BYRD AND ELGAR
Sit,-I do hot know who was resporisible for the présetitation from 4YA on a Sunday afternoon some time ago of the Byrd five-part mass, but I should like to congratulate him on af ofiginal venture accomplished in a highly interestifig and yet authoritative matiner, Not ofily Was an attempt made to elucidate the unfamiliar style of this musie by showing it in an historical perspective, but at the same tite its sociological relation with the times was déalt with most fittingly. It was encouraging to hear a programme in which the éducational value was combined so inconspicuously with entertainment of the highest order; and the excellent propaganda thug ptoduced should open the way, if adequately followed up, to a widef appreciation of a period in musical history which is both ufisufpassed in achievement and practically unknown to the average listener to serious miisie, More recently, an equally meritorious presentation of Elgar’s Drearn of Gerontius from the same source has been broadcast. The comments provoked both thought and interest; and there is one small point I should like to take up. It was asserted that the weakest point in the work was (after the opening stanza) the chorus "Praise to the Holiest." It seems to me that there is fio flagging here: such phrases as ", ... the field of elemental war," and the stanza begitning "O generous love!" are set mést movingly. If it be necessary to look for weak points, I suggest the aria "Sanctus fortis"; it is on the whole the most ¢énventional and unconvincing patt 6f the
work.
E.
DE LACEY
(Timaru).
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19480611.2.14.8
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 468, 11 June 1948, Page 5
Word count
Tapeke kupu
266BYRD AND ELGAR New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 468, 11 June 1948, Page 5
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in