MUSIC

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2445, 26 April 1915, Page 9

MUSIC

TBx TsfBLB Cww.l Mr. Baxter Buckley's Raoital. Mr. Baxter Buckley, the giftad pianist, is to give an interesting recital at the Concert Chamber on Tuesday evening next. His programmes are always bright, arresting and original, and on this occasion will not diverge from that role. All pianists will be glad to learn, for example, that Mr. Buckley is to play Chopin's great "Ballade in F Minor," a colossal wor'c which has not been heard in Wellington for years. Then there is the "Cracovienne Fantastique" of Paderewski; the ScarlattiPaderewski "Caprice," a Beethoven "Fantasia" (.Opus 77), the allegro movement from Handel's English suite, the LisSt "Polonaise in E," and examples. by Schumann, Bach, Alkan, Paekulski, BachmaffinofE, and: Percy Pitt. Mr. T, D. Collins will be the vocalist, and Miss Esther Fisher the accompanist. Sousa's Interesting Views. While in Boston recently John Philip Sousa, the "March King,", expressed his views on the influence of bands in war, according to the "Boston Globe" of February 13, 1915, in the following interesting manner "Without the band war will cease. The band is the most romantic element of war and the fact that this has been eliminated by the great developments in waging war in the last few decades is one of the most hopeful signs for world peace.

"War is killing itself. The romance of war is gone; the battle with stirring martial musio leading the soldiers on and the half-torn banner waving in the thickest part of the fight is a thing of the past. Instead we have batteries and detachments of troops miles away shooting frequently at objects or persons whom they cannot see with the naked eye. There is nothing in that but drudgery—no romance, nothing to look forward to. Nowadays a. man can die without glorying himself for his country; in fact, the chances are good that he will.

"You can't make me feel that this rejection of all that is stimulating to the tired human body is not going to show itself in the long run in decreased efficiency and a general disgust of the people of the earth for war. "These great fighting machines that we have heard 6o much about are too rigid; they do not take into account the true nature of man.

"When 1 I was at the head of the TTnited States Marine Band in Washington for over ten years, I had an excellent opportunity to observe the stimulating effect of martial musio on tired men. We frequently had very long marches; sometimes we would be on our feet all day. For example, when President Garfield was buried we were marching about ten hours, and I noticed that when the fellows were getting near tho end, all fagged out, and we started up a lively, tuneful march, you could see them hraco right up. They were new men.

"The same , thing is true in war, I believe, and a man has got to have more than a smoke in the trenches to reinvigorate him and strengthen his courage. Without the band, war machines are going to decay." In Explanation. Four Hand Playing.—Generally a test of strength^ Accompaniment.—Piano solo with vocal obligato. Ad Libitum.—Often interpreted to play as many wrong notes as you please. Layman.—Ono who buys . concert tickets. Musician.—One who"'does not. Bass Singer.—Often'' 1 a' • misprint; should read base singer. Notes.

Would it nbt be timely for pianists to revive Schumann's "La Contrar bandista" just now? —The time is ripe for a revival of this fragment of German music.

Debussy has written a "Berceuse Heroique."_ This is like soothing a baby to_sleep -with a Salvation Army band.