Page 2 Advertisements Column 6

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2211, 25 July 1914, Page 2

MUSIC. , i . 9 . fßx Thelle Clif.l "By Request" Organ Reoltal. This evening Mr. Bernard F. Page, the city organist, is to givo a "request" recital. Tho announcement two ort'nreo weeks ago that the programme- would be based upon requests received brought a large number of letters by post to Mr. Page, who is distinotiy pleased at the character of tho selections his patrons have made. The programme will include. Holloway's "Suite Aucienne," .the second movomout of which consists of t'ho Couronte, an ancient French dance that is full of rhythmical charm; an "Eglogue" (Solomo), a Bach "Pastorale," Saiufr-Saens's beautiful "Benediction Nuptialo," , and the same composer's brilliant "Danse Macabre," that glittering passage from "Das nhcingold" (Wagner) descriptive of tho entry of {he Gods into Walhalla; "Harmonies du Soir" (Karg-Elert), and a "Finale in B Flat" by Caesar Franck. Such a programmo should attract a numerous audience To Lillian Nordica. (Died, Batavia, Java, May 10, 1914,) And must thou, too, sweet singer of . renown, , -. Now join tho Choir invisible on high— Putting osido Sieglinde's myrtle, crown, Thy living wreath of Immortality? Shall now thoy wondrous voice for aye be ' still, And no more charm the eager silent throng? Thou, Wagner's" messenger! No. more to thrilT ' ■ . . Rapt thousands with Walkyrie's battle song; The quiet heart a-weary of life's woes, Beat faster at thy eilver.sounding notes, And tragio bars of Verdi's passion throes Made sorrow's anguish rise within thick throats; Although thy voice is graven into sound, And instant touch awakes the slumber- _ ■ ing tone— 'Tie not thy magic presence holds us bound ■ ". ' ' No • queenly gesture, makes the stage. thy throne! Through echoes of long years thy songs . shall ring ' , ' 'For this good world genius ne'er for- . gets; ■ . .' ■ ; All lands to th«o their final plaudits bring, ' . Walhalla's vales a goddess now begets! Sleep, singer, soft beneath the starry sky, The summer winds play o'er thy homaged tomb; ' Glorious to live—immortally to die! O Fame! orowned -.with the »Grail's imperial plume! . —St. jLouis "Globe-Democrat."-A Valuable Library. . The Australian Opera, League, though fully enough occupied in launching its first season nest month, has made time to look ahead. An opportunity has been afforded the league of purchasing a valuable portion of the Simonseu Library of Operas. This library comprised about. 50 operas, consisting of full score, orchestral parts, chorus, and vocal 6cores, and in some instances scenio books, pr«npt books, etc. Thoy wore ottored mthe first instance to the Australian Opera League, and choice was made by it of Verdi's "Aida," Weber's Der Freisohute," Nicolai's "Merry Wives," Weber's "Oberou," and Mozart's "Nozze di Figaro," and "Don tciovanni." A vorv interesting "find" was made by Mr. W. Arundel Orchard in Rossini's "Otcllo." The opera is practically unknown. It first saw tho light at _ Naples in 1816. . Presumably its claims for recognition were lost sight of through, the temporary but emphatic ■.failure/that.'followed, this. production,pi the world, famous "II Barbiere di Sivlg-" ;lia" in Home the same year. Now it comes, before concert 'audiences thyough ;the performance of Ernst's transcription for the violin—a showy setting of its principal theme's, : which was played in Sydney by Misoha Elma.n. Passing of Popular Songs, . ■''. Th,e more popular a song the quicker ' ; it ..disappears/ says Philip Hale in the '.'.'New Alusic Review."' A few weeks ago ■we had great difficulty in ! obtaining copies of "Muldbon, the Solid' Man" and "Wlien Malono'e at the Baok of the Bar." Who ; sings "Jasper" today, except possibly a gramophono? It was, it is, an excellent song. Wlio sings "Abraham" or "Bill Simmonsi"? Even "Waiting for the Kobort E. Lee" is sliding,towards Time's dustbin. The more realistic tho allusions the more pat they are to the life of the moment, the quicker the fall, the deeper the dark-' ness.. But those songs, .full of "the black of the pave, tyres of carts, stuff of boot soles, talk of the promenaders," would be invaluable to any sociologist, fifty years from now, wishing to recon-i stmet the period in which they flourished. ■ , . - Far-fetched, Henry T. Hinolc writes in the New York "Evening Post" that in Stravinsky's opera, "Le Rossignol," there are parts for a real nightingale, sung by a soprano _ voice in' the. orchestra, and an artificial nightingale, which is represented by an artificial bird. In the plot the real nightingale is- a wonderful bird commanded by the Emperor of China to appear at his court. The ' bird comes in duo course, and enraptures to the point of imitation all who hear it by the beauty of its song. Meanwhile the Emperor of Japan sends to-; his brother Emperor an artificial nightingale, Whose song is even of greater splendour than that of the real bird, and the real bird is driven; away to its treo in tho open country. Ultimately ho returns, however, and by means of a bargain with Death he eaves the Emperor of China's life. ■ ' ! ' -——w \ ' A Great Honour. The London Philharmonic Society recently demonstrated its opinion of Mr. Harold.Bauer by presenting him with its famous Beethoven medal, which is recognised both in England and Europe as one of the highest honours that any musician can receive. Only two other pianists have received the medal, viz., ■ Eniil Sauor and Paderowski, and the conferring of the distinction upon Bauer was m'recognition of his power in interpreting- the great masters of music, The medal has interesting historical associations for such a Beethoven enthusiast as Australia's present remarkable visitor. Years ago when Beethoven was composing lus Ninth Symphony, the London Philharmonic, recognising the genius of the man, sent him £100 to tide him over his financial difficulties. Boethovcn gratefully recognised , the gift by handing over his Symphony on its .completion to the society for production, and the society 'commemorated the , event by striking-a gold medal, replicas of which are now in the possession of Bauer, Sauer, and Paderew&ki. Notes! In the New York "Evening Post" of May 30, 1914, there was an anecdote about a horsey chap who never talked, anything but the vernacular of the turf, Ho and his friend attended the opera. "What's the show?" asked the friend. "Great, perfectly great," answered the'horsoy one; "it's 'Pagliaeoi, , with Caruso ivp." The death is recorded of Hen- Ernst Von Sckiich, the renowned Dresden conductor. « i For tlio first time in history an American (tho Boston) opera company is playing grand opera in Paris. Incidentally it might bo mentioned, that the cast , is niatlo up, of foreign names. Tho season is said to havo been a success. ■ "My head's stuffed with cold!" why don't you get "NAZOL"? A few whiffs of this honest specific through a Nazol Inhaler will effect a speedy relief. Iβ. fid, buys 60 doses.—Advt.