MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1657, 25 January 1913, Page 9

MUSIC.

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1 Mr.. Arthur Alexander, of - New Zealand, an old Wellington College boy, and a pupil of Mr. Maushan Barnctt in tho study of the pianoforte, has been awarded the "Dove" memorial prizo at tho Royal Academy of Music for general excellence, assiduity, and industry in hisstudies during the year at the academy, at which ho also holds tho position'of subprofessor. In awarding, tho prize, Sir A. C. Mackenzie said'"There is only One prize which calls for special inentiort by myself, since the sometimes rather perplexing; privilege of bestowing it is mine. In tho course of time,it has come to bo considered the prize of, the year, and \vlien I say that it had to bo handed to that student who shall have distinguished himself or'herself in general excellence,' assiduity, and industry during the past year, you will that tho judgment of-Paris and Solomon's famous decision were mere trifles in comparison. (Laughter.) Seriously,' wo can-boast a large number of keen.and ardently-work-ing students hero, and during this, exceptional year sonic of .their very test quali-: tics'and talents have exhibited themselves in a most agreeable manner. My selection falls;upoit a young man who has been with us for a number of years, who is known to'all as an accomplished musician, a brilliant pianist, and promising copiposer, one who, furthermore, devotes without hesitation much of his own valuable time to playing accompaniments' for his fellow-students whenever he is asked to do so,' and in this particular, art he also shines., I award tho 'Dove prize' to Mr. Arthur'Alexander,' l of New Zealand." (Cheers.)

: According to the. latest news by! mail, Paris has accorded a large reception to Madame Clara Butt and Mr. Kennerley Rumford, who recently reappeared in the Freuch capital after an absence of two or. three years; They were first' heard with the' Lamoureux Orchestra, and later on sang at the Salle, Caveau, where' Madame Butt made a great impression. The Paris journal "Cil Bias" said:— "Mndamo Butt, who is endowed with a contralto voice of frreat- depth and dramatic power, to which is added faultless art, gave greatly - appreciated renderings of compositions by Handel', Brahms, Schubert, Schumann, Holmes, and Debussy, as well as her compatriots, Graham Peel, Liddle, and Leoni." , Of, Mr., Kennerley Rumford the same journal also says:—"Mr. Kennerley Rumford, . who equally shared the honours of the evening, has a capital baritone voice, which he used with splendid effect, in remarkably fine renderings of songs by Strauss nnd Hugo . Wolf. He displayed great taste inhis singing of some English, songs and old Irish melodies."

Hero and thore, in glancing through the Home papers, ono'notos the progress of Miss Mina Caldow, the ■ promising young New Zealand contralto, who left these shores, some time ago to perfect her art. To judge from such of her concert numbers as "Softly Awakes My Heart" (from Saint-Saens's "Samson and Delilah"), and tho remarks of her critics thereon, Miss Caldow, is making very encouraging progress indeed, and has no lack of concert engagements. This is good news to tier many friends and wellwishers in Wellington.