include Berlioz's 'King Lear' overture, Joncières' 'Sérénade Hongroise,' Beethoven's Symphony in D, and a pianoforte or violin concerto. The choirs connected with religious societies as usual The devote their energies to well-known oratorios. Young Men's Christian Association Choir, Central Section, will give the Messiah' and 'Judas Maccabæus,' the Southern Section, Samson,' and the choir of the Sunday School Union The Creation,' while Elijah' forms the winter's programme of the choir of Renfield Street United Free Church. 4 Of suburban societies the following arrangements are announced: Cambuslang Choral Union (Mr. Herbert and Walton, conductor), Elijah,' the Messiah' Stanford's 'The Revenge'; Dumbarton Choral Union (Mr. E. C. Owston, conductor), The Creation,' the same work being selected by Hamilton Choral Union (Mr. T. S. Drummond, conductor). Much success has attended Mr. Herbert Walton's autumn series of organ recitals at the Cathedral. In this the first series of recitals since the enlargement of the organ, Mr. Walton had fitly associated with him Dr. Peace, his predecessor in that premier post, and Sir Walter Parratt, his former teacher at the Royal College of Music. New organs have this month been opened' by Dr. Peace in Pollokshields Congregational Church, and by Mr. Thomas Berry in Pollok Street United Free Church. MUSIC IN LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT. (FROM OUR OWN correspondent.) ་ Time will demonstrate whether the season 1903-4 intends to go out like a lion, but it certainly shows every sign of coming in like a lamb.' After a summer of absolute stagnation, even now there is shown no However, the first hungry desire to get to work. Philharmonic Society concert is announced for the 6th inst. The outstanding features of the Society's of Samson et Dalila' season are the promise (Saint-Saëns) and the arrangement of two-instead of one as heretofore 'Grand Orchestral Nights' with increased orchestra. Dr. Frederick Cowen will again be at his old post twelve conductor of the concerts. as Mr. H. A. Branscombe is again to act as chorusmaster, whilst the Society's affairs' are again safeguarded by business-like Mr. George Broadbent, the Secretary, who has rendered Trojan service for an organization now just about to enter upon its sixty-fifth season. Mr. A. I am given to understand that the forthcoming season of the Orchestral Society is likely to prove no less satisfying than those which have preceded it. E. Rodewald has done so much for music in these parts that one would like to see his good work meet with even ampler reward in the time to come than it has done in the past. Mr. Henry J. Wood will bring his orchestra in February ; at this concert Miss Marie Hall and Mrs. Henry J. Wood will also appear. Dr. Richter is announced to give us three programmes during the opening months of next year. The Societa Armonica, an organization of high artistic worth, again puts forward a scheme of singular interest, under the direction of Mr. Vasco Akeroyd; Mr. Theodore Lawson has made some interesting plans for his usual series of chamber concerts; and Mr. Ernst Schiever promises us that he will again be responsible for several string quartette' programmes. The Wirral Amateur Orchestral Society (conductor Mr. Ernst Schiever) is shortly to put several important works into rehearsal. The Liverpool Musical Society (conductor Mr. D. O. Parry) has prepared a comprehensive scheme, and the Liscard Orchestral Society, under the direction of Mr. Philip Smart, will give several concerts during the MUSIC IN MANCHESTER AND DISTRICT. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Competition Festivals are growing more and more popular in North Lancashire. Fired by the example of Morecambe, musical Blackpool has established an annual The latest addition to competition, which will be held for the third time on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of this month. such meetings is due to the enterprise of Lytham, near In Manchester a Blackpool, where the first festival was announced to be held on the 25th and 26th ult. season that promises to be the busiest on record will be The most in full swing before the end of the month. important of the established Manchester series are the Halle and Brodsky concerts, the one taking the lead in orchestral and choral, the other in chamber music; the Brand Lane concerts held on Saturday evenings with choral pieces by the Philharmonic Choir (on festival scale) and with many miscellaneous solo performances by stars'; the Gentlemen's concerts, some with small orchestra, others taking the form of recitals; concerts of the Manchester Vocal Society (conductor, Dr. Watson), which is a choir on a smaller scale than the Hallé and Brand Lane organizations; and the Schiller Anstalt concerts, managed by Mr. Fuchs, which vary in character, but are The announcements show that all never orchestral. these concert institutions will be in full activity during the coming season. The concerts given usually on certain Wednesday management of Messrs. Broadwood. In the Hallé scheme for the season the choral works MUSIC IN NEWCASTLE. Popular music instruction in the Newcastle district received a distinct impetus and encouragement by the meetings of the convention of music teachers, held here on the roth, 11th, and 12th ult., under the general presidency of Mr. J. Spencer Curwen. Professional gatherings of musicians fulfil a good purpose, but here we had a large number of amateurs mixing in friendly conference with well-known professional men gathered from various parts of the kingdom. It is on such occasions that one realizes how greatly musical propaganda depends upon the enthusiasm of amateurs and their desire to do something for themselves and for others. The Newcastle district can claim a special distinction in keenness, for I understand that at no previous conventions of this kind, held at other provincial towns, was the attendance so uniformly good and the interest so well maintained. The papers read during the conference-which was held in the Lecture Theatre of the Literary Philosophical Society-were nearly all of a practical character. Mr. W. J. Kidner (Bristol) liberally gave away his excellent ideas on the formation and management of male-voice choirs; Dr. Warriner philosophised on 'efficiency and success as a teacher of music'; Mrs. Curwen, whose apostleship of rationality in pianoforte teaching is well known, dealt with her favourite topic in her usual lucid style; Dr. Fisher (Blackpool) also spoke on matters connected with pianoforte playing; Mr. Newton Laycock (Gateshead), Mr. W. D. Oliver (Newcastle), Mr. Henry J. Finney (London), Mr. W. Harding Bonner (London), Mr. R. L. Reid (Glasgow), all dealt with school music teaching. Choirs were catered for by Dr. Coward, who gave an address on the tendencies of modern music, with special reference to Choral Singing, and by Mr. L. C. Venables, who gave a Lantern Lecture on the Aid to Choirmasters afforded by the Tonic Sol-fa notation. Mr. S. Filmer Rook (London), gave the audience a free lesson in Breathing and Resonance, and Mr. N. Kilburn (Bishop Auckland), read a paper on Music in Home, Hall and Church. Finally, and very happily, Mr. R. Oliver Heslop, who has more than local fame as an antiquary, gave a most entertaining and instructive lecture on "Folk Songs and Melodies of Northumbria." Among the Chairmen at the various meetings we had Mr. C. Francis Lloyd (Sunderland), and Dr. Huntley. The Nottingham Orchestral Concerts, under the same management, will perform Mozart's G minor and Brahms's D major Symphonies. Mr. Allen Gill retains the direction of both series. West Bridgford, a growing suburb of Nottingham, possesses a Choral Society which intends to give Haydn's Creation,' Elgar's Banner of St. George,' and Leoni's Gate of Life' during the coming season. In the field of chamber music, Miss Cantelo issues an attractive programme with such names as Mr. Louis Pecskai, Mr. Willy Hess, and the Kruse Quartet, for her seventh season in Nottingham. At Leicester the New Musical Society has issued a very interesting scheme, which includes Gounod's Messe Solennelle,' Cowen's 'St. John's Eve,' and Dr. Crotch's 'Palestine,' a work that is very rarely performed. The Philharmonic Society at Grantham intends to give a performance of Handel's Israel' and Smart's Bride of Dunkerron.' The Sleaford Society is not unlikely to resume its practices with Gade's Crusaders,' which it was unable to perform last season. The Loughborough Philharmonic Society will put Acis and Galatea' in rehearsal. The Stapleford Choral Society has arranged dates for the Messiah,' Elijah,' and Jaxon's Story of Elaine.' The Boston Society has commenced rehearsals of Haydn's Creation' for their first concert. MUSIC IN SHEFFIELD AND DISTRICT. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The results of the September meetings of the various musical societies indicate no diminution of activity in the doings of choral organizations of the city and district. The Sheffield Musical Union (Dr. Coward) issues a comprehensive syllabus which includes performances of The Dream of Gerontius' (November 17), the Messiah' (December 15), and Mackenzie's The Dream of Jubal (March 22, 1904). The Sheffield Orchestra, which suspended operations during last season, has been secured for all three concerts. The Sheffield Amateur Musical Society (Mr. Schollhammer) announces Dvorák's 'Stabat Mater and Spohr's God, Thou art great' for December 21. The Sheffield Choral Union (Mr. J. Duffell) has recommenced rehearsals with Parry's Blest Pair of Sirens,' and the Sheffield Male Glee and Madrigal Society (Mr. J. A. Rodgers) is preparing a varied programme of unaccompanied music in addition to Mendelssohn's To the Sons of Art.' Among the numerous suburban and district societies there is no lack of enterprise. A new body, the Heeley Musical Union (Mr. M. Tomlinson), comes forward with Coward's 'Story of Bethany' and Gadsby's Lord of the Isles; the St. Peter's (Abbeydale) Choral Society (Mr. William Gadsby) announces Gade's The Crusaders.' The Penistone and District Choral Society (Mr. J. Cooper) has in hand Handel's 'Judas Maccabæus' and Mendelssohn's Hear my prayer'; while the Burngreave Choral Society (Mr. H. C. Jackson) promises Costa's Eli,' Mendelssohn's Hymn of Praise and the Messiah.' The Doncaster Choral Society (Mr. T. Brameld) offers its patrons Elgar's 'King Olaf' and Coleridge-Taylor's 'Meg Blane. Later on they will join forces with the Rotherham Choral Society and give Coleridge-Taylor's 'Hiawatha ' trilogy. The Barnsley St. Cecilia Society (Dr. Coward) favours both ancient and modern in Handel's 'Acis and Galatea' (December 17) and Elgar's King Olaf' (March 24, 1904). The Norton Lees Choral Society (Mr. Horace Reynolds) has selected Smart's Bride of Dunkerron,' and the Chapeltown and District Sacred Harmonic Society the Musical Society (Mr. Hamilton White) announces (Mr. T. Bool) Handel's Judas Maccabæus.' At Worksop, Mackenzie's The Bride,' Van Bree's St. Cecilia's Day,' Coleridge-Taylor's ' Hiawatha,' and Stanford's Phaudrig Crohoore.' The Hoyland Common Choral Society Galatea and the Messiah.' (Mr. C. R. Senior) is busy with Handel's 'Acis and Obituary. Mr. Among the deaths which have recently taken place we have to record with regret the following: On August 30, at Doncaster, aged 77, Mr. SAMUEL MEACOCK, J.P., head of the old-established firm of Messrs. S. Meacock and Son, music-dealers and organ-builders in that town. Meacock served with distinction the office of Mayor in 1880, and as a Justice of the Peace of Doncaster and Chairman of the Wheatley School Board he discharged important public duties with the same zeal that characterized his business aptitude.--On the 13th ult. Mrs. ROBERT BARNBY, widow of Robert Barnby, a distinguished alto singer-a former gentleman of the Chapel Royal and a Vicar-Choral of Westminster Abbey-who died in 1875. Mrs. Barnby was a sister of the late James Coward, for many years organist of the Crystal Palace, and sister-inlaw of the late Sir Joseph Barnby.ANDERTON died at his home at Edgbaston on the 18th ult. He was formerly a prominent figure in the musical life of Birmingham as a journalist, lecturer, concert-giver, and composer. In the latter capacity he was perhaps best known by his cantata 'The Wreck of the Hesperus '; a similar work, entitled Yule Tide,' was produced at the Birmingham Festival of 1885. Mr. Anderton was born in Birmingham, April 15, 1836. -Mr. THOMAS The Amateur Chamber Music Society has issued an interesting prospectus for the coming season. Among the works announced are the following, which have never been publicly performed in England: Sextet by Quef, Divertimento by Mozart, Quintet by Austin, and Serenade by Jadassohn. The President of the Society is Dr. W. H. Cummings, while its musical direction is safe in the competent hands of Mr. George A. Clinton. The Hon. Secretary is Mr. A. M. Donald, 57, Chestnut Road, West Norwood. 4 Miscellaneous. Mr. Fred W. Meir, Secretary of the North Staffordshire District Choral Society, writes: Foreign Motes. BERLIN. The Stern Choral Society will perform this season on the anniversary of 'On reading a report of the Royal National Eisteddfod Mendelssohn's St. Paul' 'Ein' feste contained in the current issue of the "Musical Herald," the composer's death, Bach's cantata I am amazed to find the following statement:-"Two Burg,' Enrico Bossi's Hohes Lied,' and Beethoven's days previously the fine North Staffordshire choir were also included in the present concert scheme of the Missa solemnis'; the last-named work, by-the-way, is beaten at Corwen." Now these words are very misleading. One cannot for a moment think that the Singakademie.The Philharmonic Choir, under the writer of the notice is ignorant of the fact that there is direction of Siegfried Ochs, will perform Bach's B minor more than one choir or choral society in North Mass, the Requiems of Berlioz and Brahms, and, Staffordshire to which his remarks may be applied. by way of novelty, some choruses of Hugo Wolf. Therefore, in justice to the North Staffordshire District Choral Society, of which Mr. James Whewall is the conductor, permit me to say that this Society does not take part in those minor or local Eisteddfodau which are promoted chiefly to create and maintain local vocal interest-all honour to the promoters and their object. The only Eisteddfodau at which the North Staffordshire Choral Society have competed are those of the Royal National of 1901 and 1902, held at Merthyr and Bangor respectively, with, I am glad to say, successful results on each occasion in gaining the chief honours. Let me add that too much cannot be said in praise of the reception of us by our Welsh friends on both occasions.' Professor Johann Kruse has engaged Mr. Hobday, the well-known viola player, for his Quartet, in place of Mr. A. E. Férir, who is about to leave London for Boston. The Kruse Quartet will now consist entirely of British musicians, Professor Kruse himself having been born in Melbourne, Australia. The Royal Choral Society will perform the following works during the coming season: Elijah,' Messiah, Israel in Egypt,' The Song of Hiawatha,' The Atonement (Coleridge-Taylor), War and Peace' (Parry), and Callirhoë' (Bridge). -Victor Holländer's operetta König Rampsinit' has been given here several times with considerable success. A new work of the same kind, Der Sonnenvogel,' has been produced here by a travelling Viennese company and favourably received. BORNES. A public square has been named after the veteran composer Ernst Reyer, who spends the summer here in his charming castle. M. Georges Leygues, former Minister of Fine-Arts, was announced to preside over the ceremony of inauguration on the 20th ult. It is not often that composers are thus honoured during their lifetime. August Enna, the Danish composer, author of 'The Witch, Cleopatra,' &c., has just completed a new opera, The Death of Antony,' which is to be produced here during the forthcoming season. CÔTE-SAINT-ANDRÉ. On the Sunday after the festival at Grenoble, the small town in which Berlioz was born paid-though in humbler, if perhaps in more heart-felt manner-its homage to the master. Berlioz is represented there by a statue, a copy of the one set up in the Place Vintimille, Paris, and on the day in question a Berlioz museum was inaugurated in the very house in which the composer was born. It contains the romances with guitar accompaniment written by him in early youth, and other autographs; the crown of massive silver sent in 1861 to Berlioz from Hungary: the score of Roméo et Juliette' presented to the King of Prussia. MM. Ernst Reyer, the old friend of the master, and Saint-Saëns were both expected to be present at the opening ceremony, but both excused themselves, the one on the ground of advanced age, the other of fatigue caused by the performances at Béziers. Their absence was the subject of general regret. Performances were given in the evening of the Carnaval Romain overture, fragments from Harold en Italie and Mr. Frank Tours is conducting the orchestra at Daly's L'Enfance du Christ,' and the Hungarian' and Theatre, New York, with great success. The Memoirs of Hector Berlioz, in a new translation by Miss Katharine F. Boult, will shortly be issued by Messrs. Dent in their Temple Autobiographies' series. 'Hamlet' Marches. M. A. Carré we imagine has some scheme sur le tapis for the Berlioz Centenary in December. A writer in Le Monde Musical suggests that on such an occasion he could not place Les Troyens' and perhaps Benvenuto Cellini' in better hands than those of M. Bruneau, who, by-the-way, entered upon his duties at the Opèra Comique in September by conducting Carmen.' The autumn season commenced on August 26 with Charpentier's Louise,' under the conductorship of Messager, when notwithstanding the great heat the theatre was crowded. M. Carré, who hitherto has complied with the condition requiring him to have ten performances every year at popular prices, has offered to the Minister of Fine-Arts to give them every Monday, excepting during the holidays. The first, on the 7th ult., was Le Domino Noir.' • This excellent scheme will meet with general approval.-The Châtelet concerts under the direction of M. Edouard Colonne recommence the 18th inst. A Berlioz cycle is to be given in December. ST. PETErsburg, The Russian Opera will commence its winter season at the Conservatorium on the 14th inst. The management only gives Russian operas. Novelties by Sserow (Judith'), Inferow (Antony and Cleopatra '), RimskyKorsakow, &c., will be produced. During the month of August performances of Rubinstein's Nero' were given at the Imperial Theatre. Answers to Correspondents. As KATHLEEN.-(1) We sympathise with you in your difficulty, and admire your determination to improve your ear and musicianship. You are young, so do not despair, or regard yourself as a hopeless case.' the first step in the right direction, join a tonic sol-fa singing-class under a good teacher, and derive all the benefit you can from the ear-training advantages of the system and its remarkable results, and let us know how you get on. We are glad to hear that you are very fond of Music (with a capital M,' and we hope that you will soon make Capital (with a capital C) progress. (2) For arrangements for a two-manual organ of favourite airs from the oratorios of Handel and Mendelssohn try the following:-Airs from ' Elijah ' (Books 1 and 2), and four airs from 'St. Paul,' all arranged by George Calkin; 'I know that my Redeemer liveth and Rejoice greatly, arranged by Westbrook ; Angels ever bright and fair,' Return, O Lord of Hosts, and Lord, remember David,' arranged by Dunstan. DORA. No wonder you enjoy accompanying your friend-especially if he be a special friend-when he sings Hatton's glorious song To Anthea.' Who would not? You ask for any kind of history about it.' Well, you probably know that the words, no less delightful than the music associated with them, are by Robert Herrick (15911674), of whom it has been truly said: 'the fresh fragrance of English meadows lives in his verse, and will beget perpetual delight as long as English literature is read.' The earliest known setting of 'To Anthea' is by Henry Lawes, which appeared in John Playford's Treasury of Music,' 1699, where the song is entitled 'Love's Votary.' Hatton's setting was first published in 1850, yet it is as fresh to-day as when it was written. In the preface to a volume of Herrick's songs set to music by Hatton, the composer says: The songs forming the contents of this volume were written at different times and under various circumstances. Some few of them were composed previous to my departure to America in the autumn of the year 1848, and presented as little souvenirs to several of my friends on leaving England. The rest, with one exception, I wrote out entirely for my own amusement during the time I was away, and all of them were composed without any view to their publication. This statement I think it necessary make in order to account for the fragmentary, scrap-like form of some of them. England I was urged by one of my friends, who On my return to was cognisant of what I had done, to make a complete collection of these little compositions, and publish them in a consolidated form. The kindness of my friends in returning me some of my MSS. has enabled me to do this, and I now send these songs forth into the world, satisfied if they should be the means, in however humble a degree, of adding to the material of musical enjoyment, or of contributing anything to the regeneration of the popular taste in an important department of chamber music. London, August, 1850.' John Liptrot Hattonwho published many of his songs under the pseudonym of Czapek, in order to make it appear as if they were the product of a foreigner!—was born at Liverpool in 1809, a memorable year as being that in which Mendelssohn, Tennyson, and Gladstone made their several entrances into the world. In playing the accompaniment to 'To Anthea,' let it go; never mind your friend's breath, or the want of it! He'll live and die for thee.' cannot execute to HOPE. For your violinist friend who has played Brahms and is capable of a really good thing, though he enormous difficulties,' we venture to recommend the following good compositions for the violin Fantasie éspagnole, Lalo; Concerto romantique, Godard; Suite and Sonata, Sinding; Sonata in G minor, Sjögren; Sonata (Op. 35), Grädener; Sonata (Op. 18) and Concerto, Richard Strauss; Sonata grazioso (Op. 119), Huber; Sonata (Op. 1), Wolf-Ferrari. WINDSORITE. (1) Stopped diapason and Principal seem to be necessary for a proper complement of stops on the swell manual. The solitary pedal stop (Bourdon) must surely be of 16-ft., not 8-ft. pitch. (2) Your range of study, though not without some good features, has been rather limited Why not take some lessons of a good teacher? This would not only give you a fresh stimulus, but you would also obtain the advice you need for your studies better than we could give it to you. H. J. B.-The words you submit to us—' humbled' and in singing as you seem to think if they are uttered 'sprinkled '- —are really not so difficult of pronunciation naturally with emphasis on the first syllable and an unaffected enunciation of the final consonant. You would make far too much of the second and unaccented syllable by singing hum boold,' and latter distorting the word); and what shall be said of 'sprin-koold' (in the hum-bled' and 'sprin-kled'? T. F. H.-(1) The old German cradle song 'Schlaf, Kindchen, schlaf,' is published in a volume of Wiegenlieder edited by Friedländer, and published in the Peters edition. (2) The title of the German students' song you require (of which you send us the refrain) is Mädchens Klage,' composed by Düringer. Newcastle Nottingham and District Sheffield and District TEN YEARS' READER.-Your diploma of L.R.A.M. and long pupilage should help you in obtaining a post such as you desire. We cannot think of any other way of advising you than in advertising and making application by letter to likely Principals of schools. As you live in a music-loving district you will doubtless find frequent Answers to Correspondents opportunities of making yourself known. H. G.-Haydn's Hymn to the Emperor (The Austrian National Hymn) forms the theme (with variations) of the slow movement of his String Quartet, Op. 76, No. 3. A reliable arrangement for the pianoforte, keeping as nearly as possible to the original form of the movement, may be obtained from Messrs. Novello. H. J. G.-Go to a skilful oculist without delay. You would find one at Birmingham, if there should not be one in your own town upon whom you could rely. State your case fully and be careful, or the consequences might be serious. G. C.-The following church cantatas will be found suitable for performance during Advent: The two Advents (Garrett), Advent Hymn (Schumann), Blessed Obituary ... Four-part Song- Fair daffodils.'-Arthur Sullivan TWO Page 641 650 extra Supplements are issued with the present number: 1. Portrait of Dr. Joseph Pring, Organist of Banger Cathedral from 1793 to 1842. 2. Part-Song 'The Message Bringers'-H. Waldo Warner. DURING THE LAST MONTH. Published by NOVELLO & CO., LIMITED. BRADLEY, CHARLES L.-Two Songs: 1. Song of the Ocean"; 2. "Song of the road." For are they who watch (Blair), and The Second Advent Tenor. 2S. (Prendergast). HILDA. We have not yet heard of any examination for performers on the pianola, but the testing time for pianolaists will doubtless come in time. What a time the examiners will have! W. F. M.-(1) We cannot differentiate between the diplomas-such as they are-you mention. (2) Yes, at Trinity College, London. (3) Bridge and Sawyer's Course of Harmony' would certainly be of use to you. VALSE LENTE -When a footman was asked: Is life worth living?' he replied: It all depends upon the livery.' The analogy will apply to your pianoforte interrogation it all depends upon the piano. W. H. G.-A letter addressed to Dr. Dvorák at the Conservatorium, Prague, would doubtless reach the composer of The Spectre's Bride.' the examiners of your physical defect, for which they HERVEY, ARTHUR Youth." A Concert Overture, for Orchestra. Pianoforte Arrangement. 2s. 6d OBY, CHARLES "Under the greenwood tree.' Novello's Octavo Edition of Two-part Songs.) 3d. mean gentlemen singers, or lady Two-part Song, for Female Voices. (No. 127. Barcarolle." Two-part Song, for Female Voices. (No. 128. Novello's Octavo Édition of Two-part Songs.) 2d. ARVIS, REV. F. A.-"Just as I am, without one plea." Anthem, for Tenor Solo and Chorus. 2d. JORDAN, WARWICK "The Saints of God." "Short Anthem, for Saints' Days. 3d. LITANY, as sung in Salisbury Cathedral. On Card. MARKS, J. CHRISTOPHER-Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, in B flat. (No. 639. Novello's Parish Choir Book.) 4d. Mc CEWEN, JOHN B.-String Quartet, in A minor. |