MUSIC

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2994, 3 February 1917, Page 13

MUSIC

(By "Treble-Clef")

The orchestral Organ. " I visited the Empress Theatre the other evening, and was delighted to hear the expressive use that is being niade of the .orchestral organ, which lias heen established there by Mr. Crome. When 1 last heard the organ it was being mechanically played, and the manipulator was "letting all split, 1 ' opening up the whole box of mechanical tricks at once, until if sounded like 9 o'clock on Christmas Eve. The tone, too, appeared to be raucus and tiring. What a change, however, is affected by Mr. Crome. As a rule he keeps the instrument well down, and with considerable art gives' just the necessary musical backing that does not distract, from the picture, hlit is part of it. It .was something of Mendelssohn's that he was playing when. I was there, very softly played, with the air given out by the vox humana stop (with tremolo). There 'are also a range of flute and clarionet stops that are used most effectively on occasions. The organists toueii is suave and sure, .-ind his registrations were nicely varied and always changed' without awkward: intervals. When Mr. Harold Gregson, the Auckland organist, returned from America, he was enthusiastic over'the orchestral organs which had been estabjfehed in the big picture theatres there. I was inclined to.he a little sceptical at the time, having the mechanical side of the instrument uppermost in my mind. That Mr. Gregson was :right in regarding the instrument as one possible of creating very beautiful effects, most people will readily admit who visit'the Empress Theatre. The Retort Pugnacious. Most of us have heard of the '-'Hymn of Hate," and of how the British and French troops quickly learned it', and then astonished the Germans by yelling it triumphantly back to them across the waste land between. At a well-known and popular seaside resort the other day (says • the London "Chronicle") the baud was asked, as a favour, to play it to the audience, who were anxious to know what it was like. The band very amiably complied, and at the finish a notice was put up bearing the words, "Our Iteply ; ' Everybody, naturally enough, p;ot ready to stand lip, expecting to Hear the /National Anthem, but were astonished and amused when the band began to play softly and tenderly "Two Lovely Black Eyes." Notes. M.'Jean Laorte and Madamo 'Alverna, who have been performing with Fullers in Auckland, are Mr. and- Mrs. Wielaert who were established in Auckland as teachers of the pianoforte and singing. Madame Wielaert has appeared in Wellington on several occasions with the Royal Choral Society and Mr. Wielaort has been heard as an accompanist. "A fino business firm, said M. Laertc, referring to the Fullers, "thev know what they want, and can discriminate for all tastes. Vaudeville opens up an independent life, and wc are both thoroughly enjoying our now experience. The great essential is to keep fit, but we have coroo through the ordeal on the other side of two shows a day with the thermometer 101 in llio I shade, and can stiltToel bouyant."