MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2606, 30 October 1915, Page 9

MUSIC.

TBr Tbeblb Cr.sr.l

Professional Orchestra's Concert. An especially attractive programme has been arranged for th e Wellington I tofossional Orchestra's concert to-mor-row (Sunday) ovening. Chief among the numbers to bo played is tliat deeply impressive symphonic poem "Finlaudia," by Sibelius, which so faithfully reflects tho national spirit of Finland. Then as novolties will bo played' tho picturesque ''Norwegian Carnival" of Svendson, and t,he Triumphal March from Grieg's "Sigurd Jorsalfar" (presented to the orchestra by Mr. Walter Fuller), and in lighter mood the en'tracho "La Mariposa" (Diaz), Gillet's delicate "Lion du Eal," and an idyll "Dawn," by Matt. The final (extra) concert of the season will be given on November 14. As these will probably bo the two last concerts to bo conducted by Mr. Herbert Blny. prior to his departure from Wellington, there should be crowded audienoes. The Harpist. "When she plays—her hands enchanted Like magians from eome realm dreamhaunted Weave wondrous spells! From tho silent, slender strings The harmony her light touch brings A story tells! When she plays—a sweet spell-binder, Leaving grief and woe behind her, " She makes a world! All its air is music's sweetness. ■ Its very life is soul-completeness. A Heaven, unfurled! ' Munitions and Music. . ' - It will be remembered that it was rumoured some time ago that the engraved plates of German music printers had been commandeered, in order to be melted down, into bullets. That this was more than rumour, which for once l>roved better than a lying jade, was also known later. Mr. Algernon Ashton has had to bewail the loss of his plates printed at Leipeic, and several British firms who sent their music to be. engraved abroad have lost their stock, and are now busily,engaged in getting them reproduced—this time, we are glad, to say, at the hands of their own. countrymen.

•We were all inclined to laugh at the straits our enemy were in, in having to convert music into bullets, but in this respect we were, perhaps, ill-ad-vised, for something' of the same kind of thing is taking place in this country. We are not, it is truo, destroying goods, or converting what oxisted into material other than what was intended. But it appears that several gramophone companies have been visited by. the Government with the object of turning their factories temporarily and in part •to the uses of war. Their disc making machinery seems to be oxtronielysuited to the manufacture of shells, and. thus these firms are adding the making of munitions to their wonted trade./ It is said that one firm is turning '-utS about 3000 shells a day. It says much for the capacity for work that these t'rms do not _ appear to show any great falling oft in the manufacture of talking machines at the same time. For not only does tho ordinary trade appear normal, but there has been a great increase.in the output, owing to tho enormous number of gramophones and discs sent out to cheer our men at the front. Thus, tho .manufacturers have shown a pleasing versatility. They are, at one and tho same time, sanding out r (ichines to cheer the brains of our soldier lads, and others to shatter those of our (pernios. Which, when one comes to think of it, is just what-is-required in these terrible times. —London "Musical News.". 1

A New Invention, A century ago Maotzel, of Paris, invented tho metronome, _ by means of which oomposers could indicate - exactly the speed of their compositions. The metronome, however, has been far more extensively used by pupils learning to play in. strict, time than by composers. To-day we, have a new invention,' the Rhythmiljon, a meohanical device, a sort of developed metronome, .which sounds not only the regular beats like the familiar metronome, but which also can be made to sound the beats of any passage in any rhythm. Instead of giving the main divisions of the measure like the metronome' and. leaving the pupil the task of fitting in the notes between these beats, tho Bhythmikon will play evory note. It will play the passage a thousand times if necessary "jmtil the rhythm is so dinned into the pupil's ear that by no possible chance can ho go wrong again in that particular passage. . If there are teachers who believe in making the pupil learn the rhythm without mechanical help we find no fault with them. Our object is not to teach at present, tat to caE attention to the growing importance of rhythmical in-' structiqn. ] The Rhythniikon is not a revolution in the art of teaching. It is merely a clover mechanical device resulting from the modern importance of rhythm in the teaching of music. It is not a dam across tho stream of progress or a new oanal. ■On the contrary, its usefulness consists in being a,convenient boat in whioh great numbers of music students may float comfortably down, stream.

Extremes Meet, Miss Marie Baton's dramatic bubbleover in the final act of "High Jinks" shows that when the light musical play magnetised her attention the drama lost a fine leading woman.' Miss Eaton is not funny, but her vim and energy measure several hundred horse-power. Her voice is strong and strident, and what she may lack in charm she makes Tip in "go." Miss Baton and Miss Dorothy Brunton represent opposite poles in light comedy work. The one is all breeze, bustle, and bang, whilst the latter is of the cloysome, sweet, clinging ivy type, who would be thoroughly miserable if she were not kissed and cuddled by every male character in the piece. Fortunately the authors have arranged that for Miss Brunton, so all is well. Miss Eaton has that dash and elan -which is almost essential in a pantomime "boy," and she can infuse the proper spirit into patriotic jingo songs. Now one could never imagine Miss Brunton in such a. role. She has all the soft, woolly coyness of a pet lamb, and, lamb-like, is awfully fond of tho charming widow of the late lamented John Brunton, who painted stage pictures which older playgoers still remember. Notes.

Mr. Paul Dufault and Miss Felico Lyno liave been giving recitals in costume in Amorica. What an j.ttraction they would' bo in this part of tHo -world. Wagner is one opera composer who cannot be accused of ever having achieved a permanent failure with any of his works. From. "Rienzi" to Parsifal 1 ' all ot them are 111 the repertoire today. That is more than can be said for even the great Verdi and Moaart. — "Musical Courier." Mr. C. H. Workman, the ex-Savoy-ard, who has had fifteen years' experience in London, states that the "High Jinks" Company is tlie best all-round company ho lias ever been associated with in his experience. Undoubtedly it is a fino'compnny, but what's the matter with London?