SHAKESPEARE AND MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1465, 13 June 1912, Page 7

SHAKESPEARE AND MUSIC.

LECTURE BY MR. ROBERT PARKER. Mr. Robert Pnrkesr, organist at' St. Paul's I'ro-Cnthetlral, and the doyon of •Wellington conductors,-> l Jectur€.dr.m-pat in-, terestiiigly on "Shakespeare ' and Music' at tho Sydney Street Schoolroom _ last evening, in aid of a fund which is to pay for the repairs recently efleeted .to the organ at St. Paul's. The lecturer stated .that, the genius of Shake<pcaro embraced a profound aud exceedingly happy knowledgo of music. Re dwelt on the extraordinary fitness of Shakespeare's allusions to music and musical, instruments (in which- latter connection lie was never ui; fault, as were many of tho poets). In dwelling on the hard's poetical allusions to music, ho quoted Lorenzo's lilies from "The Merchant of Venice";— « sweet the moonlight sleeps .uiion this bank. Hero will we sit, and let the sound of music , Creep in our ears i soft stillness and tho night Become the touches of sweet harmony. * The lilies were subsequently sung 'in glee form by the choir. Tho lecturer made reference to the many times Shakespeare alluded to music in his plays, "Twelfth Night," he said, was full of allusions to music, and instances wero given in "The Taming of the Shrew." "The Tempest," "Two Gentlemen of Verona," "As Tou Like It," and otlior plays, to prove that Shakespeare was a profound lover of music, and had a sound know, ledgo of its technique. Mr. Parker related that Franz Schnbert ivas dining in a restaurant when shown tho lines of "Hark, • hark, tho lark," aud was so pleased with them that ho seized the menu card, and there and then composed,the music of the song that lives . to-day. Beethoven admitted that he obtained tho inspiration for his "Sonata Appassionata" from "The Tempest," Gounod had written an opera on "Romeo and Juliet"' and Verdi in his old ago had turned to Shakespeare for subjects, and - had written thoso notable operas "Othello," and 'Talstalf." Tho list would be incomplcto without a referenco to Sir Arthur Sullivan, who was particularly liappy in catching tho spirit of Shakespeare. Ha had written the incidental music to "The Tempest" and "Henry VIII," and many songs and glees to the lyrics of Shakespeare. Tho lecture was interspersed with appropriate musical illustrations. Mrs. l'\ P. Wilson sang "It Was a Lover, and His Lass" ("As You Like It"), "When Daisies Pied" ("Love's Labour Lost"), "Orpheus and His Lute" ("Henry VIII"). Mrs. Nellie Fieldhouse, a cultured contralto with a sweet and moderately strong voice, of good quality, sang "Full Fathom Five" ("The Tempest"), "Blow, Blow" ("As You Like It"), and the Willow Song from "Othello." Mr. AVarren sang tho Clown's song from "Twelfth Night," "When That I Was and a Littla Tiny Boy," and Mr. Clarkson sang "O Mistress Mine," from the samo play. The choir sang the part song "Ye Spotted Snakes." At the conclusion of the lecture the Rev. A. M. Jobnson, on behalf of tho vestry and churchwardens, expressed his gratitude to Mr. Parker for his delightful lecture. Incidentally, ho said that they had had to spcM more than was originally intended, but they felt that it had to he done, as tho organ was Mr. Parker's. He would not be the same without the organ, and lie was sure the organ would not be tho same without Mr. Parker. (Applau c o.) He also thanked the soloists and choir for music so sweetly discoursed.