Galt Collegiate Institute and Vocational School - Specula Galtonia Yearbook (Galt, Ontario Canada)

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PARATU 'l C U L' A A PAHATUS - f G 1-TOM .. - gmlgll fill R301 GNU 9- p Music is the universal language of all mankind. M Pad erewski By MARDELL PRATT HE most memorable musical event in Canada during the waning days of 1930 was the celebration by Ignaz Jan Paderewski, of his sevenntieth birthday, in the form of a recital at Massey Hall, Toronto. Toronto has thus been the scene of two memorable occasions in the life of the great pianist, for it was in this city during the autumn of 1922 that he returned to the concert stage, after 'his adventure in Polish politics. In Goethe's words, one must be able to command poetry: one must have mind and soul, as well as a supple wrist and pliable fingers, if he would reach the heart of lisiteners through the keyboard. And Paderewski meets this demand, for all who heard his recital declared that he played better than in the previous thirty- eight years of his career, regardless of his advancing age. Paderewski is and has been for many decades the foremost of living Poles in any vocation. He was born at Krulovka, Russian Poland, in 1860. He attributes his talent to his mother, who was musical, and started him playing, when he was only three. His father, for some political offence, had suffered six years' imprison- ment in Siberia. He received his early training at the Warsaw Conservatoire, and after six years, when the Conserva- toire had done all it could for him, he was elected professor at the institution. Later he joined the staff of the Strassburg Con- servatoire. He revealed exceptional talent and am- bition, and wishing to become a virtuoso he placed himself under the tuition of Theodor Lescheltitzky, of Vienna. Paderewski made his debut in 1887 be- fore the critical public of Vienna. At once he was acclaimed one of the most remarkable pianists of the dayg and from that time onward his career has been a succession of triumphs. The following year he played in Paris. The beginning 53 of his international fame may be said to date from his first appearance in London, in the early summer of 1890. English critics at once proclaimed him a genius. Their laudations were fthe open sesame to the profitable field of America. After his sensational success in New York in the Autumn of 1891, he became a world figure. In addition to striking individuality and 'ripe musicianship, he is strongly emo- tional, and possesses that curiously in- definable thing we call magnetism, which never fails to enchain the attenition of the public. His flying aureole of silken hair is in itself an asset. But though the public laughed at jokes about his hair, every lover of beautiful interpreltation gloried in his playing, and his Minuet became as popular as the Stein Song is to-day. During the season or two which pre- ceded the war, he was a victim of neurosis. His playing became rather faulty, and he often felt impelled to cancel engagements. When the war broke out he absolutely abandoned music and threw himself pas- sionately into the cause of restoring the national autonomy of Poland. He gave away a vast fortune in furthering his aims and succeeded in securing recogni- tion of Polish demands in the Treaty of Versailles. As a reward he was made first President of the revived nation, but soon had to admit defeat. In 1920 he left Warsaw, a sick and ruined man, heavily in debt, the victim of an attempted mur- der. Through lthe generosity of American friends he lived in California until his health was restored. In 1922 he returned to the concert stage. At Massey Hall, where he made his return, he received an ovation that in Toronto had never been equalled for enthusiasm.

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'fa f' --4' s 2- . 5PE?U'-A buys the much needed medical attention necessary for the boy. An allegory such as this might not appeal to the average student body, which seeks to be amused rather than elevated, but on the whole it was very well re- ceived, due, in part, to the excellent di- rection by Mr. Hale, and the splendid co- operation of the cast. Descending from the sublime to the ridiculous, at the next meeting we wit- nessed one of those jolly old spelling matches-you know, the sort that used to inspire us to nights of frenzied study in public school days, so very long ago? Those who proved adepit in this particular type of sport-or what have you-were chosen from each form, and all gathered on the stage of the Assembly Hall, when the great event had finally arrived. Mr. McKee bombarded the eager war- riors with words both obsolete and ob- stinate, whic'h gradually put to flight all but lthe victor, who stood bloody but un- bowed -a first former as you have prob- ably surmised. :lf Plf ,lf The Green Diamond, a clever and thrilling play written by Mr. Elton. of the Technical Department, and direcited by Mr. Stewart, was the second play pre- sented under the auspices of the Literary Society. To say that lthis play met with instant success from its enthusiastic au- dience, is putting it mildly-in fact, if we may presume, we think that Mr. Elton has out-Edgared good old Edgar Wallace 'himself. This story which progresses swiftly from one dramatic episode to another, takes place in a long-deserted Manor on the sea-coast of England. It is concerned with the finding of a ll in P' E . - ' ' I' 1 C+ A '-T9 N ' c -5 hidden diamond taken from the eye of a Chinese idol, consequently it inflicted a deadly curse on those possessing it other than the legitimate owners, the Chinese. Into the room are brought, in order, a wicked, degenerate villain of a sea-captain with all the earmarks of his calling, in- cluding a wooden leg and an iron ho-ok, the young gentleman of noble blood upon whose family the curse has fastened, and his fiancee, a Chinaman who has been sent by his master to secure the jewel, and of course, the inevitable detecitive from Scotland Yard. All are seeking the fatal diamond which, for t-hree genera- tions, has caused death to all males, be- fore their thirtieth birthday, of this par- ticular English family. Murders have been committed and vengeance wrought, and there is no hope of peace and safety until the ill-omened stone is finally re- turned to China! The stage setting and eerie lighting eiect during this play, the introduction of sudden noises and difficult situations, all added to the mysterious atmosphere of the drama unfolded before our fascin- ated eyes to the accompaniment of those hairbreadth escapes as the panel above the fire-place slowly swung open to reveal a sinister black claw stretching towards the hero, who, in spite of urgent and frant.ic appeal, flung from .the hysterical audience, remained so unaware of danger. And when that weird black bat fioated through the room, our hearts stopped beating. But, of course, the villain was captured by the wily detective, the dia- mond magnanimously presented to the Chinese representative, and the young Englishman and his beloved are permitted to live happily ever after, having no fear of the horrible fate which had threatened them. numb 'Q alll! lim :Willis f ff Q c is mug, A llllllllllllllllllblalll 'H-'Lil i K,,,,,.-- -5-6 ,ill . , 9 1 ,...- sr ' I i I J , Q.l.fl ' f7'frgI.:sf2?,f M., li if f:i.5,:1gl-up ,X - QQQNY - . , N ' x wi, 1 iff. L HJ lx. -,i VN, Y-1 f-'71 A5 . ,: , ir., f,,Ny,.ni'.,xi.- J.:-5+ E nf, - fnnuf - - n -l 'YNX, , , 7 - -. -iv. ' , .1-ffl Y Y ...-2 ' 7 , 2- -f f' fi'2 :., -54 j , : c c f c- v 'f - L I A - C ' T 9-inf Vx-K' .1 1 gl.. 52

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- if In 1929 he was overtaken by illness again, in Switzerland, and for a time his life was despaired of, but his old ability to come back was demonstrated by an absolutely superb recital on his seventieth fi!! if PARA TUS ' birthday. Paderewski has done some notable things in composition, but it is as the vir- tuoso pianist that he will ever be remem- bered. THE G. C. I. and V. S. ORCHESTRA Front Rowe-Margaret Dell, Marion Steen, Theodolph Little, Chesterman St. Clair, Helen Fisher, Evelyn Porter. Middle Row-Adam Bendus. William Maddock, Radford Shea, Robert Burchill, Fred Stewart, Lorne Bowey, George Liscombe. Third Row-Stanley Taylor, Jack Stubbs, Lloyd Arnold, Munroe Fraser, Albert Bendus. Afllesume of the Qrchestra By MARDELL PRATT HE Galt Collegiate Orchestra, under the capable direction of Mr. Nicol, A.C.C.O., are indeed to be congrat- ulated on their progress this year. Their appearance in assembly for the first time in the new term was a very pleasant sur- prise to the new pupils and an anticipated pleasure for the older ones. Since then they have continued to play at every Mon- day morning assembly. On November 7th, the orchestra broad- cast a skilfully arranged program of widely diversified selections from Tassie Hall, and a great number of people who listened in were agreeably surprised at the talent displayed. Their presence at the Armistice Day Memorial Service added greatly to the solemnity and dignity of 5-1 the service. The Orchestra assisted at the Com- mencement Exercises and the several numbers given were heartily received. It has also played a very important part in all the meetings of the Literary Society, where it has always been persistently en- cored. At every ensuing appearance the orchestra prove that they are getting stronger and better every day. The Orchestra has kindly consented to take part in the presentation of All at Sea. Much of the success of last year's operetta was due to their untiring efforts so this year we are relying on them to keep up their good reputation. May we add our compliments for their co-opera- tion, and hope for their continued success.