apart from the orchestration, which is quite 'as long a business as the work of composing. My best work is done in the summer ill my country house at Isclili. some live hours distant, by train from Vienna. When the fit takes me I work right through tho day and night. Oneo fairly started on an opera I allow myself, broadly speaking, 110 rest, for a couple of Then conies a pans?. Alter last year's exertions, for instance, I didn't do a stroke for live months. "Sometimes 1 put my ideas straight 011 to paper. At others I press the piano into my service. On one occasion I wanted to find a particular melody, and from nine o'clock in the evening till two in tho morning I sat in my room vainly trying to discover it. But alas! the fount of inspiration had apparently run dry, and so at last, tired out, off I went to bed. At five o'clock I woke up with the tune ringing through my lieao, rufelied to tho piano, played it over, and then duly transcribed it.. It proved one of Hie most popular airs I have ever written." "flow do you manage about your librettos?" asked an interviewer.

"111 that respect I havo been exceedingly fortunate. The great thing, I find, is to work in perfect sympathy with one's author'. Doctor Willraer and I, for example, are constantly together when we have a piece in hand. What I do during the day I play over to him in the evening. • And just as he is always ready to make any changes I may desire ill the libretto so I am prepared to accept his suggestions. If I cannot havo a book that appeals to me, I will not have a book at nil. Just after the success of 'Tho Merrv Widow,' Dr. Willmer informed 1110 that he had something lie wished to bring nnder my notice. He rend 1110 'Luxemburg' and 'Gipsy Love,' and I immediately leapt at both. "You asked me about my _ 'method.' Well, hero is an instance in which method doesn't, enter at all. When Mr. Edwardes was rehearsing 'The Merry Widow' at Daly's, lie eamo to 1110 with tho request that I should write two special numbers, adding 'that they must be done at once. I left the theatre .with Mr. Ernest Meyer, my representative in England, and in America. It was raining heavily. At liis instigation wo sought Iho hospitality of a eab-shelter in tho [I'aymarkot, and there and (hen I accomplished the by 110 means easy tail!, which Mr. Edwardes had set me."

Beethoven's "Irish" Symphony. In the programme of the orchestral concert which was recently given in London by Herr Havemann there was a note by Mr. Lennox Clayton, the conductot- on that occasion, on Beethoven's Seventh .Symphony, which was one of the works played. The. note had referenco to tlio origin of tlio prindipal theme of tho last movement. Jlr. Clayton pointed out that it was not generally known that the subjcct was founded upon an Irish folk-song, "Sow Creina." - Beethoven, it is well known, often used national airs for his thematic material (the trio of the scherzo in this saiuo symphony is • taken from an Austrian hymn), and tho instance of the Eondo is a very good example of metamorphosis, the improvement in rhythm over the origina, (i-8 measure being remarkable. Tho song "Nora Creina" is one of tho set whieli Beethoven arranged for the publisher, Thomson, of Edinburgh, and upon which ho was at work about tho samo timo that the symphony was written. Tho great composer made a .collection of old Irish airs.

Blanche Arral. New York papers, write in high terms of Blanche Arral's appearance iii that country, and are practically unanimous iiv their praise. Spa, the'name which lias been adopted by nearly every watering places in Europe, is a little village in tho Ardennes, where the accomplished prima donna is announced to take her. residence in tho near future. It appears that a New York company has been with Mons. Herold Bassett at 'its head, to take over tho entertainments in the much visited village, for a term of years, and the' new concert hall now being erected will, when completed, «:at 5000 people. It is here that ■ tho musical programmes will bo given throughout the season, in which the name of Mdme. Arral will figure. Wellington will readily remember. Madame Arral.

Brahms' Quick Wit. The latest work upon the life of Johannes Brahms, by J. A. Fuller-Maitland, brings to view several characteristic traits of the great composer. One of these 'was his sense of humour, and it will bo interesting for some of those who have regarded many of tlio works of Brahms as "dull," "muddy,".or "leaden," to read of his quick wit. Ono quick retort will surely go down ill musical history. A landlord of a restaurant in Vienna was asked to produce his best wine for some friends wliom Brahms took to dine there. When the landlord served the wine lie said, with tlio hope of flattering Brahms: "Hero is wino that surpasses all others as much as the music of Brahms surpasses that of all other masters." , "Well, then," replied Bralims, "take it away.'and bring us a bottle of Baclv." Brahms did not liko the opera form, and never wrote an opera. Ho was, however, very fond of tlio opera "Carmen." Once lie injured the footing of Hermann Goetz, the composer of ■ "Tlio Taming of the Shrew," by asking him why he amused himself with such trifling things. Robert nichens, the well-known English novelist, has been engaged to write the incidental iuusio for the stage version of his "Garden of Allah," which is tb bo produced shortly.. 31 r. Ilielieus studied music for a considerable period, and .for a while entertained the idea of entering the musical profession, but eventually gavo it up for literature.

Leoncavallo's new opera "Maia " was recently given its Berlin "premiere." It is said that the music is of a high order, but that the libretto is weak. The workdoes not seem to bo destined for great popularity. You Bulow was indignant with pupils who neglected their lessons upon slight excuses. Ouc day before Ascension he feared that many pupils might take advantage of the holidays. Accordingly, ho made the announcement; "To-morrow wo shall hold religious services here. I shall play from liach and from Beethoven. The first; is the Old Testament, the latter is the New Testament." Note, According to a report, his Royal Highness, Prince Henri Luitpold of Bavaria, grandson of the Prince Regent, and cousin of mad King Ludwig of Bavaria, has given up his rights to the succession of tho throne of Bavaria in order to marry Miss Maude Fay, the opera singer of San Vraneisro, whose acquaintance ho made while Miss Fay was singing at the Munich Opera. Mail'.me Me!ba i= expected to arrive in Melbourne on Sunday week next, Angus! !3. The Australian prima donna will come overland from Adelaide, so as to lose no time in getting into touch with the preparations for the big nni.-i----cnl event, in which she will figure so prominently. The rest of the company will arrive at intervals of a lew days (as in the case ■of Jlr. John M'Cormack) a I'd a week.

Jlr. Sydney Grundy (playwright) wasone of the latest of Sir W. S. Gilbert's friends to see him before his tragic death bv heart failure. Comparing notes upon old friends (and ot hers dead and gone), Gilbert; happened to allude to his age. "Pooh!" 1 said, "what does ago_ matter, with such health as yours?" "Nothing." he answered; "by experience i,-. that old age is'the happiest, time in a man's life. The worst of it is there's so little of it." For him'there were live more days.