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MUSICAL NOTES.
The Liedertafel concert on Thursday next
will present some features of special interest,
prominent among them being the appear
ance of Madame Gabriele Boema, the most
eminent soprano vocalist in the Australian
colonies. Mr R. L. Nicholl will also sing
for the first time siuce his recent severe ill
ness.
A subscription is being got up in Loudon
for Madame Arabella Goddard, once a famous
pianiste. She is in failing health, and has
applied to the Royat College of Musicians
for assistance.
The Argun notices that there was, perhaps,
never a time when so muny royal personages
performed on musical instruments. “ Her
Majesty the Queen and the Princess Louise
are skillful organists. The Prince of Wales
plays upon the banjo, and the Princess, in
spite of her deafness, is a clever pianiste.
The Duke of Edinburgh, it is well known,
is much attached to Ills fiddle; and the Duke
of Connaught spends a good deal of time in
company with his flute; while Prince
Henry of Battenburg is said to produce
extraordinary effects by means of an ivory
comb covered with tissue paper. The Czar
of Russia excels ou the coruet apistons; King
George of Greece practises on a peal of hand
bells and a rock harinonicon; the Empress of
Austria is an accomplished zither player;
and Elizabeth of Roumauia shines as an
harpist.”
Mr H. R. West, a musician bringing high
credentials from New Zealand, has arrived in
Ballarat, where he intends to settle and prac
tise his profession. Mr West is a professor
of singing, a good violinist, and an excellent
organist. Two of his sons arc members of
the Victorian Orchestra.
A plebiscite concert is to be given in Mel
bourne by the Victorian Orchestra. Patrons
are to vote for the pieces they would most
like to hear, and the compositions for which
the greatest number of votes ure recorded
will constitute the programme at the pro
mised concert. The idea is a good one, and
the result should give a fair indication of the
present status of the musical educutioiiof the
people of Melbourne.
A parody ou Veidi’s “ Otello,” entitled
“ The Moor of Alcantara,’’ is being success
fully performed at Lisbon, the musical author
being one Signor Stichiui.
A concert is being organised by Mr J. P.
Daly for the beuefit of Mrs Walker, a widow
whose husband died recently in the hospital.
Mrs Walker, who is unprovided for, has
resided in Ballarat for nearly 30 years, and
there can be little doubt that Mr Daly’s
kind efforts will receive substantial public
encouragement aud support. Messrs R. J.
Uuuu, A. Kortlang, \V. Kean, the Misses
Sherlock, and other local celebrities have
generously offered their services.
Change ringing ou a peal of bells is au
interesting aud engrossiug art, which has
been practised for more than 200 years, even
by persons of rank aud education. “ Change
ringing” is the constant production of
changes without repetition from the time
that the bells leave the position of “ rounds”
till they return to that position again.
Various methods have been devised in the
arrangement of the variations which in a
large peal of bells reaches to many millions
of changes. Three Leila will give six changes.
On five bells 120 changes can be rung in about
five minutes. Niue bells will give 362,550
changes,-aud would occupy over 10 Hays iu
the ringing; while a full peal of 12 hells
would yield 479,001,600 uhnnges, which it
would take something like 40 years to get
through !
NEW MUSIC.
We hare received from the author a set of
musical tubleaux, entitled “ Beneath Austra
lian skies.” The words are written by Mr
H. A. Corbett (late of Ballarat), and the music
is composed by Mr E. Lloyd, organist and
choir master of St. Stephen’s Church, Rich
mond. This little'work is iu cantata form,
and is arranged for the introduction of
scenic effects of a simple character. The
choruses, duets, aud solos are light and
melodious, aud very effective for their in
tended put pose. .The solos are to be sung
“in character,” to represent “Britannia,”
“ The cockatoo farmer," “ Flora,” “ The
British tourist.” and “The spirit of the
Southern Cross.” The cantata, in its design'
and execution, is one of the best things of
the kind that we have seen for
some time, and should prove acceptable to
schools ami choirs who are in want of mate
rial for a good evening’s entertainment. The
composer has not displayed a large amount
of ambition in his work; but there is evi
dence of sound musicianship iu what lie has
done. The music is pretty aud “catchy,”
ami Mr Corbett’s descriptive verses are well
writteu. “ Beueath Australian skies” should
find a ready sale.
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