N.S.W. STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 98, 20 January 1920, Page 3

N.S.W. STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

pThe New Soutlv Wales Stata Symphony orchestra )iad its birth iw a symphony orchestra in Sydney early last year, find this accomplishment is the natural outcome of tho wonderful progress which haa been made in music in Sydney since Jifr. Henri Yerbrugghen came to that place. Previously, there ! had lieen a smaller orchestra attaclied to tho Conscrvatoriura of llusic, of which, Jlr. Henri Vcrbrugghon. k the director, and this orchestra had for somo time been the source of great enjoyment to tho musical public of Sydney; but Mr. Vorbrugghen had a vision of greater thinjs to be accomplished, and his ambition was to have a complete symphony orchestra which would favourably compare with Me leading orchestras of England and America, and by bi.s strong personality imd business acumen, in addition to his high inusicianly qualities, he was nolo to obtain the support of the New South AVales State Government, and guarantee, to the extent of .£12,000 per annum, In provide the orchestra, under 'his schemo. On tho professional staff of the Connervatorium arc some wonderfully fine instrumentalists, somo of which "had been brought out from Englnnd by Mr. Verbnigghen, and it was then tho leader's privilege and business to ci>g,ago the necessary remaining instrumentalists re-quired,-and on account of the more congenial task of playing the great masters under Mr. Verbrugghen, tliero was little difficulty in securing the hest professional instrumentalists in Sydney, and somo from Melbourne, and the foregoing, along with certain of the advanced students from tho Conservatorium. constitute the orchestra, which it will soon be the privilege of the Wellington public (n hear.

The following sketch of Mr. Vorbrugghen's musical history will be of interest:—Henri Verbrugglieii, the only child of a Belgian merchant, was horn at Brussels in 1373. His early training was undertaken by His mother,' a lady Tlioso devotion to Beethoven and avlkiro chann and personality attracted to the home the lovers of chamber music, n branch whose study her son 'has novor ceased to pursue ardently. Despite the success of his first public nppearanfo as a violinist, when eight years of age, it was intended that ho should adopt medioino its a profession. However, on the advice of Joseph Wieninwslii and M. Gevacrt, tho distinguished classicist ami director of tho Brussels Conservatoire, this resolve was departed from, and at tho ago of thirteen he entered the Couscrvatoiro as a student, first under Hubay, and thereafter under Ysayc, whose favourite pupil ho soon became. In liii» final triumph against all competitors in 1889, the predictions of the Press at tho time of his early •prissc-winning found iimplo fulfilment. Upon the advice of M. Gevacrt, young Vorbrugglien, then sixteen years old, assiduously applied himself to the study of orchestration and instrumentation, and gained admission to the Society of Conservatoire Concerts, an orchestra d'olito in which Ysaye, Caesar Thomson, and all tho teachers of the Conscrvrioiro took part in tho performance of fho masterpieces. In order to extend his knowledge of symphonic music lis became a first violin in the Scottish Orchestra on its foundation under Honschel in 1593; and during tho following winter ho accepted a similar post under Lamoureux, in Paris, where foe also had an opportunity of joining Professor Dolsart in quartet playing. During the summer of thn 6amq year he acted as loader to Jules Itiviero at Llandudno. Here, also, as deputy-conductor for three successive summers, ho gained his first experience in conducting, realising thereby that in the attainment of proficiency in this braiicb lay his tnio vocation. But tho

period when ho had full 6copo for tho development of hig skill niid tho extension of his technical equipment as ft conductor was during his four years' directorship of music at Golwyn Bay. Ac tho time of leaving for New South; Wales Mr. Verbrugghen had engagements for upwards of 80 orchestral concerts in London and the provinces. His selection as director of the New South Wales Stale Conservatorium was made before the/war, from world-wide applications by a London committeo composed of the chief musicians of Great Britain, and also by the Conservatorium Council in Sydney acting independently. At t'ho end of 1917, Mr. Verbruggiitn paid a visit to America with the object of inquiring into the methods of tho music schools in tho United States. His reputation as an orchestral conductor having preceded him to New York, he was tho recipient of several offers for his services, but owing te the shortness of his stay, li'o was able to mako only one appearance. This was with tho Biissian .Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Verbntgghen'a London and Sydney successes were paralleled by t'his performance, as was gathered from the comments in the musical columns of the New York daily Press.

Tho deputy-conductor of the orchestra is Mr. Alfred Hill, tho Now Zealand musician and composer, who is die professor of harmony r.t the Conservntorium, and is well known in theso parts as the composer of the Maori cantata "Hinemoa," and other fine works, and who led an extremely line orchestra r,t the New Zealand Exhibition held at Christohurch about fourteen years ago, which will be remembered by many of our reaaers.

The-present orchestra consists of about eighty players, made up as follow:— First violins, 13,• 6econd violins, 13; violas, G; 'cellos, G; double basses, i; flutes, 3; piccolo, 1; oboes, 3;. cor. angalis, 1; clarinets, 3; bass clarinet, 1; bassoon, 3; French horns, 4; trumpets, i; trombones, 3; tuba, 1; harp, 1; timpani, 1; percussion, 3; piano, 2.