Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-07-19

letter days and nights with the orches-
ira. On Monday afternoon we were
surprised with a new leader protein,
MI. Meyer, in the absence of Mr.. Pfeiffer.
He conducted a splendid program with
discretion, and received applause for
his work in his new position. Grieg'sde-
lightful genre piece, ITO Spring." was
given splendidly, though a trife slow.
Nicolai's "Merry Wives of Windsor"
is a delightful piece of writing, but
what a pity he has written it in such
a serious vein. One of the reasons so
many operas fail is because the COM
posers fail to take into question the Ii
bretto t. which they are writing. The
Merry Wives Is purely a comedy.
Verdi in his Falstaff comes more near
ly to reaching the level of comedy spirit
than almost any other composer. De-
Koven could possibly make a comedy
opera out of it that would prove almost
as great a success as his "RobinH ood.n
Monday evening, we had the everlast-
ing "Rosary" as a cornet solo. While
q beautiful writing, | sometimes feel it
is being overdone, and does not receive
the attention it should from a receptive
audience. There are so many other
pieces that the cornet could give Salts
factorily that 1 would suggest that the
Rosary be given a little rest unless
requested 1 was fortunate in being
taught this piece by the composer him
lself, and he said to me that it was a
"Prayer" and should be played in the
reverent spirit, and yet seldom do we
hear a player or singer give it with this
idea. 1 am giving this much time to
the Rosary, for unless it is played or
sung by the greatest of artists nowadays
1t is apt to fall somewhat fiat. Pfeiff-
er's Interpretation of the "Jewels OF
the Madonna" Is fine. These two inter-
place in programme music ultimately,
as the intermezzo from Cavelleria.
Svendson's Norwegian rhapsody was
fine.
Tuesday, the 9th, we had the Semir-
amide overture by Rossini, SO well done
that an encore was in order. And such
encores as Mr.. Pfeiffer is giving US this
year ought to draw every lover of mus
ic. They range from the daintiest of
a%rabesques to the ~'heaviest" of jazz
music. And right here, while l have al
ways been an idealist on classic music,
I want to say that the jazz music has
been evolved from the syncopated mu-
sic of the earlier great composers and
possibly it is going to find its perma-
nent place in our musical circles. 1t
is certainly such music that gives the
swing to the patriotic songs Of this
war, and we must accord jazz music a
place in all repertoires. The same day
we had the Bacchanale from st. Saens'
Samson and Delilah. fully as 'jszzy" in
its own way, as some frankly so-called
jazz music. lam changing my attitude
toward this class of music alters winter
spent in catering to the musical tastes
of the sailors at League Island. If mu-
sic swings the life of a nation or people,
we shall have to accept the lighter
music, as it is making our young men
in the wal develop spirit that is going
to win out for us in the end.
Wednesday we had a curious after
noon programme. With the welcome
Stradella overture, we had a Russia ar
folk dance song, the Boatman on the
Volga, and then the ever welcome Step
hany Gavotte, splendidly played, after
which came some very weird music,
the Sigurd Jorsalfar suite of Grieg.
Then a Strauss waltz, and some Her
bert music.
Wednesday night we had Mr.. Arge-
wicz as cellist. This man is temper
amental to a degree and the way he
played that wonderful Hebrew plain t.,
Kol Nidrei, was almost superhuman.
His cello sings, cries out in agon y,
laughs, and then breaks out into songs
of triumph. Here is an artist to
whom 1 listen with great delight.
Thursday night we had a so called
american Popular Night" with our
most popular American composer,
Victor Herbert, left out. Is 1t becau Sc
Victor Herbert is more than American
and now cosmopolitan? But we were
given some good music just the same.
Friday afternoon we listened to the
Spinning Wheel of Omphale by ST.
Saens. This is a programme piece
that should have a place in our con
certs more often. 1t is beautiful, and
was very well done.
Friday night that lovely violin of Mr..
Meyer was again persuaded to sing
to is the beautiful Legende of
Wieniawski. 1 have praised Mr..