MUSIC
A New Composer.
ANTONY HoPtcno is a new name to me, but, after hearing his cantata, "Crown of Gold," at Mr. Jani Strasser's concert last week, it is a name that will arouse interest when it occurs again. Here is clearly a young musician with something to say, though what it is he wishes to express he has not, I feel, yet made up his mind. For in the present work he has hitched his chariot to a text that can only be described as transcendental balderdash. This text has been solemnly printed together with an original version, which is no more intelligible, representing what the author wrote before the composer got to work on it. The composer's view seems to have been that as much as possible of it should be severely cut. He should have been more drastic still, and found a better poet.
Yet, although the resulting composition seemed to lack any real coherence, its several movements are distinguished by a genuine musical invention. The composer's talent, to rate his gifts no higher, is at present uncertain. He will give every sign of developing a thete to a memorable and moving climax, and then, at the last moment, cheat us of the expected emotional release. He fails in this way notably in the otherwise beautiful soprano solo, sung by Miss Elizabeth Abercrombie, which is the crux of the work and should be its crown of gold.
As to influence, it is interesting to note that the young composer of to-day, unlike his father of 3o years ago, does not seeek refuge from a hard, unpleasant world in cynicism and triviality. Mr. Hopkins, for example, pays homage to Purcell, one of whose grounds in Dido and Aeneas he almost imitates. Another influence, more strongly felt in the mysticism which the music expresses than in the musical idiom itself, is that of Gustav Hoist.
This work was one-item in a concert that was wholly delightful. There was a fine dramatic piece by Purcell sung by Mr. Strasser, a group of Haydn's Scottish Songs sung by Miss Catherine Lawson, also a new name to me and one to be noted as connected with a beautiful contralto voice, and, most enchanting of all, a group Of Donizetti's songs arranged with accompaniments for oboes and strings by Mr. Strasser. Someone will be discovering Bellini next!
DYNELEY HUSSEY
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