COLOUR IN MUSIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1047, 11 August 1930, Page 14

COLOUR IN MUSIC

16TH CENTURY SAW EFFORTS AT ILLUSTRATION ADDRESS BY DR. PHILLIPS Addressing a meeting of the Federation of University Women at the Lyceum Club on Saturday evening, Dr. s. K. Phillips traced the progress of music throughout the ages. Dr. Phillips pointed out that, up to the 16tli century, there had been very little attempt at illustration or suggestion in music. No attempt at expression had been made by the early composers, and their works had beeii written more with the object of displaying the craftsmanship of the composer and performer than of illustrating moods, sound, or colour. Montaverdi, who could be regarded j as the forerunner of the writers programme music, was the first man definitely to try to illustrate his music in an artistic manner. Schubert was one of the greatest writers of programme music, while others who showed intense illustration and suggestion in their works were Beethoven. Mendelssohn. Hossini, Schumann, and the English composer, Sterndale Ben - nett. One of the first composers to appreciate the warmth of the ’cello and the coldness of the flute in expressing colour in orchestral music was Berlioz. His Fantastic Symphony was a fine example of this spirit. SUBTLE POINTS Wagner was another wonderful •colourist.” His work was full <>f subtle points, to be appreciated most in Tannhauser. Lohengrin and the Flying Dutchman. The use of harmonic figures for coldness, confusion or indecision, favoured particularly bv English writers, and the use of pitch for the same purpose were other methods of showing expression. to illustrate points in Dr. -Phillips s address were sung by Miss Kay Christie, Miss Owenda Weir MLs Adele Bell and Mr. A. Thompson. Subtleties of suggestion in the accompaniments were emphasised by Dr. Phillips, at the piano, and the songs showed forms of illustration such as the sound of an anvil or the cantering of horses. Dr. Buckley Turkington, president of the federation, was in the chair, an.l on the motion of Miss E. M. Johnston a vote of thanks to Dr. Phillips was passed.