MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1788, 28 June 1913, Page 9

MUSIC.

» TBY Tbehle CLEF.I How Chopin's "Funeral March" was Written Many fanciful stories have been written concerning the origin of Chopin's famous ' ruiicral March." Tlio following is a translation in tho "Musical Herald" (London) of an account from tho pen of tho noted French critic Jules Clarctie which appeared in tho Paris "Le Temps." It was a part of the obituarv notico of Felix /.iom, a water colour artist who has just died. Ziem was an intimate of Chopin. tho other day, whilo tho congregation of the Church of Montmartro filed out -to tho strains of Chopin's "Funeral March,' I recalled the fnot that it was fir Ziem's studio that this poignant maTch was composed, aud that it was born of a kind of hallucination of tho immortal musician. It was one night after supper, under tho influence of a fantastic 'Dance of death.' Ziem and his guests were amusing themselves in picturesque fashion by wrapping themselves in sheets and.doing a kind of ghostly ballet in tho studio. Perhaps they had got tho idea from tho nuns coming out of their graves in 'Robert lo Diablo' and it may bo that ono of them was humming the evocation, mado famous by Meyerbeer's music: Nonnes, qui reposez sous cette froido pierre. Kelovez vous! But Chopin was not moved to laughter. Surrounded by those beings clad in winding sheets he was strangely agitated, and, shaken by a sudden nerve-storm, lie seated himself at tho piano. A feverish inspiration carried liiiu away, and the notes that fell from his thin consumptive fingers were as tho falling of slow tears. Gradually -the ghosts ceased their sarabande; the student jokes died out, and tho frantic dancers were changed into attentive, silent listeners, dominated by his genius." "Bravo, Chopin!" "Chopin, this is admirable!" "Let us chair him,!" "And thus tho 'Funeral March' was born; the march whose sobs accompanied tho funeral procession •_ of Ziem in tho cliuch instead of the studio —after so many years."—"Etude." Mr. Frank Foster's Success. Writing of tho singing of Mr. Frank Foster-(a New Zealand tenor well-known in Wellington) at a recital given by Miss Lucie. Milner-at tho Waldorf Hotel on April .29, tho London "Stage" says-.— "Mr. Frank Foster, a New Zealand tenor, also shared largely in tho honours of the afternoon. With its finely-modu-lated phrasing and pure aud rich tonic strength, his voice is peculiarly well adapted to such operatic excerpts as ho gave. These included tho 'Ridi Pagliacci' from Leoncavallo's 'Pagliacci,'- and 'Che gelida manina' from Puccini's 'La Boheine,' both of which were warmly applauded; while other numbers artistically rendered by him wero Coleridge'Taylor's 'Eleanore' and 'Myrhha/ the last-named being given by way of ah encore. Mr. Foster is a tehor of the first rank, and his voico has tho invaluable advantage' of having evident temperament and sensitive imagination behind it." John M'Cormack's Company. Arrangements for the John-M'Cormack tour of Australasia are now rapidly proceeding, and J. aud N. Tait, who are directing the tour, have already secured two brilliant artists to support the tenor. Ono of these is Miss May Hnxley, a

well-known .English soprano, who has mado a reputation at the Boosey Ballad Concerts and other entertainments in the British Isles. The other artist is Mr. Vincent O'Brien, who will officiate as accompanist to the M'Cormack concert party, and who is regarded as one of tho greatest musicians in Ireland. His quality is testified by the fact that ho is a conductor of the Dublin Oratorio Society, and is also musical director of tho Marlborough Street Catholio Cathedral. A decidedly happy fact about his engagement, and ouo specially appealing to Mr. M'Cormack, is that he is coming to Australia as a personal favour to the Irish tenor. Mr. O'Brien :is a great friend of M'Cormack's, for it was ho who gave tho latter his first singing lessons. "Parsifal" Open to the World. The strenuous efforts on the part of Mine. Cosima Wagner to preserve "Parsifal" for Bayreuth for all time has failed, in spite of -a petition signed by a largo number of influential people, including the Crown Prince. It is said that even tho Kaiser was in favour of the idea. Tho strongest argument against the project was that comparatively few persons would be ablo to enjoy the opera each year, and that it could not be protected in foreign countries. Tho result would bo that it could be heard by opera lovers in every country but Germany, the land of its birth. . One can sympathise with Mine. Wagner's viewpoint—even though 'her desire may-be not untainted by selfish interests—but nevertheless bo glad that the German sourts refused to sanction her wishes. No great work of art gains by being madd "exclusive." It must stand or fall on its merits, and prove itself able to bear the onslaughts of timo by reason of its appeal to mankind of all ages. We cannot believe that any great honour would bo done to Shakespeare's memory by keeping "Hamlet" exclusively for performance once every year or so at the Memorial Theatre in Stratford-on-Avon. Notes. Umberto Giordano's opera "Mme.'Sans Gene," i.s to be produced at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York; The work is now almost completed. Efforts. are being made to bring about a great American congress of musicians at the Panama-Pacific Exhibition, to take placo in Los Angeles. A plan is already under contemplation to raise the sum of 10,01)0 dollars to offer as a reward for a prize opera by an American composer. Mr. Oscar Hammerstciil, the' irrepressible, is nbout to take the front of the siago again. It is reported that ho has decided to ignore his agreement with tho Metropolitan Opera, and lo erect ail opera house of his own in New York for tho production of opera in English. Aubert's opera, "Fodet Blene," has received its premiere America at tho hands of the Boston Opera Company, and proved a great success. It was stated recently that the Royal Wellington Choral Society was to perform Handel's oratorio "Samson" at its fourth concert. This is not so. The mistake arose through that work having been discussed at a meeting of tho committee, and when the information was received tho name of "Samson" was mentioned instead of "Judas Maccabaeus" 'limdoli the jvork .to bo performed.