MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1252, 7 October 1911, Page 9

MUSIC.

(Br Tmsru.E Cle7 J "There's music in all things—if men had ears,— Their .earth is but an echo.-...0f tho spheres." \ ;'• —Lord-Byron. . The Queree Concert. Miss Rone Queree, the young pianist who was tendered a farewell complimentary concert at the Opera House on Monday last, has every, reason to feel encouraged by tho unanimous goodwill which was freely expressed to her on that occasion. There was a large and-indulgent audieuce, and regarding the concert in that indulgent spirit which the occasion demands, it must be conceded that the promoters of the entertainment. had little cause for regret. Miss (jueree's musical education, so far as technique is concerned, has been sound and thorough—her playing shows that. What is now required of her is that, sho should allow her individuality to assert itself. Has sho that quality of temperament, which, given free play, may add a touch of original colour to her work? If she has, it is still latent. Tho kindling of that latent fire will bo tho task of Carreno, in far off Berlin. Servility in Art. Those-who have casually noticed, tho same of Debussy on their concert programmes, will rather enjoy reading .the French composer's opinions ou the conventional attitude of musicians towards the "great masters." "To my mind," he says, "peoplo behave with most annoying servility towards tho 'great masters.' Music is a free, a spontaneous art, an open-air art, an art to be measured with the elements—the winds, the sky, the.sea! It must not bo made confined "and scholastic. Of course, ingenious writing, tho trado of composing is very quaint and interesting. I myself was enthusiastic in that, direction once upon a time. But I thought over it a good deal, and conclude that the writing ,of music would gain by being'simplified, by the means of expression being more direct. Do not understand mo to say that I want to place myself at tho head of a school or to bo a reformer! 1 want simply to express as sincerely ns I can tho sensations and sentiments I feel; I care littlo for the rest.

"I liavo been represented in nil sorts of attitudes which I have never taken up towards the great masters. I have been reported as saying things about Wagner, Beethoven, that I liavo never said.' 1 admire- Beethoven and Wagner, but I refuse to admire everything they have written just because 1 am told that they wero great masters! Never'"— Courageous Monsieur Debussy. Heredity in Music. : The name of Couperiu in tho Borwick Jiccital programmes recalls the suggestion of heredity in music. Heredity (jays "L'Etudo".) seems to find more representative, examples in music than in any other art. Tho noted musical families are quite numerous. The Bach family feads the list with twenty famous members. The Couperin. family in France was numerous, and many members were musical, but the individual achievements of tho members of the Philidor family, now hardly known, gained them quite as much distinction a> those of the Couperin family. The most noted Philidor was Frnncois Andre Dnnican Philidor (172H--1895),. who wrote no fewer than: twentylive operas, some of which wero exceedingly popular. Our own Sidny Lanier, who, in addition to being a pcet. was a fine musician, was (he-descendant of a. family of musicians long famous at the English Court.

It is strange how iiiucli improvif.ition has jjone on* of fashion in reipnt' yp.irs. Then.' aro. of course, many who- will sit .it the piano and "rambli-" over tliu keyboard, but Uin i)imil)CT of peopln who can improvise a fugue on a Kivrn I heme, ris could the la'.e Alexandra Ciiiilinnnl, is limited. Perhaps the habit, of "rambling' 'is not common only to (his njre of diseiir.-ivenc.-s. Beethoven onee seriously offended Ilimmvl by afkiut', in (he, middle of au improvisation, when lie was (joins to tegin in earnest.