1919-04-25 — Page 9

PROBLEM OF COLOUR MUSIC.

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, FRIDAY: APRIL 25, 1919.

BOLSHEVISM.

AS WESTERN EUROPE SEES IT.

lights at the rear of the stage, thane Hghts representing the different colours of the spectrum-octave. All the front lights are turned down, than the RESULT OF EXPERIMENTS, curtains part, and seated at the piano Mr. Hector strikes the open- ing chords of a well-known sonata.

Mr. Simeon Stransky writes in Immediately the width and depth and height of the stage is flooded the New York Evening Pact as with the loveliest progressions follows:-

Some years ago (says the N.C. Dinly News) there was published in these columns an article on **Colour Musia which was then being largely discussed, though eventually the movement and the invention which gave rise thereto was last sight of in the war. Apparently, two gentlemen, un- known to each other, were work ing at the same idea, Mr. A. B. Hector's patent being registered in Australia three weeks before the arrival of a book on the same

London.

of

and masses of colours. In the Paris, January 31.-Where is "Record of the Education Society" the Belshevik revolution that was (No. 38) is a description by 0.8.to sweep forward from Germany which by no means exaggerates and engulf western Europe? Ar- the effect of this wonderful riving in London a matter of rhythmic dance rainbow seven weeks ago ons was told in certain quarters,that Bolshevism colours

was just around the corner. But if the revolution is around the corner, then it must be moving in the wrong direction and at a pace fast enough to turn another corner as you round the one behind.

naturally, there is an intense desire to go home when tha fighting is over. Our American sol diers are homesick. The French are eager to get back to their fields and factories. But while our own men are still in ignorance of the Government's intentions. and while nothing definite has as yet been laid of a far-reaching French demobilisation, the British soldiers now know that four our) every five of them are soon going home. Satisfying four men out of every five is a wonderful remedy against discontent; especially when the remaining! fifth ran receives a noticabla raise in pay. That again is British foresight.

"You are not afraid of re volution, then?"

"In England for the next two ar three years

But in No.

Is

"The music-room is filled with soft darkness, relieved by the red glow of an electric light. At the far end parted curtains disclosed subject by Mr. A. Waliste Rim- fadais made bower-like with ington, AR.E, R.BA., Professor palms and greenery. Alert with of Fine Arts, Queen's College, expectation, we watch the screen Some anxiety there undoubted-France, perhaps."

An article in

So one went to France. the behind the stage. The musician isly was in England in mid-Decem Australian Tagh Den Country seated at the piano. He plays a ber concerning the problems of Bolshevism coming, I asked one Journal of January 2, 1919. few soft notes, There flashes demobilisation. the mood of the veteran observer, incidentally not deals with the suject as follows across the screen a gleam of colour returning troops, the temper of a Frenchman, and so likely to be

What is colour-music? Every-

the women who by hundreds of more objective in his views.

"Bolshevism? Well, hardly." one knows that music is based

thousands would be turned out of

But how about the sharp gulf upon the octave, and whatever.

their jobs in the factory and the the succession of intervals in each

richer, freer life which the factory between proletarian and bourgeois]

But as for in

France; how about scale there is a fundamental note.

had brought them. the actual advent of the Soviet, traditional hatred going at least though the name was common back to the Commune of "71? enough in extreme radical circles, you were told in England to look for it on the Continent.

It is a well-known fact that if the vibrations of any particular note are doubled the octave above it is sounded. It is also a scientific fact that, if colour is split up, all visible colours are resolvable into mixtures of those in the spectrumband or the rainbow, both of which contain all the primary colours.

and we are transported into a realm of changing fancy. Called forth by deep, rich music, a vivid crimson comes from the darkness of the screen, changes to purple, to green, and then disappears. Now the yellow of the sun mingles with the shadows of the palms, and in fancy we gaze over the burning desert as we rest by an oasis. Now we are under the The reasons for this belief, as I shady trees of a woodland garden, had them from various competent children are laughing, birds sing, sources in England, resolve them- and fountains splash. Yet, as we selves into a familiar historical watch, the colours deepen again to factor the traditional temper of purple and blue. A wild sea lash- the British masses and the tradi ing its waves on huge rocks throws tional talent and insight of the British up thin gossamers of foam. à British ruling classes. merciless wind bends the trees on labour might be discontented. the shore. The low mumbles of restless. apprehensive, but it thunder end in a mighty peal, and was not yet ready for Sovie- of the colour band is approximate-thea-silence! Our boat glides tism. Largely factitous though ly double that of the red. To put

across calm water. The hills rise the out-come of the British it exactly, "the octave of colour is in fact practically complete, end i a counter-part of the musical octave us regards the range of vibration, which produces it. It does not extend to the first note of the octave above it. but constitutes one nearly complete octave in itself”

THE RATE OF "YIBRATION,

Investigation has made plair that, as with the sounds in the musical octave, the rate of vibra- tion of the ether at the violet end

This being so, it is advanced

up dark against the evening sun. general election maybe. showing the feathery outlines of there was no explaining the trees.

DEMONSTRATIONS BEYOND

DOCET.

the

The gulf. I was told, is theres, but the bourgeoisie is altogether:

too strong.

Then Clemenceau, supposing he is the imperialist his enemies call him. is prepared to challenge popular resentment if it should exist?

Yes, I was told.

To the extent of ? Machine

guus?

Possibly.

There is nothing Clemencau so loves as a fight. He is a man after Lenin's own heart.

This view was confirmed to me; from another source, from a Russian long resident in Paris, a Socialist in affiliation with the Soviet, and therefore not inclined to underestimate the forces of revolution anywhere. He quoted statistics.

away the fact that while Labour sent seventy-five members into the House of Commons, and of them sixty-five anti-Lloyd George, it nevertheless rejected

eleven "Of something like every one of the Labour leaders millions contribuables, taxpayers Or, as one might say heads of suspected, whether justly or not. of flinting with the idea of red families in this country," he said, revolution. British labour re-only two millions are of the pudiated Ramsay Macdonald, Snowden. Arthur Henderson, and Lansbury and chose to be repre- sented by Barnes, Clynes, and J. H. Thomas.

"The colours brighten again. A rosy pink trembles as if it wish ed to stay, and we ng to hold it back, but it has gone, and another that just as a musician can play as elusive as itself takes its place. on the keyboard of an instrument. Now they are there together, hid. producing a succession of chords ing amongst the shadows of the that induce aesthetic effects on the palms. The sweet treble notes hearer, so it is possible by playing

are calling them forth. We are on the octave of colour to secure

drawn to them; we rise with a like esthetic result to the them, and then quietly sink again

On the other hand, my atten- trained eye and mind. Indeed, it as the music fades softly away."

tion was balled to men like Lord would probably be more accurate

Robert Cecil, an aristocrat of a to term this effect music-colour of such colour demonstration is who embodied in himself the Again I add that the beauties, broad and far-seeing idealism, than colour-music; but the main fact to be remembered is just this, beyond all cavilling."

innate gift of the British ruling that there are octaves of colour A number of interesting ques classes for reading the signs of just as there are octaves of sound,tions present themselves in the the times for throwing new and Mr. Pector has all along foregoing, one of the most inter- bridges of compromise and con- maintained that when colour can

esting of which must be as to cillation across new social cre- be played upon just as sound now

whether the colours range simult- vasses. The Cecils and the is, as well as wonderfully beauti-aneous through the spectrum and Smutses were the complement to ful decorative effect, an art of the range of the instrument or the Barneses and the Clynes. It Esthetic and emotional value only through an octave. The art was different, I was told in results.

cle from which the above is taken France, where the gulf between does not say, nor does it explain proletarians and hourgeoisie was the principle upon which any one abrupt, and no inclination existed

note is assigned to any one colour, on either side to throw out unless it is implied that the greater bridgework of compromise and the wavelength of light of.a understanding-

THE FIRST INSTRUMENT.

first intrument was, as he himself

ment

and it bristled with difficulties, in the perfecting of the electrical mechanism which as it were, made visible sound-vibration in the corresponding vibrations of colout.

Six years of incessant, unremit- ting experiment has resulted in almost perfect adjustment of such mechanism, and now the rhythmic colour dance is unspeakably beautiful to the eye. About the high decorative value of Mr.

certain colour the lower the pote

|

labouring class. The rest are pea sants and middle-class; in other words, property-owners: the dis- parity in numbers is too great. In addition the working class! here is badly.organised."

And those middle-class people and peasants hold Russian bonds?

ists own Lenin's scraps of paper. Any number of French Social-

I was told. Then Bolshevism west of the Rhine? Not in France first I was told. England must show the way.

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THE HONGKONG

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Of the revolutionary threat in Italy I am not competent to speak monplace that when the profes- otherwise than to voice the sional officers were killed off in suspicion that the frequency with such large numbers in the first which we are now being asked years of the war and their places to

watch Italy seems to taken by educated civilians, the be another illustration of Bolshe-character of the armies changed. As has been said, Mr. Hector's

vism around the corner, but out of In Russia it was this sight. In addition I would recall class of officers that made the SWATOW DRAWN WORK, SILK & GRASS LINEN EMBROIDERIES well knew, cnide and imperfect,

the statement made by a very Revolution possible, and every- acute French observer that Italian where this class is most sus- but nevertheless it clearly enough enunciated emphatically the co-

There was a moment, early in

Bolshevism might be largely the ceptible to the pressure of new relation of sound and colour; it in the scale. If this indeed be January, when such optimism creation of the Italian Gover-ideas,

the case a fascinating picture seemed in danger. Within a day ment, which is not averse to established a principle, and those

By reducing the present armies! who had scientific imagination presents itself of compositions or two there came the soldier backing up its claims at the Peace of occupation to one-fourth their could easily enough in 1912 fore-ranging a limited scale being disturbances at Folkestone and a Conference by the plea and threat size a notable return will be made cast a vast mechanical improve accompanied by delightful effects demonstration in Whitehall by of dire consequences at home to something in the nature of &

Chantage. The problem consisted, perhaps entirely in the varying several hundred men from one of otherwise.

my in professional army, though a shades of one beautiful colour, or the camps near London. Here, formant called it; blackmail. modified conscription is main- in another case a deep red thun- it seemed, was almost the Soviet But if such are conditions at tained. Those who remain are: derstorm ranging through the sun coming to town on command-home, what of the armies? For. likely to be the mas of the light of the middle clef to the eered motor lorries. Actually after all, it is armed men, whether adventurous type, with a taste) blue sky of the upper register the outcome justified the at the front or at home, that put for soldiering and amenable to -or it vice versa? There is, of cheerful view. I have just through Bolshevist revolutions. the older discipline. Such course, a possibility that at pre- described. The thousands whe. Here again we are driven back to army ceases largely to be a sent the invention goes no further demonstrated at Folkestone did the significance of the British breeding ground for social discon- than the arbitrary allocation of a so in orderly manner. The men

Government's plan for the or-lent. certain colour to a particular who rode into Whitehall rode ganisation of its Array of Occupa- But more than that. Such an note, in which event the whole away again after registering their tion.

organisation, no longer the nation idea can only be classed as music protest. And on the other hand, When an army of three and a in arms, but falling with time and with colour effects, but if the the authorities learned the lesson half million is reduced to less habit into the old professional physicist can eventually establish quickly. The men at Folkestone than a millions, you reduce the spirit, may conceivably be turned Hector's invention there can now

an affinity between colour and had a solid grievance and the raw material of discontent by into a safe-guard against discon- be no possible shadow of doubt. sound-and this may already be remedy was immediately applied. much more than the ratio of four- tent at home. Recently favoured with a private done for all we know then The demand for quicker de-fifths which the figures indicate. demonstration in the handsome the colour interpretation of mobilisation voiced by the White- The two and a half millions who music-room of the inventor at music may very well become hall demonstrators elicited an Greenwich (Sydney), I confess,

are soon going home will be the а scientific and artistic almost immediate response. older meo, tager for work Baron Skatani is quoted by the although from the first I believed possibility. For instance, if green, Demobilisation speeded up. and family, the in its great decorative possibilit-light of various shades by some

longer Mainichi as stating that his The SCHOOL has accommodation for 200 PUPILS, the The British gift for tackling a service

who men

are phy-departure for Chipa is delayed. ies, that the results exceeded my

means was made to induce vibra-' problem in time (always excepting sically and spiritually tired for private reasons, not owing to

syllabus including courses for MECHANICS most sanguine expectations. tion in a G-string-and a G-string Ireland) is best illustrated at the out, the educated men of busi- the protest alleged to have been

and DRIVING. "A DANCE OF COLOURS. only and so on, the applicatian' moment of writing by the official ness, the professions, the arts, the filed by America with the Chinese

of such a natural property in the statement of the Government's schools, who are never in love Government against his appoint SPECIAL FACILITIES are offered to persons desirous manner indicated would lift the plan for organising an army of with soldiering. In other words, ment as Financial Adviser. Since idea above the status of a very occupation of 900,000 men. That is you drain off those very elementa a contract has already been enter- interesting and charming but, another way of saying to an army which the monstrous size of ed into between the Chinese nevertheless arbitrary, mechan- of 3,500,000 men that nearly four- the world war sucked into the Government and himself regard- ical production of effects which fitfths of them are to be sent armies and who brought with ing his engagement, says the are already more or less the pro home as fast as trains them

cau

the civilian outlook Baron, he can proceed to China) |perty of a well-equiped stage. carry them In every army.upon life.

com- at any time.

Imagine a capacious, artistic

room, one end of which was.00- cupied by a small stage with a drop curtain. In front of the stage on the floor level, on the side, is an organ, on the other side a piano. Both are electrical- ly connected with the coloured

TO-NIGHT!

"THE

VICTORIA

It is E

*

BARON SKATANI AND CHINA.

THEATRE

OUR GREAT SERIAL AGAIN

HOUSE OF

Episode 18 " AT THE PISTOL'S POINT"

OF MOTORING,

PLICATIONS FROM STUDENTS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED.

of becoming CHAUFFEURS and not at the moment having means at their disposal for their course.

Works and school-Shaukiwan. Office-4 Queen's Road Central

HATE"

TO-NIGHTI

Episode 19 THE HOODED TERROR UNM.