AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 202, 15 August 1908, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

ALBERT IIALLINSON. A REN PORTRAIT. Oenius. allied to line natural trails ' has a charm that always invites aunly- i sis, ami always eludes it; and those who know Albert Mallinson would say that his most .striking characteristic is this elusive charm. For those who only know his songs an effective deccriptiuu of him would lie to say that the qualities one timls in them one limls also in the man—an extreme delicacy of feciI ing, an imagination which is essentially | poetic, au originality of expression aiI ways illuminative and logical, but never

pedantic. Of medium height and spare build, the mobile face and line eyes show the nervous energy of the man, and would arouse the curiosity of the I least observant. Meeting him for the first time a stranger would probably | be most aware of his shyness and eserve. There would be shown a gracious readiness to listen, and an almost perceptible, reluctance to say more than courtesy demanded. This veil of shvness makes it difficult at first to get any real idea of his personality; ho keeps the secret of it for his friends, due may say of tho musician as of the poet that he is horn, not made, and it is related of Albert .Mallinson that as ,i small boy newly breeched he could improvise melodies on the pianofort". Neither his father nor his mother were in the least degree musical, and it seems a curious variation of the laws of he.-e- ---| dity that their only child should be born with this gift. Fortunately. l'ic hoy received every encouragement, lie began his musical career as a chorister of the Parish Church of .Leeds, his native town. At the age of seventeen I years, when I first knew him, he was already a considerable figure in Ihe musical life of Leeds, and no one who knew him then is likely to forget tec inspiration of his friendship. The extraordinary activity of his musical genius made him seem, older than his years, but his natural disposition had a gaiety and a spontaneity that were wholly charming. His interest in life, what il held and. what it promised, was just what was natural to one who stood on its threshold. His unerring taste and the maturity of his judgments in art were the result of the surprising development of. his genius. At this time Mallinson was singularly alone. An •only child and an orphan, he continued to live in the old-fashioned house in Queen's Square that had been his home for many years; and here he delighted Ito welcome his friends. In his own

home all shyness and reserve disappeared, and one saw him as he really was, | social and hospitable,, with a rare ea-/ pacity (or friendship. Holding three important musical appointments, and with invitations for musical evenings and other social engagements showered upon him, it is surprising that he found any time for composition. Fortunately he did not need much. The rapidity with which he composed always amazed me, and I have known him to compose five songs in-one (lav. In the midst of these activities Mailinson's''health, always rather, fragile, completely liroke down. An immediate voyage to Australia was ordered by his doctor, and for four years he resided in Melbourne. There he'gained a reputation that does infinite credit to the music-lovers of Australia; there .also he. met Madame Anna Steinhauer, the Danish soprano, who subsequently became Mrs. Mallinson. Tn 18IMI lie returned to Europe completely cured. H was not till 18!)!), however,'that l'« returned to England to take up the position of private organist to Viscount Portman at Jilandloril. In this quaint old Dorset town Mr. ami Mrs. Mallinsr.n made their home for five years. It was an ideal position for a composer, and it is not surprising that many of his most beautiful songs were written there. Except cm market days the little town seemed half asleep, and just beyond its eonlines on every side lay. the absolute (piiet of the 'country. 'Nothing could have been better after a life of movement and travel than this quiet interi hide. Too soon for me it was to come Ito an end. The offer'of the organistship of the English Church in Dresden was made to Mallinson; the. musical opportunities which Dresden offered I proved irresistible, and once more be [ left England. Friendships sometimes begin in%trange and seemingly casual ways. One winter evening nearly twenty vears ago I was returning home from business in a crowded traincar. I bad-no small change, neither, as it happened, had the conductor. Mallm- , son. who was seated next to me, came to our assistance, and the little courtesy set- us talking. After the choir-practise to which he'was going he called upon mi 1 , and so our friendship began. I often think how much poorer my life might have b'-c n if Hie train-condiict'jr could have changed that half-crown. On Moiulav night New Plymouth people' i are to have the opportunity of hearing the songs of tliis now famous composer rendered bv his wife, with the assistance I of the composer and a talented company.