Our New Zealand Composers

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 51, 4 July 1930, Page 3

Our New Zealand Composers

Further Biographical Notes

_HW ZEALAND Night, an >| evening devoted to the works of our own composers, has provoked a great deal of interest, It has been revealed _that there is plenty of talent in New Zealand, and some of the compositions vie with the works in excellence. Last week were outlined the biographies of several of the composers. Further biographies follow this week. Gordon McBeth, Pianist, GORDON McBETH, although born in Wanganui, and, at the moment, resident there, is a great rover. Since taking up music under Mr. H. M. Lund, of Christchurch, who was his first teacher, and on whose advice his further study abroad was undertaken, he has studied music in Leipzig, Stuttgart, New York and London. His teachers have included Teichmuller (Leipzig), Max Pauer (Stuttgart), and Herbert Fry (Royal College of Musie, London). Although a good soloist, Mr. McBeth is a particularly artistic accompanist, and played for John Dunn recently during the great violinist’s visit to Wanganui, and from whom he received warmest congratulations. The trio for piano, violin and ’cello, played by the Christchurch Broadcastg Trio, is not his most ambitious efffort to date, as he has since written another much bigger one, in three movements. This may be broajecast on ‘a future occasion. He has also written ‘two attractive works for the piano only, and also several songs, | Although still on the sunny side of life, Mr. McBeth has already spent ten years in foreign parts, and has been round the world no less than five.times. His compositions, therefore, should be ‘broad in conception, at least. Mrs. Alice Forrester. RS. ALICE FORRESTER was the first Bachelor of Music in either Australia or New Zealand, and was known as Miss Alice Rowley, daughter of Mr. Joseph Rowley, the leading solo flautist of the Christchurch Orchestral Society in the 80’s and 90’s. Her compositions -comprise solos, song cycles and quintets, She has several patriotic song? to her credit. Most of her composigjons have been set to the words of such well-known writers as Miss Jessie Mackay, Johannes Andersen, Arthur Adams, Eileen Duggan, and others. Her song, recitative and solo, "Search Me, O God," was sung by Miss Mary Taylor. William Pember Reeves. [THE Hon. William Pember Reeves was the Agent-General in London for New Zealand for many years. He was the son of the late Hon. Wm. Reeves of the "Lyttelton Times" Com- ._ pany. He is a fine writer and has | bier including poetry. "The assing of the Forest" was broadcast by Mr. Harold Shaw. Arthur H. Adams, B.A, } R. ARTHUR ADAMS is the wellknown poet and journalist. He ~~ was educated at the Normal School

(Dunedin), Boys’ High School (Christchurch) and Otago University. To his credit are: "Maoriland,’ "The Nazarene," "Tussock Land" (novel), "London. Streets" (verse), and the Maori opera "Tapu." Princess Te Rangi Pai. — TS RANGI PAI was the daughter of Colonel Porter and was well known in Christchurch in the 90’s as Mrs. Howie. She had a delightful mezzo-

contralto voice of liquid sweetness. She was a well-known public singer and toured New Zealand and Australia with the Rev. Charles Clark (lecturer). One of her songs, "Aroha," which has just been published by the Davy-Sharp Music Publishers, of Dunedin, was sung by Miss Mary. Taylor, who also sang ."Haere Haere Mai" by another Maori composer,.Ka ti Kaura, whose name in private is. Miss Ka Winiata, of Wanganui. Mr. R. A. Horne. AUTHOUGH not born in New Zealand, Mr. Horne is to all intents a New Zealander, having spent most

of his life in the Dominion. He is a prolific composer, and an imposing list of his works is already published. His style is of the "charming" variety, beautiful and pellucid, with a definite clear-cut "motif" as a foundation in all his work. Mr. Horne does not indulge either in the’grotesque, enigmatieal or tragic moods in his compositions, although in his "March of the Heroes," a mystic occult atmosphere -purporting to depict the march past

of an army of the glorious dead-is artistically but reverentially portrayed. His entr’acte, "Jours Passes," one of the items on the "New Zealand Hvening" programme and played by the Christchurch Orchestral Society, is very popular, and has been recorded by the Peerless Orchestra. This composition was frequently played by the Sheffield Choir Orchestra during its tour through New Zealand some years ago. "Corisande," another overture played by the full orchestra, has not yet been published, but has a peculiarly plaintive appeal in its main "motif." Some months ago records of his "B.B. March" and "Hast and West March,"

as played by the band of H.M. Coldstream Guards, and an excellent record of his Maori song, "Haere Tonu," weré made, The latter has been splendidly recorded by voice and chorus. His "Ave Maria," sung by Mr. Harold Prescott, is said to be one of the best "Ave Marias" written. In his position as Christchurch manager for the Bristol Piano Co, Ltd., Mr. Horne, of course, is always in the centre . of musical activity in Christchurch, and for many years has been the -president of the Christchurch Orchestral Societyl He is also a prominent office-bearer in most other musical organisations in Christchurch. Rosada Lawrence. RRosava LAWRENCE (Mrs. Horne) is a native of Auckland, and asMiss Daisy Parsons was.a popular concert singer in Christchurch. Being the wife of such a successful composer, it would be remarkable if she, with her own gift of music, could refrain from composition. Although she has noé yet written a great deal, what she has written possesses distinct merit and promise. "Achal by the Sea," her latest effort, which was sung by Mr, Har old Prescott, has a peculiar appeal and atmosphere. It creates the desire to hear more from the pen of Mrs. R. A, Horne. This song appeared on practically every programme of Mr. Fraser Gange while on his successful concert tour in New Zealand two years ago, either as a programme number or encore, and he also recorded it in New York. "Achal by the Sea" was on the repertoire of Miss Bdith Harrhy during that singer’s recent New Zealand tour. Mai Burnes-Loughnan. ALTHOUGH a good pianiste and ak ways passionately fond of music. particularly the classics, the idea musical composition did not germinate with Mai Burnes-Loughnan until the Great War period, which was responsible for the discovery of much local talent, until then lying dormant. It apparently required, in some natures, the heroic atmosphere to bring it into being. The result, in Mai Burnes-Lough-nan’s case, was obviously a distinct gain to music, for she has since written several delightful songs, one of which, "Who Has Seen the Wind" was sung byoDame Clara Butt, who personally congratulated the composer after its performance. The great British contralto has sung it many times since. Two other songs of Mai Burnes-Lough-nan’s finding favour with good singers ‘are "Ships. that Pass in the Night’ and "I Walked a Mile with Pleasure," both of which have been published. On the "New Zealand evening’ "I Gave You a Gift" was sung by Mr. T. D. Williams, The violin solo, "Souvenir," is not unknown to Christchurch musical folk, as while resident in Christchurch, Miss Paula Scherek was fond of playing it. Being a daughter of Benno Scherek, a musician of international repute and the first conductor the Christchurch Orchestral Society ever had, Miss Scherek’s musical training and appreciation was of the order that would tolerate only the best, .