MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2337, 19 December 1914, Page 11

MUSIC.

TEx TbsM/E Clem An Exposition Eisteddfod. It is announced that fully two dozen cities will be represented by_ great choral and other musical organisations at the Eisteddfod contests at the Pan-ama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco during the last week ia July, next year. Of these- contests, tho most important will be the chief choral competition for mixed choruses numbering not less than IL'5 nor more than 150 voices, \ho three prizes offered being respectively 10,000 dollars, 2000 dollars, and 500 dollars. For mixed choir work, fifty to sixty voices, the prizes are 1000 dollars and 250 dollars. Prizes offered in the ladies' choral com-

petitions; fifty to sixty voices, are 1000 dollars and 500 dollars. In the male choral contests with the same numbers, 3000 dollars and 750 dollars; and for children under sixteen, number forty to fifty voices, the prizes are 250 dollars, 150 dollars, and 100 dollars. Says John Philip Sousa. "We are going to judge music by its own worth; we are getting the courage to say that the symphony can be ■ most uninteresting and a march electrifying. We are beginning to understand that quality is of a greater value than quantity. "I am constrained to believe that the

most devout lovers of music, pure and simple, are to be found in England, and it is not difficult to discover the reason. They, the English, have been nursed and cradled with the Oratorio, Cantata, and the Fugue, and have imbibed a love of musio in its highest and purest form." A National School. In the course of an article in ."The Etude" entitled "The To-morrow of American Music," John Philip Sousa, the bandmaster-composer, says:— "What could be more foolish than the idea that in order to be great we must have a national American school? Strictly speaking, there is •no such thing as a national school in any country. There is national imitation. That is, where ninety-nine writers imitate the efforts of one original composer. Some composers have woven the imitative folk songs' of a country- into their music, but that does not make a national school. I know a clever English composer who wrote a plantation piece which made a great success. Its title tvas "Down South," but I am sure that if he were asked where "Down Suoth" was he might say, "Why, up round about Boston, isn't it ?• "If you insist on having a national school, please tell me what is the national school of France? Is it Gounod or Debussy? It would be difficult to think of anything music further apart than Debussy-and Gounod. What is the national'school of Germany? Is it represented by Abtj or Wagner, or Bach or Schoeuberg ? Some of the European nations have a well-nigh limitless treasury of characteristic folk melodies. Russia, Spain, -Hungary ,■ Bohemia, Norivay—all are bountifully supplied with tunes which are 'sung, by the people. But because a composer happens to be ,born.in;Nqrway does not imply that he must? perforce" be confined to imitating Norwegian tunes."

Beethoven, for Christmas..;; It is very rare indeed that tho public are given the opportunity of hearing the great classical Masses sung in Roman Catholic churches. In former years there was more incentive to do the big Masses, and many laudable attempts were made to dress the services with tho inspired music of the great masters. Lately, however, that cannot be said to have been the case. There is, however, a notable' exception. Under the baton of Mr. Bernard F. Page (the City Organist) tho shrdlu cmfwy cmfwy cmfwy cmfw cwyp choir of St. Joseph's Church has now become a compact and capable body of enthusiasts. To show what this means the choir is to sing Beethoven's Mass in C on Christmas morning. "Messiah" on Christmas Night. Those who are at a loss what to do on Christmas night and believe in oratoria as an aiof to digestion, might bear in mind the fact that the Royal Choral Society intend to repeat "The Messiah" that evening in aid of one of the war distress funds. It is not often that we get a chance to hear a britone .capable of giving such free expression to Handel's rolling periods as Mr. Peter Dawson; and Miss Mina Caldow's work is always good, .and the chorus is' well up 'to its work. "The Messiah", is an uplifting Christmas diversion, and the performance should be well attended. i. Cherublnl and Cesar Franok. An Eton College boy once said of Dr. Temple, headmaster of Eton and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, "He's a beast; but a just beast," and the saying might'hold good of Cherubim! Perhaps the Paris Conservatory never produced a more "brilliant group musicians than during the long period that Cherubini was at its head —and none greater than Cesar Franck —but ho was a great disciplinarian. It is well known, of course, that he refused Liszt as a pupil because he was "too young." The following incident related by Vincent d'lndy in his life of Cesar Franck gives a further proof of Cherubini's rigid regard for rules:— "The competition for pianoforte in 1888 gave nso to a singular incident which is worth relating. - After having played the work selected—Hummel'6 A minor concerto —in excellent, style, young Franck took it into his head, when it came to the sight-reading test,, to transpose the piece that was put before'him to the third below, playing it off without tho least slip or hesitation. Such exploits were not within the_ rules of the competition, and this audacity on the part of a pupil of fifteen and a half so shocked old Cherubini. then Director of the Conservatoire, that he stoutly deolined to award a first prize to the lad, although he deserved it. "But in > spite of' his red-tapism and dictatorial-methods, the composer of Lbdoiska was not really unjust, and proposed to the; jury to recommend the audacious pianist for a special reward, outside all competition, and known by the high-sounding title of 'Grand Prix l'Honneur.' This is tho only time, to my knowledge, that such a prize has been given at any instrumental competition in the Paris Conservatoire."

Patti's recent concert at Albert Hall, London, for the benefit of the Red Cross,' resulted in large receipts and a wonderful tribute of affection for the singer on tho part of tho huge audience. Both tho King and Queen were present and joined in tho demonstration.

The great choral festivals which usually "tako place about this timo of tho year in Eugland havo all been abandoned owing to the war. It scenis likely also that Beecham's season of opera at Covont Garden wiU'be given up. Nevertheless, there aro many signs of musical activity emanating from the British capital and other English musical centres.