' MAKING A MUSICAL NATION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2522, 24 July 1915, Page 11

' MAKING A MUSICAL NATION

■''•\ ■ _ * . Madame Lilli Lehmann formulates some interesting views upon the making of a musical nation. The great operatic artist was speaking to an American au- ■'. dience, but nor remarks are worthy of consideration by ourselves, seeing it we develop our .musical talent as quickly as wo are developing as a nation there is no telling what may be the result in another decade. "Music in the homo" is what Madame Lehmann emphasises as the foundation of a great singing nation. She would say that we list-en too ' much and sing too little. ■ Wo pay enormous sums, to bring the greatest singers to our . land, that ;, we may'.listen - to • beautiful and perfect singing; but we do ■ not sing for ourselves in the home or family life. "Mark; my. words/' says the artist, "it is this family singing that makes a great musical nation—music in the home!" Alluding to Franco and Germany, she says: "Good musio ; is a part of ordinary homespun education, a part of the daily life of tlie men and .women of the family." What' we need (says Madame Lehmann) is to criticise each other, they do not stop to wonder if they have fine voices, neither do they compare their efforts with those of the . great artists they have heard. . . They sing as the birds sing, because they love it, and it is their habit. But you people I 'Ambition.is-so apt to lead astray! . If a girl sings she-at once dreams of the stage or concert-room. To sing night after night ,in tho homo just fo/ the sheer love of singing—how'she scoffs at the mere suggestion!" Sing everything, says Madame Lehmann; sing from the light, pleasing little operas of the day; sing ballads and songs of every description, as well as the arias from the grandest works. One is inclined to. rc-echo ■with enthusiasm the great artist's remarks; Only one would not recommend . the-great operatic arias, which the family gatherings abroad also join in,, according to this artist. It is difficult to realise "tho grev-haired father, the flaxen-haired littlo sister, the boys, and the mother" joining in, let us say, .the "Jewel-Song" from "Faust"; Isolde's"Liebestod," or ,"Caro Nome." It calls up an appalling picture of musical catas.trophes that language fails to express. "Such ambitious, attempts are beyond even Australians, and one is inclined to believe Madame Lehmann has/been misreported on this point. Happily, without these great arias, it ; is possible to obtain familiarity in tlie home with the best of music and foster a genuine love for the same.—Sydiiey "Telegraph."

Our Greytown correspondent writes that a ball, in aid of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund was held in the Town Hall, Greytown, on Thursday evening.. Between two aud three hundred people .were present, including a fiuJnber of men from • the_ Tauherinikau Camp. During the evening the members of the Forresters Lodge presented Brother E. Skeet, who has joined the - Expeditionary Force, with a gold wristlet watch.' Tho sum of £31 was taken at the door, avid dancing was kept up till a late hour, the music being, supplied by'the Maguire - Orchestra. Supper was provided by. tho ladies.

Our Napier correspondent writes that a quiet wedding took place at Hastings oh Thursday, \Vhon Miss Mayse M'lvor, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James M'lvor, of Hastings, was married to Mr. Ralph Halliburton, of Norsewood.;:

It-is hoped that a large Dumber of' housewives will attend the cookery demonstration by Miss Rennie at the iY.W.C.A;, -Fowlds's Buildings, Herbert Street,- this afternoon, at 3 p.m., when it.will be an appetising and nutritious dinner can be procured for. less than'tenpence, thus proving that .economy is an art. -

■ Miss Rattray, who came, to Wellington to 6ee her sister away by the Hospital Ship lias returned to Dunedin.

ljiss M. Young, who has been the guest of Mrs. J. . Myers, returns- to Masterton to-day.

Miss J. J. Shearer, a; member of the Karori Golf Club", is the winner of the Dominion, golf match promoted by Messrs. Douglas and Watt for the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. Miss Shearer's gross scorb was 102, her handicap 39. and her net score 63, which, is 10 below par. This is only, Miss Shearer's second year as a player,-'so that"her achievement in this Dominion match is very much to her credit.

The latest military Bong "The Soldier" is having a vogue in Wellington. The/song, which has a'swinging march lilt-and jingling lines, was 'composed by Mr. A. Light, an old Wellington ■ boy, who was conncctcd with the piano businoss here for many years, and the arrangement was scored by . Mr. R. : Leslie Jones. "The Soldier" is the song that was so successfully sung by a team of Trentham boys at the "Queen Coronation" ceremonies, and was played by Jupp's Band in the historical procession that 'marked the home-coming 'of the first of our wounded. '