MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2576, 25 September 1915, Page 3

MUSIC.

... fßr Tbeble Clst.l Mr. Baxter Buckley's Farewell. Mr. Baxter Buckley, one of New Zealand's .ablest and most ambitious pianists, is leaving Wellington for England on'October.2i, his intention being to prosecute his studies under, the best masters. To that end he has already mado arrangements by mail to take a course of lessons from Ferrucjo Busoni, tho world's most brilliant pianist, who will take up his residence in London during the approaching English winter. It was also in Mr. Buckley's mind to tako a course of interpretive instruction in Russian music under M. Sapellnikoff, tho talented pianist and composer, but ho is afraid that tho war has interfered with' that musician's movements. Music-lovers aro to bo afforded anopportunity of hearing ■ Mr./ Buckley, play before he leaves. A recital is being arranged for October 15, when Mr. Buckloy will play 'compositions by Beethoven, Chopin, Gliere, Scarlatti, and the M'Dowell "Polonaise."- He deserves: well of the public.

John.M'Cormack. John M'Cormack, it is claimed, has had the most, profitable tour oil record in America; Since his last season opened, October-23, he has given ninety concerts in twenty-seven States and three Canadian provinces, and in that time he has travelled more than 30,000 miles and sung 1900 songs and arias. According' to Mr. M'Cormack's manager, Charles L. Wagner, the gross receipts of this tour-. have ; been some 375,000 dollars.' When'the tenor first came to America at the age of twenty years, he sang- in the little Irish village at the 1 St.: Louis Exposition at 48 dollars a ' week. Last season his income in toto lias been stated to approach .250,000 dollars.' This includes his income not only from his operatic and concert work, but from the royalties from his talking-machine records. • Mr. -M'Cormack celebrated his. thirty* first birthday, June' 16,- at. his country home, Tokeneka Park, near Stamford, Conn., where, with,'his wife and children, he is spending the summer.' Liszt and the Women, Much : has also been written -on this subject, but the following episode illustrates to what extreme measures some of Liszt's feminine, admirers went in endeavouring to arouse his interest and secure his affection. Count Zichy in his memoirs wrote: — '••

"At that time an exotic lady entered the . circle of Liszt's .. admirers. She travelled wiMi a small tnink, which contained tiny flasks of all kinds of liquors. She was not noteworthy for'beauty,'' but she possessed a brilliant mentality and was enterprising to tie point of rashness. She,' too, caught: Liszt in. her net, but only for a brief period, and when lie ceased his attentions she played the following comedy: One morning on entering -Liszt's apartment I found liim reading-with; the greatest excitement a letter with heavy black border. It was brief and contained only the following words: 7 / " Beloved .Murderer: - ' V '"Come to my hotel and gloat over tho sight of. dead body: : " 'Yoiir iinlianriv. " 'N.N.'' . " 'Slio has killed herself,' cried Liszt, pacing back and forward. 'Sbo* is capable '.of;it.. You will see,We /will ' find a corpse.' . So spoke this' ' incomparably kind-hearted man. I; .'however, laughed aloud,' and replied.: 'You will find a grand comedy. I beg you to let me go alone, and I promise you to give you a true account of what I found. Liszt agreed,- and I went-alone to the hotel. When I entered the apartment of the lady I found mysterious darkness; On a small table a little red lamp was burn-

ing, which lighted up a large bottle, on which there was a grinning skull and tho words: 'Wural, Poison, which .is deadly.' Upon the bed lay'the lady herself, clad in a white lace garment, from which, long black ribbons hung to the floor, while on her head was a wreath of white roses. I sat down at the foot of the bed, and said quietly: 'Master Liszt sends mo to inquire afier your health, and it is with joy that I see you are perfectly well, and that you aro playing a very poetic comedy.' At this the dead woman sat up in bed so energetically that her wreath fell from her bead. 'Infamy, infamy,' she gasped. 'Liszt will neither receivo you nor visit you,' I continued, 'and I advise you to leave tho town.' And this she did the same evening."

Notes. "Happiness" is the title of a new waltz which has been composed by Miss Mona Moore aiid published by the Bristol Piano Company. The composition is simple, bright, and tuneful, and is worthy of the notice of younger players.