MUSIC

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2976, 13 January 1917, Page 13

MUSIC

0 [By "TreT>le-Clef.") Ohcrniavskis Coming Back. The many friends of Leo, Jan, 'and , Mischel Cherniavski, tho celebrated Kfussian violinist,, pianist, and 'cellist, will learn with-pleasure the news that they are to return to the Doniiniou early in April next. They aro hero to mako some important reinvestments in property, and during their short stay will give a limited, number of concerts. Since their visit two years ago they have given concerts in all the cities and larger towns of Canada, and aro at present playing in the large musical centres of the "United States. Paul Dufault's Intentions. Paul Dufault' leaves Sydney next week for' Java and the Orient. He informed tho writer that he did not intend to make a very comprehensive tour on. this occasion, but had a. notion of touching the "high spots" with a view of breaking new giound for future tours. In this resolve lie was strengthened by a letter from his American manager, who wrote him that tho American' market was flooded with European concert artists, ousted: from their countries by war conditions, '-who wero struggling for an existence, and in many instances failing to nis,ke ends meet through their art . This wits, owing to the glut of artists, and tho V very high cost of living in New York and other American centros compared to -what it was\ in pre-war times in Europe. As tho prospect seemed to ho gloomy, this idea of exploiting tho East was a welcome one. Mr. Dufault will visit Sourabaya, Batavia, Singapore, ITong-Kong, Shanghai, Yokohama, Nagasaki, and Manila, returning to San Francisco about tho middle of April. With him go Mr. and Mrs. Fred Shimnan (managers), Miss Paulino Bindley (soprano), and Mr. Ampson,, of Chri&tciuirch (pianoforte soloist and accompanist). It is understood that Mr. Harold Whittle, late accompanist to Mr. Dufault, is to teach in Wellington. ■ Women In Orchestras. One sphere of activity for women which has been opened by the war is tho theatro orchestra. At ono time it was something to remark upon to see ladies playing in the orchestra, but now in England there arc more women than men employed in tho theatres. So far they .have not supplanted the men in the symphony orchestras, and 1 it is doubtful if a sufficiently largo j number of finished players could he • got together from the weaker sex to roplaco tho fine players in such orchestras as tho London Symphony and Queen's Hall orchestras, oven if only tho string section wero under discussion. Women have nor tho same stamina as men to give the sustained strength of tone required! in the 'cello and double hass section, and they aro not likely to supersede men as players of bass and wood-wind instruments. Hero and there one lights upon lady flautists and cornetists, but not in sufficient numbers to fill the orchestras of all the theatres. When in Wellington recently Mr. Allan Hamilton was speaking of tho way theatro musicians wero "fouling their 'own nests," as instanced by tho demands made for big money which had brought ahout the introduction of tho orchestral organ into the picture theatres. When ho was in London a few weeks ago the orchestra of Moss and .Stall's Empire Theatre struck for more pay, whereupon Mr. Stoll emptied them all out and installed a ladies' orchestra. . This action caused a strike of orchestral players throughout the Moss and Stoll, vaudeville circuit',; in England and Scotland, and in each case a ladies' orchestra was installed 1 , and gavo every satisfaction. Does IVlusic Really Affect the Hair? M. Henri de Parville has been considering, after a semi-humorous fashion, the connection of the hair with the practice of tho 'musical art. M. de Parvillo's line of reasoning is that, as music exercises a manifest action upon tho nervous system, which itself also affects tho nutrition of the bodily tissues, it seems reasonable to conclude that, ill a general way, music has an influence upon the physiological individuality. The proportion of bald persons is, lie says, 11 per cent, for tho liberal professions, though English doctors appear to hold the record for baldness -with tho high figure of 30 per cent. However, it is musicians whom he has especially dealt with; they also are bald in tho proportion of 11 per cent., but among instrumentalists the influence of musical vibrations make themselves felt in two opposite directions, according to tho class of instrument. Thus, while string instruments prevent and arrest the falling off of the hair, tho brass instruments exercise the most deadly influence upon the scalp. The piano and the violin, especially the former, have an -undeniably preservative cffoct. » All male pianists, says M. do Parville, have an. Ysaye-likc head of hair. The violincollo, the harp, and: the double bass all partake of the beneficial .effects of the piano; tho oboo is inferior to the double bass, While the clarinet and tho flute have but a very slender effect, and towards one's fiftieth year tho hair begins to thin very perceptibly. On the other hand, tho effect of the brass is deplorable. The comet and tho horn despoil the most hirsute man of his locks with surprising speed and certainty. Tho trombone is the most deleterious of all, for in five or six years the player has lost at least 60 per cent, of his hair, a very nine calculation, on which we congratulate Ml. de Parville. This disagreeable result is known as "Fanfare Baldness," because tho ovil particularly punishos regimental musicians—"Musical News" (London, Eng- ■ •