MUSIC.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19474, 8 May 1925, Page 3

MUSIC.

NOTES AND RECORDS. The organ of St. Paul is one of the finest in tho world. It was originally built m 1697 by the celebrated German organ builder, Father Bernard Schmidt, and cost £2OOO, which was a considerable sum at tho time, ft wa s reconstructed in 18/0. Tho magnificent wood carving ot the organ cases, one of tho glories of tho cathothai, was tho work of Grinling Gibbons. Considerable adidtions and improvements were canned out in 1897. There are now five rows of pedals and keys, 4822 speaking pipes, and 102 stops. In order to provide sufficient wind for the most powerful of the stops a pressure of three tons has to be put on tho bellows. A. B. H. writes in the Daily Chronicle: “Tho nightingale is already to be hoard in full song at .Regent's Park —in tho Small Birds’ House at the Zoo. Thoughthe little songster has been “on deposit in the menagerie for tho past 12 months, not until a few days ago did he give visitors an opportunity of hearing his glorious melody. This is curious, seeing that whenever he was taken homo by his owner for a holiday last spring ho invariably obliged with a song. Probably ho was overawed by the babel of strange notes from his motley companions—or disgusted at the jazz outburst of tho frogmouths, the bell-bird and other eccentrics—and has now become used to this musical medley. The soloist, at any rate, is now drawing large audiences, and is setting a good example, for two Superb Glossy Starlings from Africa, in the cage beneath, are becoming veritable virtuosos in their way. Starlings—oven ‘Glossy’ ones —do not, as a rule, shine as vocalists, being content to chuckle, whistle, and chatter, but they are clover mimics, and, as a result of the ‘lessons* which the Superb pair are receiving, their African duet is worth listening to—that is, when their teacher is not •occupying the platform.’ ” “Trial by Jury,” which is shortly to have aj jubilee celebration at Sheffield, is, among other things, a link with Dickons, for Gilbert is said to have had Serjeant Buzfuz in his mind when he was writing the libretto. Certainly there is a very strong likeness between the Serjeant’s oratory and the opening address of plaintiff’s counsel; “See my interesting client, victim of a heartless wile! See the traitor all defiant. Wears a supercilious smile!” That is genuine Buzfuzism. Moritz Moskowski, the pianist and composer, who died in Paris on March 8, after a long and painful illness, was born in Breslau in 1854, but was of Polish origin, and spent most of his life in France. He made a number of tours in the United States and Great Britain, where ho was well known and whore his compositions wore much appreciated. His best known works were his suite, “Spanish Dances,” for the piano, concert pieces, and a remarkable violin-’cello concerto. He had a remarkable gift for reproducing racial characteristics in music. His latter years were bittored by ill-health and extreme poverty. Ho had sold most of his copyrights before the war and invested the proceeds in Polish, German, and Russian stocks, with the result that five years ago ho found himself practically penniless and was forced to accept help from some of his admirers. Musicians like Paderewski gave benefit performances on his behalf in tho United States. A somewhat bold experiment was made by tho 8.8. C. at its fourth “International” concert at Covont Garden, in performing and broadcasting a big new work by an American composer practically unknown in this country. Tho work, entitled “Tho Pilgrim’s Progress,” is based upon Banyan’s book, the music being by Dr Edgar Stillman Kelley, Professor at tho Cincinnati (U.S.A.) Conservatoire. For this performance tho Wolverhampton Musical Society and tho Birmingham Symphony Orchestra came to London, the conductor being Mr Joseph Lewis. Tho music is described as the work of a composer of technical ability, who has a knowledge of how to write for effect. But in itself it is at times disappointing because of its lack of individuality. There are many parts of the score (hat show the influence of other composers, ami some of tho music is very akin in stylo and mood to “Gerontius.” Tho composer is at his bost_ in the “celestial voices” chorus, which is employed with excel lent effect throughout the work, and some of the choruses in the “Vanity Fair” section have a certain vigour and ' picturesqueness Dame Clara Butt is, in her spare moments, a great collector of musical instruments. At her Hampstead home she was a most interesting collection of wood instruments, oboes, flutes, and clarinets from all over tho world, including native instruments of many curious shapes and sizes. Her husband, Mr Korinerloy Rumford,. lias a leaning towards jugs, and ho has a varied assortment in every conceivable material, from lustre ware to old leather, tho latter hailing from Norway. Four gramophone records of the Church of England service have been made by* the Rev. Dr E. 11. Foil owes and a choir from St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Tho record covers the morning service and the evening canticles, and it has been made as a result of a suggestion in tho recent Archbishop’s report on Church Music. Tho senes includes settings by Henry Purcell, tho groat 17th century composer; Thomas Weelkes. also n 17th century musician; the more modern James Nares, who flourished between 1715 and 1783; and James Twill, who is early 19th century. English reviews of the recording by Cortot and tho Royal Albert Hall Orchestra of Schumann’s “Piano Concerto” (arriving hero later on) are very flattering. Says Mr Arthur Mason in the Yokshire Observer; “An exceptionally attractive record of Schumann’s Piano Concerto, played by Cortot and the Royal Albert Orchestra under Sir Landon Ronald. The beautiful work enjoys delightful presentation at tho hands of the French pianist, and tho reproduction, both of his performance and of that of tfto orchestra, is of tho highest class.*’ An equally good reception has been given to the recording of Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony: “Another groat series of records gives us Mozart’s ‘Jupiter’ Symphony, complete—a work of rare genius, and by some criticis regarded as Mozart’s greatest symphony. Beautiful from end' to end, and its artistry of the consummate order, It is, at all events, a wondeful example of the composer’s maturosi style, and this reproduction of it is in li.M.V.’s very best manner. A delightful thing.” This series will probably be hero in about six week's time. Most people play their gramophones far 100 loudly (observes a correspondent). Bo satisfied with a reproduction which gives as nearly as possible the illusion of listening to I lie voice or orchestra from well back in an ordinary concert room. 'This can be obtained with a soft needle, preferably u fibre, without the loss of quality arm harshness .of tone which inevitably attends any attempt to extract from the record, by main force, ail that was put into it, including the wax. Your can shut your eyes and imagine yoursof at the Queen’s Hall, but a Queen’s Hall without rustling programmes or anyone discussing their servants or illnesses in a seal, behind you, and you can listen to Brahms’s No. 2 without having your present enjoyment spoilt by the sub-conscious-ness of something you loathe to follow. If anyone is inclined to think that this is a too optimistic estimate of tho present powers of recording let them try the latest H..M.V. version of Schubert's “Unfinished,” and if they will be content to listen to it from a back seat, as it were, probably they will admit that it brings ug at least a step nearer to tho idea. Two excellent military band numbers are from the Band of the Royal Air Force —KahTs “The Happy Warrior” and Rusi’s “Faithful and Bold” march. Previous issues by tins band have been noted for the excellent ol both playing and interpretation, and in these two thoroughly typical band pieces the musicians have done excellent work. Lovers of Offenbach’s merry and tuneful overture to “Orphee aux Enters” will welcome a characteristic selection of recorded features of the opera itself, this lime by De Groot’s Orchestra. This is brightly played and excellently recorded. It is curious to notice the tendency in modern musical works written solely for amusement or entertainment to incorporate “snatches from the classics. This is conspicuous in tho well-known glee, “The Goslings.” It is composed ov J. F. Bridge, and recorded from a rendering by the “Westminster ' Glee Singers.” Recurring at appropiate intervals are strains from the Wedding March in Mendelssohn's “Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ a march as popular as the hymn, “The Voice That Breathed O’er Eden.’" “The Goslings,” however, ends in a tragedy. ft is perfectly sung by this famous company of vocalists, so is its serious companion piece, “O Peaceful Night,' composed by Edward German. The skin of the reindeer is so impervious to the cold that anyone clothed in snob a dress, with the addition of a blanket of the same material, may hoar the intousest rigors of an Arctic winter’s night. No cold is XAZOL-prnof. And no cough and cold remedy is -o economical as ’’NAZOL.’’ Eightoenpeneo buys 60 doses —more than three a penny.—Advt. -