Splendid Orchestral Concert Next Week From 3YA

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 6, 18 August 1933, Page 2

Splendid Orchestral Concert Next Week From 3YA

Mr. Alfred Bunz To Lead Orchestra In Several Famous Numbers.

(Special to the

Radio Record

‘There will be a splendid programme of orchestral music presented from 5YA on Tuesday evening, August 22, by the Christchurch Orchestral Society. This society has an active membership of 60 players, and is conducted by Mr. Alfred J. Bunz, one of the city’s leading musicians. The ‘programme is one that will appeal to all classes of music-lovers by its variation and because most of the numbers have been heard over the air on numerous occasions.

Mr. Bunz is a painstaking conductor, and one who is. perfectly at home with his orchestra. Wagner’s overture to ""Tannhauser" is one that will give the players full scope for much artistic work. It is one of the most popular of the composer’s works. He gave to it the proportions of a great symphonic work. The thematic material may be divided

into two classes, as the motives typify the spiritual or the sensual elements which come into conflict during the story. At first the opening represents the song of the pilgrims, growing louder and louder, gradually dying away. As night falls, magic apparitions are seen; a rosy mist rises and jubilant sounds reach the ears. The Venusberg music comes on the scene, and Tannhauser appears. He is answered by wild cries, until intoxicating perfumes overwhelm _ his senses. The musie concludes with a return to the beautiful Pilgrims’ Song. Of a lighter nature is Wagner’s "Idyll" from "Siegfried." It was first performed as an "aubade" in front of Wagner‘s home at Triebschen. The work is for flute, oboe, two clarinets, one trumpet, two horns, one bassoon, and strings. "THE UNFINISHED SYMPHONY" (Schubert) is the "piece de resistance" on the programme, and should be an. interesting and. enjayable number.

M. .Bourgault-Ducoudray in his book On Schubert wrote: "Why unfinished? Did not Schubert realise how he would be ministering to his own glory in completing a work so highly coloured and individual; the first of his symphonies in which he shows himself truly original?’ The two existing movements and nine bars of the scherzo- date from the year 1822-the year in which Schubert refused the post of court organist in order to devote all his time to his creative work, The allegro movement is one of’ serene beauty, allowing for the strings and wood-wind instruments to vie with one another. In the andante the strenuous, suffering mood gives way to-calmer, but sad, feélings, the violins giving it expression. As Ducoudray in his -analysis wrote, "We seem to be looking upon the divine types of Fra Beato Angelico." Uschaikovsky’s Concerto in -B Flat Minor, op. 28, for piano and orchestra, will-see Miss Alice Hewlett at the piano. who will play the first movement, "Allegro non troppo molto maestoso." Other orchestral numbers will be two of Sibelius’s most popular works, "Valse Triste" and the popular "Finlandia." and "La Boutique Fantasque" (RossiniRaspighi). ' Mr. William Toomey will be. the soloist, and his choice of songs should suit his light baritone yoice, They are "Trees," "I Wept, Beloved," and "Prologue" from "I Pagliacci."