NEW ZEALAND CONTRALTO.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 57, 4 September 1926, Page 15

NEW ZEALAND CONTRALTO.

A concert given by Stella Murray, the New Zealand contralto, was not only well attended, but the audience paid for their seats, which isn't oftei' the case here. It seems this artist is doing well in London and the provinces, and bids fare to become one of the most usoful of singers. While on the sub jeot of our owe singers it will interest our budding vocalists and players out yonder to know how our musicians and singers do in this large world. AVell, in spite of the many who come over and fail for want of "the goods or push,'' and both are necessary, one has only to mention the names of those who havp established themselves to1 realise the iii debtedness that England owes to h<y colonies in this direction. Besides Melba, Ada Crossley, and the great scientists, painters, and actors and actresses, we have among those at present living hers Malcolm M'Eachern (bass), Arthur Benjamin (composer and pianist), John Brownlee (baritone), Hubert Carter (tenor), Horace Stevens (baritone), Harold Williams (baritone), E. M'Kinley, Peter Dawaon, Frederick Collier, B. Mummery (tenor), Miss Rosina Buckman, Stella Murray, Gertrude Johnson, Essie Ack]and (just here), George Clutsam, Victor

Buist, Arnold Trowel!, and one could add to the list. All are to be reckoned with in musical matters, at a fI|^HPH(BHHH| recent performRoyal Academy ' ■■ of music students, ' -- the orchestra was l^l led by Phyllis jflf M a cdcnald, a , I^K VCT promising J^H player, from ■fln' ■- Sydney, and the |£7" 'if- ;" outstanding sings'*" "-* *Hl ci" was Miss DorMiss May Brahe and Miss Molly Carew have both been retained by their respective publisher to write only for them. This means that, besides getting royalties on their compositions, they also get a salary. There is still big money to be made from popular ballads and easy teaching pieces for pianoforte. High-class music does not appeal to most publishers, and very few will touch it. The modern English composer is getting his chance, but few of their works are commercially successful, from what one hears. It is the tuneful, rhythmic music, written in the older manner, that pleases the great general public. There are publishers, like Elkin and Co., Curwens, the Oxford Press, and Novellos, who take a pride in issuing good music, and these people i are helpful with their advice to the I "budding" composer, who wishes to publish. It was Mr. Elkin who first published MacDowell's music here, and now Cyril Scott's. Some delightful impressions of Mr. Elkiu are to be read in Cyril Scott's book, "My Youthful Indiscretions." Our own reception by Mr. Elkin was most cordial. He invited us to lunch and told us many stor ies of famous musicians, friends of his, including one of W. S. Gilbert. Gilbert was evidently not an admirer of Trees's (the actor's) work. A friend of Trees's was telling Gilbert that his actor friend was feeling the heat very much during a Bummer season, and Gilbert remarked that it wa;3 a good thing, and that, al any rate, Trees's skin could aetl