MUSIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 796, 17 October 1929, Page 14

MUSIC

(By

F.1.R.)

Glancing Ahead — Today.—Auckland Competitions. October If*.—Municipal Concert. October 22 and 24.—Dusolini Giannini. November 7.—Auckland Choral Society’s November 10.—Aeolian Orchestra. November 16 and 18.—Wm. Heughan. Prior to leaving for America to enter the talkie industry, William Heughan, the Scottish baritone, will give farewell concerts at the Town Hall on Saturday, November 16 and 18. • * * Aeclian Orchestra The programme for the Aeolian Orchestra’s fourth concert of the season, on November 19, will be chosen from the following numbers: —Overture, “Pique Dame” (Suppe); American Suite, “Serenade” and “Coontown Cadets” (Thurban); selection, “Gipsy Gove” (Lehar); London Symphony, minuet and finale (Haydn); “Weymouth Chimes” (bells and orchestra); march, “London Scottish,” and “Celtic Lament” (strings). CIVIC THEATRE MUSIC ORGAN AND ORCHESTRA OF THIRTY BOON TO THE CITY (Written for THE SUE) “The knower of the mysteries of sound Knows the mystery of the whole universe.” wOMEONE has suggested that music is an exile on this planet, that we hear far-off voices, echoes from some far-off shore for ever calling us, and ceaselessly reminding us of a life and love and state of being, that far transcend our present consciousness. Here lies its mystic power and haunting beauty. A Frenchman describes it ns “the breath of sound that passes l>y and is gone.” It would be difficult to estimate the practical value of this immaterial art of music. Half the ugliness of our lives is due to our materialistic attitude of mind. It is with a fitting gesture toward the public weal that the directors of the Civic Theatre have seen to it that money shall not be spared in supplying what is best. Au organ, finest of its type in the Dominion, is to be installed with the talkie or sound music and, what is probably of more importance to the musicians and music-loving public of Auckland, it has been decided to in- * tall an orchestra of 30. This is indeed in the nature of a civic blessing. Three thousand citizens can be therefore nightly benefited by this immaterial art of orchestral music. Far reaching are its influences. It can be used to improve the health, increase the working capacity, provide companionship and enrich the mind. Under the spell of orchestral music a man finds that the obsession of sordid cares and anxiety fades into the background. The armour of cynicism drops from the hardened man of the world; he knows that the reality is as fair as the dream. Of all the arts, orchestral music is the most direct expression of emotion, lias the greatest power in awakeningemotion, in arousing a mood or in c asting a spell. Emotion is the main- j spring of human useful life and work. The driving power is of amazing strength. Under the difficulties of the strain of life of our modern civilisation every source of well-bal-anced emotion is sometimes unattainable. Its chief sources are to be found in love, religion, philosophy, a life-work or ideal. The stress of modern conditions place them out of the reach of many. Here lies the great blessing of orchestral music, placed nightly at the disposal of a large number of citizens. Every modern State has realised its civilising effect. Germany has fostered it by State laws. In the great commercial centres of England where the muddy tide of industrialism is at its highest, and artistic centres are far away, municipal music is made a feature. The neurotic novel and drab second-rate lives, doctors tell us, are the chief cause of mental disorders and nervous diseases so common in our time. Music is the antidote. Mr. Maughan Barnett, our city organist, is of opinion that a strong reaction is setting in favour of the orchestra. Aucklanders will therefore welcome the decision of the directors of the Civic Theatre in supplying it. “All the arts,” writes Walter Pater, for the moderns, “strive toward the condition of music where form and content completely coalesce.” “When music and courtesy are com- i bined,” says Confucius, for the an- | cients, “there will be no more war.” ! —A.T.K. I TODAY FOURTH ANNUAL FESTIVAL LEWIS EADY HALL It is to be sincerely hoped that i ihe Auckland Competitions Society’s fourth annual festival, which is being opened tomorrow, will meet with a far larger measure of public support than was received last season. With 1,010 entries, the society should be in a position to present good programmes, particularly at the evening sessions, when the attendances are larger. This very satisfactory list of entries will also make it possible to maintain a good standard over a season of nine days. The has also been foriimate in getting promises of a number of prizes, and this should ease its financial burden considerably. During the past two seasons the society has not been as successful as it might have been, but during the i year considerable reorganisation has j laken place, and the society's affairs placed on a sounder economic basis. In this connection it is pleasing to note that the festival is being held this year in the Lewis Eady Hall, a factor which may quite possibly con- 1 tribute to a successful season. j

GIANNINI’S CONCERT

FINE SUPPORTING ARTISTS PIANIST AND VIOLINIST I Supporting Dusolina Giannini, the I gifted young soprano, when she opens j her Auckland season at the Town 1 Hall on Tuesday, will be two fine artists in Miss Molly Bernstein and Mr. Sol Deutsch. Miss Bernstein was born in Savannah, Georgia, and studied the pianoforte at various times with Herbert Fryer, the eminent English pianist, Sigmund Stojowski and Dr. Percy Goetschius. Miss Bernstein has acted as accompanist and assisting artist to Miss Giannini for the past four years, sharing in her triumphs and receiving most praiseworthy com-

ment. She plays practically all Giannini’s accompaniments from memory. Mr. Sol Deutsch is a brilliant young American violinist. Although still in his early twenties he has won fame in America, and has appeared in over two hundred public and private recitals, and has also given 70 performances over the air. He is reported to be one of the most popular artists In the radio world of the United States. Giannini’s appearance at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening can probably be regarded as the foremost musical event of the year, and it is being eagerly awaited by Auckland music lovers.

Band Concert The next Municipal Band concert will be given on October 19. The programme will include “Tannhauser” march, “Light Cavalry” overture, Schubert’s unfinished symphony, “The Bohemian Girl,” “Maritana,” and “Beethoven Echoes.” The vocalists engaged are Mrs. Hal C. McLennan and Mr. Wilfred Scott, both of whom are appearing for the first time at these concerts. The items mentioned are some of those selected by public vote for the recent citizens’ concert. As it was not possible to play them all on that occasion the most popular have been held over for future concerts.