MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2612, 6 November 1915, Page 9

MUSIC.

IBY TEEBM Cli M.l

Miss Mary Law. It is not very often that a vaudeville artist is tailed upon to assist at a symphony orchestral concort, yet that was the case recently, when tho services of Miss Marj- Law, an English violinist performing at tho Tivoli Theatre, was summoned to play as soloist with tho Sydney Symphony Orchestra, which she did by tho kind permission of Mr. Hugh J. M'lntosh. This is what tho "Sun" has to say about her appearanco under Mr. Slapoffski's baton:—

"Matters of tho greatest joy to the big audience yesterday at tho concert of tho Symphony Orchestra in the Confl jrvatorium Hall were Miss Maiy Law and her playiug. Tho gifted violinist now appearing at the Tivoli was, by permission of Mr. M'lntosh, enabled to display her fine artistry to tho best advantago in conjunction with tho orchestra in a performance of SaintSaeus's Andante and Rondo Capriccio, erroneously quoted on the programme as from a violin concerto. The young artist fully earned the big ovation accorded her for a performance characterised by grace of style, perfect intonation, and clarity of execution. Added to these qualities was her temperamental reading, which resulted in a full realisation of the intentions of tho composer, and of Jho true eaprico characteristics of tho work. Throughout ' her playing tho tone production on her valuable Strad was sweet and mellow. The orchestra, under Mr. Slapoffski provided the soloist with an acceptably toned accompaniment. Somo beautiful flowers were presented to tho violinist. and tho. enthusiasm led to four recalls." A Retrograde Step. Both in military and band, circles (says the "Sydney Morning Herald") tho enforced retirement of Captain W. G. Bontley, A:11.C.M., from the position of Brigade Bandmaster of tho N.S.W. Military Forces is keenly regretted. Not only so, but we understand that the military authorities of this State, fully cognisant of Captain Bentley's value,, havo protested against his dismissal. The official notification was published in the Commonwealth "Government Gazette" of last- week, and is due to tho decision of the Federal Minister of Defence, "that there is no necessity for the position." This dictum will be widely questioned. During the fourteen years since Captain Bentley succeeded tho late Mr. Hutchinson at a salary of but £50 a year, out of which tho holder finds his uniforms and most of his travelling oxpeuses, he has done a vast deal to raise the musical status and efficiency of local bandmasters. The number of hands in the State has increased from ten to twenty-four, ten more are in process of organisation, and every bandmaster is now required to_ undergo examination, the papers being prepared and marked by Captain Bentley, whilst all the bands are periodically reported on by him. In the same way, he requires all . buglers and trumpeters _to reach a certain standard before being classed as efficient. Captain Bent-ley's ideas are largely due to his studentresidenco at Kneller Hall, England's Royal Military School of Music. Descended from a military stock, he starti>rl 'his career as violin and viola player with tho Corps of Royal Engineers at headquarters (Chatham), was for three years prinoipal clarionet at tho Royal Court Theatre (London), and then qualified for the severe entrauco examination at Kneller Hall. He passed out as solo clarionet with tho Coldstream Guards, and .during his stay with that famous. regiment He studied for three years at tho 1 Royal t College of Music.Ho w;as tho first military student to secure the associateship, and was duly congratulated upon the fact upon, presenting himself in uniform before King Edward (then Prince of Wales) at Marlborough House. He' was then, for a number of. years bandjnaster of tho. Ist West Yorks Regiment, leaving it 17 years ago, whilst stationed at Singapore, for Sydney. Bandmasters of tho British Army, previously rankod as warrant officers, were granted commissions in 1887, when Mr. Dan Godfrey was promoted 2nd lieutenant; and in 1914 a new army order provided that "a bandmaster under 'the age of 55 may be granted a commission as director of music, with the honorary rank of lien-, tenant," the new title replacing that of bandmaster. However, the first bandmaster to break the ice of promotion as captain was' Mr. Bentley. As brigade bandmaster in New South Wales his duties have obliged him to organise and conduct the musical portion of all reviews, and other important functions, including sacli great ceremonial events as the memorial service in the Centennial Park fur the late King Edward, the reception of the American Fleet, and tho recent marches-past of the departs ing expeditionary forces. The retirement of such a capable officcr will deprive tho military bands of the expert ,superintendenpe which has proved so beneficial in the past, .and from an art standpoint is a lamentably retrograde step. An Injured Innocent. Probably the most amusing, and at the same time instructive, letter to those interested in musio was "Injured Innocent's" wail against the mild criticism offered in The Dominion of the orchestral work in "Elijah." He speaks of "the usual proceeding (which has from long uso become a habit) of abusing the orchestra," and in tho next breath says that he did not urge that the orchestra merited any praise. Finally, to crown all, lie. endorses in a particularly comprehensive manner all tho criticism that has been offered, by stating that tho whole cause of the troublo is insufficient rehearsal. Exactly! And because the orchestra has been insufficiently rehearsed (which tho critic cannot bo expected to know), there is to be no "slighting criticism." The worst judges of the effect an orchestra is creating are the players themselves. Their attention must he wholly taken up with their work; otherwise they are not,playing honestly. To conclude, it would bo interesting to know , if "Injured Innocent" attended all the rehearsals called, and does ho play for a fee or for tho love of the thing. If he and other members of tho orchestra are professionals iu tho sense that tlie.y accept fees, surely they should be criticised when their playing is not what it might bo. As a matter of fact, the Press of this country make far too many concessions to incompetence and slovenliness in matters musical,- as witness t'he hyberbolic language used so frequently in, referring to singers and players, whose standard of musical culture is quite well known to bo a modest one. "Injured Innocent" (save tho mark!) cries aloud: "Conj done! AVe are playing badly, but it is all through lack of rehearsal, so don't say anything about it!" Why?

"Tho Kaiser Hate" is the title of a song which has been written by Mr. W. W. lioycs, and composed by Mr. Harry liiscooks, organist of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland. The lyrics are couched in a spirit of friendly de- ' fiance to the lvaiser, forceful and wholesome, and tho melody (written in the key of-C) goes with a good swing. At Tuesday's rehearsal of tho Royal Choral Society Mr. Bernard Page gave mild amusement to a few of tho chorus by attempting to criticise tho Press notices of "Elijah." Ho omitted, however, to mention who was responsible for tho egregious blunder at the opening of "0 llest in tho Lord," and also who was made to appear respon"i