MADAME GODDARD’S- CONCERT.

Evening Star, Issue 3668, 24 November 1874, Page 2

MADAME GODDARD’S- CONCERT.

R is almost needless to say that Madam Goddard s second concert, la t evening, w*s even better attended than her firat° The 'Gtaiie was crowded. On Priday evening o-k; of B tbthovea’tf compositions had tin* ending pba e ; last evening a lovely fonata 4 Mozti s was selected, it adds much tn .ho pleasure of listening to mstiumental untie that desum should be tractable in its construction ; for there is bnuty in the bar riony of a-Tmigement as -well as in that of • ihords. In vocal music this is perha: sof mss moment, as the expression of sentiment is in words, and music only a ids its aid to adorn the idea ; but in instrumental music he pleasure of listening is enhanced, when •be intention cf the composer ia discernible in what we may terra the phraseology of music. Thom who listen attentively to them will find in all compositions a few oars containing a sort of mu ical sentence, which is responded to by a phrase of equal length, and reseinbl ng 'it in con s’ruction—the two giving the idea rf a conversation in sweet sounds. It would seem as if the n itiou had been drawn from one bird listening to and answering another of its own kind, but varied as only mind can outshine instinct. This call and ansver are easily observed in all well constructed musica compositions, although when overloaded with comp icated harmonies they are less manifest, but they form a marked feature in Mozart’s writings. In the hands cf an accomplished player every variety of expression can be given to those sweet phrases. Instead of bring the call of bird to bird, it seems as if they were the language of soul to soul, breathing c mlidence, Jove, hope : now rejo ciug in c’ose communion, and then sepiritim> until the answer is lost iu distance a cl dies away in softest cadence. Everyone who heard adame < Godard last eveninu inu-t have realised the feeling suggested by these ideas, although they may not have traced them in the workings of their own minds. Mozart has now been dead about eighty years. In his day stringed instruments were comparatively clumsy, and we consider it impo>iible that he was privileged to hear his own compositions rendered as we, in these last clays, heard one of them last evening. Had they been, Joseph the Second would rot have told his favorite there were “too many notes” for the ears of bis Court nor that “it was too fin".” He would have heard every note distinctly, and every passi e expressively given. Mozart's works have peculiar beauty in them. Generally they are of a joyous, happy turn, but require great facility of execution. The perfection of the instruments of our day, through affording the means of expressing the variety of which they are capable, is bringing them prominently into notice at Home, and Madame (’Oddard’s interpretation of them will tend much to the more careful study of them here. That her perfo mance was most enthusiastically acknowledged is only what was due to hen If rt. Ihe mure recent composition of Sir Jubps Benedict, introducing “ My lodging is on the cold ground” and “The Minstrel Boy,” was charmingly given, ais well as the enepre —“ The last rose of Summer.” The ‘Daily Times’ thinks we in Dunedin are not a musical people ; perhaps so, but the charm of Madame Goddard’s playing will go far to make us one. It affords a standard by which the skill of a teacher may be measured, for, although there may be but one Arabella Goddard, there are many who can catch her spirit and follow at a humble distance Herr Doehler’s violin fantasias were given with more effect than on Friday, snd the satis faction with wbiph they were received was shown by his having to return after every piece, Mrs Smythe sang carefully and well; Mr Skinner improves much on acquaintance, as we expected ; and Mrßainford, ia “Thus the world goes_ round,” excelled any former effort. It was fiue'y given, and was received with long and loud applause. As every piece was well rendered, we need hardly say that, pleased as the audience of Friday was, last pight seemed to giye more universal satisfaction. Thu usual showers of bouquets fell upon the stage, plainly to the lot of Madame Goddard, who was go loaded after playing one of her fantasias that she might have stood for a model of Flora. To-night she will play one of Handel’s finest compositions, and the programme promises other treais. We are glad to learn that two more concerts will be mven.