MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1587, 2 November 1912, Page 9

MUSIC.

.' [Bt Tbeble Ceef.l , "A Tale of Old Japan." • On Friday evening next, Wellington is to hear the first p»'rformahce'in\ Australasia of the late Sir. Coleridge Taylor's charming cantata, "A Tale of Old Japan," written to the pretty .verses-of Alfred Noyes. . ' ••.-.'■ Those who know the exquisitely melodious and characteristic setting, of Longfellow's '/Hiawatha" by Mr. Taylor will be surprised to learn that «oine' critics at' Home have set dqwii "A Tale of Old -Japan" as the composer's masterpiece. If that.be so, the.cantata should afford ■particular pleasure' to music-lovers, . as ''Hiawatha'' is a chord work, of extreme beauty.. Coleridge Taylor colours , his 'themes with a deft sure hand,' anil' is '(or. Was) '•■ a-master of melody, , The soloists in "The Tale" will bo Madame Briggs,'of Wanganui (soprano), •Mr. Sidney. Butler,.'of Wanganui j(tenor);. Miss C. M. Denhard. (contralto); and Sir. Hamilton , Hodges ■ : (baritohe)., ; Franco Leoni's beautiful song, cycle;- "Fairy Dreams," will also beSsung during the evening, with' Miss Denhard, Miss Muriel Bennett; E. J. Hill and Hamilton; Hodges as soloists.. It'is. rather a'pity that the.' Choral Society does not seek to encourage local talent to; a greater-extent.. It will. be' noticed that .two of the soloists'for "The -Tale" are being imported from Wanganui. True, both are experienced singers, but there are always young singers 'com. lug on in a big; city like Wellington who Would ■be encouraged to work all the harder if there were a prospect of gain-, ing a. position,as soloist in. a.big choral production. There'•■' are at 'least ..'two singersvif not more,-in Wellington. who, on concert form,- should be worthy of the attention 'of the committee'.' jhe reference is .to.Miss Teresa H'.Bnroe;.a power? ful and.fresh young soprano, and a musician, and Mr. Altwright/(baritone), who sings 'good ballads with : artistic - discretion. Surely the local, prophet—! .' A Misunderstanding. ■ _ There has been a slight misunderstand,, ing' in some quarters respecting' the eagerly awaited visit of Madame Kirkby Lunn-t6,New Zealand. After the Sydney season it was arranged that the concert company of which'Madame Lunn is the head should Visit Perth. (Western Australia), and should then, return cast to five further, Concerts in Melbourne and ydney prior to leaving for New Zealand. In this manner reference has been made to an Eastern tour (capital "E"), which some New Zealand papers have interpreted, into meaning a tour of the Far Bast. The following are the dates that have so far been * definitely arranged :—Auckland, November 25, 27, and 30; Wellington, December 3, 5, and 7; Christchurch, December.. 14, 16, and 18. Word has been received; that Mr. Frank Tait''will accompany Madame.lCirkW Lunn to New ;Ze"aland as manager; ."Bo expects to ar : rive'in Auckland on, Novenibei; 11. A Great Conductor. 1 Mr. Campanini has completed Ms ninth ,consecutive.year >as cpnductor-im-chief at Coyent Garden. He was only. 22 when he directed in his native town or Parma a performance of "Carmen." Among the audience Was Mr. Henry Abbey, and so impressed ' was the American impresario by the ability of the-young chef d'orchestre that he signed a contract wjth him that.very night to open the new Metro-politan'-Opera House, New York. ' His second Transatlantic engagement Came 'about through Verdi's express desire that he should take charge of "Otello" on. the introduction of that opera to the American public; The young conductor did not belie the confidence reposed in him.by the veteran composer, and the laurels he won led to his appearance subsequently in all the groat capitals of, Europe. When he visited New York,for the, third time,, it was as general musical director of Mr. Hiunmerstein's Manhattan Opera House, where, in connection with tho production of ; "Pelleas ' et Melisande," "Ijouiso," "Salome," and other modem works, lie'achieved some' of • his most notable successes. Mr: Campanini's sympathy with, all Schools of opera and tho complete understanding he has shown of .all (in .Italy he-was long,since a pioneer of Wagnerian music-drama) have stamped- him as a musician of the widest outlook, as well as a conductor of rare versatility. . Where Our, Old Pianos Go. What becomes of' all the old pianos? Thousands of now pianos are sold every, year to the greater number of those who already have musical instruments. Tho salesman allows a liberal price for the old piano in trade, accepts a "little cash, and takes tho balance on monthly payments. • - Now,' while he.has sold one piano, he lias just as many on his hands as before, for ho has accepted an old one. Wlmt.be* ecmes of it? He repairs and . rcyarnishes the old piano, boxes, it, ami, with hundreds .of others-, it is shipped to South America, Africa,' 'Asia, and other benighted portions of the world, where it is sold to the natives, who yearn for music and whose i ambition is to drum-out tidies on an instrument of their own. These pianos are sold for a small amount down and the balance monthly, sometimes weekly, payments, extended over a long period of time. In this way the dealer gets back nbt only the price lie allows for the old piano in tho first place, bi.it tho cost of repairing, boxing and shipping, with interest added to each of tho charges.' —"The Baltimore. Sun«'