MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1925, 6 December 1913, Page 9

MUSIC.

TBr Teeble CIEF.'J

Australia's National Song. r adjudicators in the competition i-or tho boat musical sotting of Arthur Adams s Australian national song will ho Messrs. IV. Arundel Orchard '(New South Wales), Fritz Hart- (Victoria), K. Harold Davios (South Australia)! (loorgo Sampson (Queensland), Alex. J. jjoche (West Australia), aucl George Hopkins (Tasmania). Tho prize is £100, and competitors are confined to British subjects who liav-o resided in tho Commomvcalth for a. period of twelve months. Tho music must bo forwarded lo the secretary of tho Musical Association of New South Wales, -16 Palme's lluiklings, Ash Street, Sydney, not later thrin February 20.

"Elijah" in Melbourne. On November 15 the Victorian Festi. val Choir, in association with tho G«> long Slusical Society, gavo a performance oi "Elijah." The "Argus" hud this to say of tte principalis:— "The work for the principals is a very important part of Mendelssohn's scheme, and, luckily for tho two socio* ties engaged, the soprano part had an aiilo exponent in Madame Mary Conly, who, with her fine voice and expert musicianship, fulfilled all requirements excellently. Her work as the widow Was properly conceived in a quasi-dramatic veui, and all the subsequent passages, especially the best of all, the air. 'Hear ye, Israel,' were capitally done!.... The contralto music was simg by Mrss.Klva llogers, wiio, if not quite -forceful enough in that given to tho vindictive queen, was thoroughly satisfying iu'.the nioro sympathetic items, notary, '0 Host in the Lord.' Sir. Bertram Johnston was responsible for tho tenor music, and in genera! gave a good account of it, though if less obvious style would hav-o been wore acceptable. The chief tigure of tho oratorio, Elijah himself, was taken by Mr. Horace Stevens. Ha proved equal to a very heavy task, singing with, proper weight and'significant' expression, his most impressive work being in the scone with the widow, tile- stirring 'Is Not .His Word,' and tho well-known 'It is Enough.' "

"The Messiah." That hardy perennial "Tho Messiah" is to be sung onto inoro by tho Royal Choral Society at tlio Town Hall on Monday week. For this animal jjctfonnauce tlio society lias tho liabii; of making an extra special effort. H will bo remembered that on tho lust occasion on which the great Handel oratorio was performed the society had tho assistance of Madame Kirltby Lujm and Mr. Andrew Black. On the present occasion "a very able quartet of soloists, beaded by that fine, tenor Mr. Paul Dui'ault. has boon secured.. The other mombers of the quartet will he Madame Evelyn Selig, of Brisbane, Mr. Andrew Black, of Sydney, and Miss Mina Caldow, tho Wellington singer, who has recently had five years' experience on the English concert stage. With the Royal 'Choral Society's chorus in good form, tho performance should bo a notably good one. As usual, - Mr,Christian Hellemann will conduct.

Three of the soloists, Madame Selig and Messrs. Dufault and Black, liaro to come to Wellington from Sydney, and arc booked to leave that port to-day. It is perhaps a little early to express a doubt as to whether there will bo a steamer leaving Sydney for Wellington to-day, but should tiieso artists not be able to leave in time to reach Wellington by December 15, the performance will have'to bo postponed for a few days.