A NEGLECTED ART.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1492, 15 July 1912, Page 3

A NEGLECTED ART.

SIEGING TO OWN ACCOMPANIMIiXT. The coming of Miss Margaret Cooper to Wellington has taught us one thing, and that is that, despite all our musical pretensions—and what town in New" Zealand, does not boast of being musical, especially since the epidemic of competitions smote.the land?—one phase of musical art is being-entirely That is the. nr,t of singing to one's own accompaniment. There are isolated instances whero singers will (for an encore) sit down and strum their own accompaniment, but that is frequently brought about by the fact that they may not have brought a second song, or that they feel that the accompanist is not doing them the justice which they could do themselves. Mr. Andrew Black used to do a little of it, but not in a very finished form, and Mr. Philip Newbury's own accompaniments were no justification for his assuming the piano stool. Singers must learn that the accompaniment played by themselves must be as perfect as if they were being really well accompanied by a skilful player. Indeed there should ho an added sympathy, Born of constant practice, and a complete knowledge of what one intends to do vocally. Knowing that, they can afford to take those, liberties that an ordinary, accompanist, picked up at the hall, would not, and should not, dare to do. > Of this difficult art, Miss Margaret Cooper is the high priestess. The writer has heard Melba, Antoineto Sterling, Patey, and others all attempt to accompany themselves, but their attempts ha?e' beoir crudenesS' itself compared with the elegant tone and fairy touch of this gifted artist. , AH who would aspire to the practice of tKe art might with advantage watch her closely. Very seldom, indeed, are her eyes off the audience, and only momentarily—perhaps for the final chord or two—. does she look at the keyboard at all, .vet her accompaniments are perfect. Her' pedal work alone is wonderful in the part which it plays in tho general result. Itis high comedy to watch her positively snatch the last chord after a brisk, lively song, and then to see her dreamily finger the opalescent chords and single notes at the top of the piano at the end of such songs as "Moon, Moon" and "Dreamland." Then! the comedy of her accompaniments is simply irresistible. Some hardly know what they are smiling at, until it is pointed, out that those heavy bass chords are the fat cook's footsteps in "Catch Me," or that the rippling sweep of the fingers up the keyboard is the rite of the aeroplane in "Agatha Green." Of such touches, Miss Cooper is the cleverest exponent that we have ever seen, and isin captivating harmony with her richlycoloured vocal work. Miss Milsom's Exclusive, and Up-to-date methods for Treating Hair and Skin will positively stop tho hair from falling, prevent and restore grey hair, cure worst cases of dandruff and irritation,' thus promoting.a healthy growth. "Cnltene" (reg.) Skin Food, unsurpassed for wrinkles and withered skin, softens and tones the coarsest skin, cures blackheads, and large pores. Ladies and Gentlemen taught home treatment. Dolightful face massage (Denmark), 'Electrolysis (permanent and painless). Hairdressing taught. Hairwork of every description. Lightest, finest weaving, best Parisian Hair only. Purest Face Powder. Grey Hair restored to natural colour, with great success, with wonderful preparation, harmless, and most natural looking. Shampooing, Manicuring, Clipping. Just received from Parisian.buyer, beautiful Switches, Puffs, and Natural Hnir Padsi Personal attention, strictly confidential. Miss Milsom, King's Chambers (opp. Stewart Dawson's), Willis Street, Wellington. Telephone 814 [ SUPERFLUOUS HAIR. Superfluous hair destroyed by "Rusma" (reg.). A guarantee given with each case undertaken. See testimonials and letters. Mrs. Hullen (over Economic), Lambton Quay. 'Phono 1047. (Testimonial.) Clyde Quay, Wellington. "Would.you kindly send hid two more packets of "Rustna" us I ani leaving for Australiu on tin: l!Gth of next, month, so kindly lot 'me have, them before, (hat date. I have found 'Kusiiia' avrifp and sure cure for destroying superfluous hairs and will recommend it ti>.-my. friends on.the olhei side. Trusting yoii 'will send it to them when vci|uiri'd." Original copy of above can be seen al my addi'ess. ' ' . • ! 4*