PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAMMES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 68, 11 October 1940, Page 7

PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAMMES

Shirley’s String Quartet 2 EW art forms are capable of producing such profundity and variety with such limited material as the string quartet. The fascination of working in this medium has been felt by every composer. Among New Zealanders, Alfred Hill has been particularly successful, and in his quartets, as in so much of his other music, Maori idioms form the basis of some of his happiest efforts. On Wednesday, October 16 at 7.30 p.m., listeners to 1YA will have the opportunity of hearing a quartet which is the work of another New Zealander: Henry Shirley, of Auckland.

The inspiration for this quartet came from the period the composer spent in studying in Vienna, and each movement is an impression of some aspect of that city. Rhythm being the outstanding feature of Viennese music, it was natural that the composer should use characteristically rhythmic themes and the choice of a minor key is intended to portray the bewilderment and nostalgia that afflicted the Viennese people of that period. Henry Shirley returned from London just before the outbreak of war and has

quickly gained a reputation as an allround musician. In addition to making regular piano solo broadcasts, he acts as pianist and tympanist with the 1YA Concert Orchestra, and has just written a short work especially for the combination which will be heard in a forthcoming programme. Incidentally, the four players who are performing the quartet are all fellow members of the orchestra and the composer pays a grateful tribute to the patieri te and skill they have brought to the task of working through the manuscript of this not-too-easy work. They are Carl Whitmore, Carl Hellriegel, Lois Walls, and Lalla Hemus.

Ariba "[ HOSE listeners to 1YA who have been unable to get into a State house may be able to learn all about how to make a home for themselves from the series, "Home-Making in New Zealand,’ at present being heard each Thursday evening from that station. There are to be six talks in all. The first, "Choosing the Style," was given on October 3 by Professor C. R. Knight, who was also scheduled to speak again this week (October 10) on "Planning the Rooms." Professor Knight, who has

held the chair of architecture at Auckland University College since 1926, was born in New South Wales and studied at Liverpool University. During the last war he served with the A.LF. Like the architect friend who helped Anthony Armstrong¢ turn. his "Cottage into House," Professor Knight is an "Ariba," and an A.N.Z.I.A. into the bargain, and he also won a Carnegie Travelling Scholarship in 1936,