A NEW ZEALAND COMPOSER.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2309, 17 November 1914, Page 8

A NEW ZEALAND COMPOSER.

MR. ARTHUR. ALEXANDER,

o* Mr - Arthur Alexander, formerly of at. Glair, Dunedin, -has recently been on a' visit to his relatives, ' after studying music for about eight years in England. The career of the young Now Zealander in, the Old Country has been a surprisingly successful one. -At tho lloya] Academy ho won, amongst other awards, the gold medai, the Sterndale Bennett scholarship for composition, tlie club prize for sight-reading, the Westlake prize for Beethoven playing, the Chappell medal, ana the Macfarron. nic'dal for pianoforte playing, andtlm Dove prize for general excellence. At the conclusion of his studies' the iissociateship of the institution was conferred on him. During the last year of his studentship he was a sub professor, at the Eoyal Academy, and is now a professor at Matthay's famous Piano School in London., His music library is considered to be one of the largest in England, especially as regards modern works. He has gained considerable recognition as a composer, has given concerts in London, Berlin, and Vienna, and had been arranging for a visit to Eussia when the war broke out. • ' ' .

In the opinion of Mr. Alexander, there are composers in England at the present time equal to any in the world, but it seems to be their fate not to come into their own until they die. Among, these be mentions the names of Arnold Bax and Benjamin Dale, who are not the vogue that.they will be in years to come. English composers, it appears, are not. wanted, and in England the English music comes last. Perhaps tho composers themselves have been in a measure to blamo for this tTiinks Mr. Alexander. Formerly much of their music was gloomy and depressing, but now they are getting out of. that style. The great public in England, however, will not go to hear music unless it be given by a great singer or a distinguished player. It is the artist they go for, not the music, and a singer is more of a draw than a player. It would be splendid to find the people going to hear new music in the hope of discovering; something good, and,then enjoying it for the value, irrespective of names. If such were the custom, English, composers would (in the opinion of Mr. Alexander) spgn take their rightful place. A cheerful sign is that the good ■ promenade concerts are doing well, and an encouraging sign of a revival in chamber music : is to be found in the formation by native players of many excellent quartet parties, well qualified to. take their place by the side of the more famous Continental combinations. Again,, the standard of ; piano-playing is higher in London than anywhere else, and that must have an influence in the long run. Then jt is an undoubted fact that England is full of talent, and when : the day comes for the picture show to lose its hold, and the people look about for something .to take its place, they may patronise music, arid thus make amends for years of neglect. ' ■