MUSIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 766, 12 September 1929, Page 16

MUSIC

(By

F.1.R.)

Gl ncing A head — Saturday—Westminster Glee Singers, His Majesty's. Sunday—Municipal Band. Zoological Park. September 2G- —Bohemian Orchestra. Town Hall. October s—Citizens' Concert (Municipal Band). October 22 and 24—Dusolina Giannini. November 7—Auckland Choral SocietyConcert. Giannini Booked Auckland music-lovers will be pleased to learn that definite dates have been booked at the Town Hall for Dusolina Giannini, the famous American-Italian soprano. Concerts will be given at Auckland on October 22 and 24, and also at Christchurch and Wellington. The cast for the Royal Wellington Choral Union’s full-dress performance of "Hiatt atlia,” which is to be staged early in November, is not yet complete. So far the following soloists have been chosen:—Hiawatha, Mr. H.

Barry Coney: Chibiabos and Black Priest, Mr. Hubert Carter; Nikomis, Madame Winnie Fraser; lagoo, Mr. Kdwin Dennis; Medicine Man, Mr. Harison Cook. It will be seen that the society is casting its nets far and wide to obtain the best available talent in the Dominion. Super-Piano Emmerich Splelmann. a Viennese architect, has invented a "super-piano." recording to “The Musical Standard,” in which the sounds are produced by " beams of light from electric lamps playing on a selenium cell which transforms them Into electric current, which in its turn is converted into musical notes in a loud-speaker or head-phones.” The keyboard, which ie similar to that of an ordinary piano, has a compass of seven octaves, including quarter and eighth tones.

BRITISH MUSIC Visit of Westminster Singers TALENTED ARTISTS Commenting on the recent performances of the new company of Westminster Glee Singers who are to commence their Auckland season on Saturday under the auspices of the famous impressario, Mr. Edward Branscombe, a Quebec critic said: "These glorious singers, boys and men, have been delighting Quebec audiences for the past week. are notably artistic, and the result has been a rare feast of very beautiful English vocal music.” It has been truly said that no art is of such paramount Importance to civilisation as music, which is a fluent and beautiful form of expression for those deeper impulses which are denied expression in words. “Already the introduction of music in some places during the dinner hour, known as community singing, and the formation of choirs in factories and departmental stores, have resulted in greater content and efficiency. The Westminster Glee Singers have unquestionably imparted a great stimulus ta our musically-inclined Canadian people. This is one unvarying result of the beautiful concerts given by these talented singers, who have appeared from time to time in every part of the British Empire. z “They rekindle an interest in the glories of British traditional songs and ballads, they show the absolute pitch of perfection to which solo and part singing can be brought, and thev have also demonstrated the wellknown fact that there is no music comparable to that of the human voice, especially when heard without the aid of instrumental accompaniment. In addition the advent of the small boys particularly are a wonderful force in affiliating the young sons of the Empire in that wonderful bond of kinship—music.” 'The Auckland concerts will be given at His Majesty’s Theatre. NEW THEME SONGS To be a complete success these days, it appears that a song must be either a theme song or be connected in some way with a popular motion picture. With the increasing popularity of the talkies, the theme song certainly opens up new possibilities for writers of popular songs. This week we have received from J. Albert and Son three new theme songs. “Coquette,” “Where Is the Song of Songs for Me?” both by Irving Berlin. and “Weary River,” by Louis Silvers. “Coquette” is a waltz song featured in the picture of that name which stars Mary Pickford, and “Weary River” also carries the same title of the film that features Richard Barthelmess, who sings the number. •'Coquette” is a waltz with a wellmarked melody, and “Weary River” is a fox-trot ballad. Both should be very popular. “Where is the Song of Songs for Me?” is the theme song of “Lady of the Night,” featuring Lupe Velez, which was screened in Auckland recently. It is already in popular demand. The “Song I Love” is also a very popular fox-trot that should be in keen demand in all dance-halls.

Municipal Band STFiONG PROGRAMMES FOR SUMMER MONTHS l_ CITIZENS’ CONCERT The programme to be presented by the Municipal Band, under the direction of Mr. Christopher Smith, at the Zoological Park on Sunday, can almost be regarded as an indication that the summer months w r ill soon be here. Although the band concerts at the zoo are consistently good, it Is during the warmer months that the band quite rightly concentrates on preparing strong programmes, not only for the edification of visitors, but also to appeal to Aucklanders who, at this season, are more likely to respond to outdoor attractions.

For Sunday next the Jubel overture, the finale from Tschaikowsky’s “Fourth Symphony,” the “Lucia di Lammermoor” selection, and the “Les Huguenots” number make a quartet of very fine items. The full programme is as follows: Overture. “Jubel” (Weber); hymn, “The Voice of God’s Creation” (Monk); march, “The Red Cross” (Panella); finale from “Fourth Symphony” (Tschaikowsky) ; cornet solo, “Souvenir de Bellini” (Hoch), soloist, Mr. Fred Bowes; selection, “Lucia di Lammermoor” (Donozetti); hymn, “The Riseate Hues of Early Dawn” (Stainer); euphonium solo, “The Village Blacksmith” (Weiss), soloist, Mr. J. Purchase; selection, “Les Huguenots” (Meyerbeer); intermezzo, “Bells Across the Meadow” (Ketelbey) ; march, “Loyal Order” (Panella); the National Anthem.

The next concert will be given at the Town Hall on Saturday, October 5. This will be a citizens’ concert, the items all being selected by the public. Anybody Is entitled to make a selection, even to the extent of a full programme, and forward it to the bandmaster, care of the Town Hall.

For that occasion Miss Alma McGruer (soprano), Miss Beryl Smith (contralto), Mr. J. Simpson (tenor), and Mr. Duncan Black (bass) have been engaged as soloists.

A NOVEL ACT FOUR GIRLS AND FOUR BABY GRANDS The most interesting musical event of the weeto —although unfortunately It was not a public performance—was a private rehearsal in the piano showroom of Messrs. Lewis Eady, Ltd., carried out by four young American pianists who were passing through Auckland on the Aorangi en route to Australia. Carrying with them four baby grand pianos, and a large quantity of scenery and lighting effects, these young girls style their act “Jerry and Her Baby Grands.” The director is Geraldine Valliere, and her fellow-musicians are Vera Waters, Janet Rowland, and Florence Shewell. Mr. J. H. Kennedy, also from America, is the manager. Dressed in white costumes, and wearing white wigs, the artists play also on white baby grands. The music ranges from the classics to theme songs, and whether the music itself is good, bad, or Indifferent, it is all magnificently played. Particularly fine was the “Zampa” overture, Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” and, from the sublime to the les3 sublime, “The Wedding of the Painted Doll.” In between times they sing, and one of their number also whistles very attractively. The act is under engagement to, Messrs. J. C. Williamson, Ltd., to play j in Australia, and If an engagement j can also be secured for New Zealand, j the party is looking forward to touring New Zealand on the way back. Operatic Talkie The Alpha Film Corporation, one of the newest of British picture-pro-ducing companies, announces that a talking firm starring the famous tenor, Tom Burke, and having operatic scenes made with the complete Car! Rosa Opera Company, Is to be made. The story chosen is “Moths,” by Ouida. It tells how a poor boy became a great operatic tenor, and bears a close resemblance to the career of Tom Burke, who has rejected an invitation to go to Hollywood In order to play the leading part. The operatic scenes from “Faust,” “Pagliacci,” and “II Trovatore,” which are essential to the plot, w r ill feature the Carl Rosa Company, together with its orchestra of 60 musicians, under the leadership of its directors, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Phillips.