THE CITY'S MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1767, 4 June 1913, Page 8

THE CITY'S MUSIC.

RECENT CHANGES. REVIEW OF GAINS & LOSSES. TBr StlviiibJ Three interesting statements were made last week, all of importance to those who are in the least degree interested in musical progress in Wellington., With the partial retirement from "big music" of Mr. Robert Parker, and tho departure for Auokland of Mr. Maughan Barnett, it seemed as though Wellington would bo left without leaders. Tho unexpected, however, is happening. Wellington is a gainer, because (in the case of Mr. Barnett) threo musicians of high standing have been engaged to undertake tho work which ho did. Sir. Christian Hcllemann takes tho Choral Society; Mr. Bernard P. Page the city organ; and Mr. Kerry, St. John's organ atid choir. If it is good to'make three blades of grass grow where only ono grew, then it must bo good for Wellington to havo threo musi : cians of good standing where only one was employed beforo.

Wellington is on the threshold of a new opoch in musical leadership. The threo statements published last week, referred to above, were: (1) That Mr. Bernard Page, of London had been appointed City Organist; (2) that Herr Carl Sauer had undertaken the conductorship of tho Wellington .Musical Union (which has been moribund for eighteen months); and (3) that Mr. Christian Hellemanfl would retain the conductorship of the Royal Wellington Choral Society. ,

Some explanation, perhaps, is duo in respect' to tho last statement. Mr. Hellemann is an organist, and was an applicant for the post of City Organist. It was rumoured last week in musical circles that, if he was not successful in gaining the'municipal position, Mr. Hellemann was to return to Sydney. As is often tho case, Dame Rumour was prevaricating. Mr. Hellemann at once gave the rumour an unqualified denial, being firm in his intention of giving Wellington a fair trial. As an able organist, pianist, and a splendid choral conductor, Mr. Hellemann should not find it difficult to secure thoso inducements that will ensure his permanent residence hero.

Among the new factors in the musical lifo of tho community, Mr. Bernard F. Page, the City Organist, may be sure of a warm welcome, and hero I would like to congratulato the special committee of experts sot up by tho City Council to select the best four from among the applicants. This committee consisted of: Messrs. R. Parker, W. Kington Fyffe, L. Watkins, W. J. Harland, and Leslie Peck (of Wanganui). Organists all as well as men of probity, they could hardly make a mistake, and it would not be surprising to learn that, after selecting tho four best, that they even ticked off those four in tho order of merit. Dr. C. W. Pearce, Dean of the Faculty of Music at the London University, stated that he believed Mr. Page to bo "ono of tlio most giftod organists in. London at tho present day," and further that "his playing is correct, clear, and brilliant, always characterised by the most faultless taste, and always deeply emotional and expressive in tho best sense of the word." So wo may anticipate an artistio uplift in tho coming of our new City Organist. Still another ally to our musical forces is Herr Carl! Sauer, whom, so far, wo know-, only as a brilliant pianist and a musical judge of discretion and no little originality. He camo to Wellington "on a cross wind," so to speak, and has been engaged to reviva the drooping energies of the Wellington Musical Union. Ho appears to bo the right typo for tho position. Ho is restlessly energetic, vital, magnetic in personality, with a*plethora of bright ideas and courage to give expression to them.. From tho little which I liave seen or know of Herr , Sauer (who caino here from Victoria to judgo at tho Christchurch Competitions), I should say that he was destined to be a "livo wire" in music wherever he went. What is surprising' and a matter for congratulation is that all three musicians are quito young men—and as with youth lies work, ambition, and that indomitable desiro to excel, matters musical in Wellington should bo interesting during tlio next few years.

A reference to tho new era in music in Wellington would lio incomplete without mentioning the renllv fine work which is being done by Mr. Herbert liloy as conductor of tho Wellington Professional Orchestra. Mr. Bloy's indifferent health has probably been a bar to pushfulness. and when he was induced to act as conductor of the orchestra, few knew the wise choice that liml been made. He has proved himself to bo a conspicuously able interpretative artist, almost a zealot for accuracy, a rare judgo of tono values, and perhaps—what is most important—he possesses that magnetic sense which induces all who play under his baton to do their best. He has made tho Professional Orchestra a Kind that would be listened to with respect in any part of the world. That, too, under harassing municipal restrictions which should not be.

The same element of change is noticeable in the domain of tho pianoforte. Wellington has suffered a distinct loss in tho reeont death of Miss Beatrice Richmond, whose intellectual gifts were in keeping with her technical skill, and tlie departure from Wellington of Mr. Horace limit,** pianist of brilliant promise, and artistic ideals. In this instance the inevitablo laws of adjustment have acted swiftly in the coming to Wellington of Messrs. Hellemann, Page, and Saner, who, with Mr. Baxter Buckley, will constitute a quartet of cultured pianists, competent and eager to keep alive tho interest in tho study of pianoforte music.