LEAGUE OF PENWOMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 624, 28 March 1929, Page 4

LEAGUE OF PENWOMEN

MODERN FRENCH MUSIC '•Modern French Music'’ was the subject of Mrs. Irene Robertson's interesting paper given at the meeting of the musical circle of the club last Tuesday evening. Owing to illness Mrs. Robertson was unable to be present so her paper was read by the convener, Miss Gertrude Bertram. Mrs. Robertson emphasised the purity, elegance and refinement of French music. As in French literature, the delicate subtlety of colouring predominates, the leading principle of French art being that of producing the maximum of expression with the minimum of means. The motto of modern French composers is “Art for art sake.” The writer traced the history of French music, and sympathetically portrayed the lives of the great modern masters including Saint Saens, Faure, Dupare, Ravel and Debussy. Illustrations from the compositions of these musicians were artistically given by members of the section as follow: Songs by Debussy and Chausson, Mrs Amy Hansard; violin solo, “Sonata” (Cesar Frank), Miss Amy Stevenson; pianoforte solo, “jeux d’Eaux,” “Clair de Lune,” Miss Renee Satchwell; instrumental trio, “Thais” (Massenet), by the members of the Penwomen’s Trio, comprising Mrs. Bloy, Mrs. H. R. H. Hesketh, Miss Tiarks. Miss Edith Harrliy (the well-known composer) and her husband, Mr. Daly, were the guests of honour. Miss Harrhy sang some of her most delightful songs, “Mary Magdalene” (words by Mrs. Victor Macky), “Colette,” “Some Australian Songs for Children,” and “Roses for the King.”