TOO MANY PIANISTS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18229, 13 November 1924, Page 4

TOO MANY PIANISTS.

MORE SCOPE FOR

ORCHESTRALISTS

A prominent musician from the Homeland, in the person of Dr. F. Haigh. F.R.CO.. a'.R.C.M., is at present in Christchurch. Thb doctor i.-? th-e examiner to the Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Collcgo of Music, London, and is engaged in examining Christchurch >tudcnts who have entered for the various music examinations set by thai school.

In the rourfo of an ! a representative of "'I he Press" yesi terday. Dr. ilaigh said: general ' .standard of the youiiii; niusie student in New Zealand is certainly oil a higher plane than I found hero tlireo years ayo. This is perhaps due to the fact that to.T-hevs in general now realise that a standard similar to that required in England is nct-essary in the Duminion. Tho weaknesses one finds are chieflv in -iglit-reading, phrasing, and stvle.* This latter and' most important ifcnturc would be greatly developed m students, if they were encouraged to [ iiear the best, artists who give oon-cert-s. Pianoforte students would learn iust as much from hearing good singcrs and violinists as they would ironi solo pianists. The art of the singer embraces not- only boautiful tone, hut a wealth of 'expressive contrasts. The violinist is par excellence in phrasing, rhythm, and clean agility work. All 'these iliinss heard l>v intelligent, students would react' upon them iu their own music-makinrrs ; so 1 would urpe invents to take their cliildren to . the b?6t concerts whenever possible. I find ton large a percentage of students learning pianoforte. New Zealand w'H he a long" time forming good orchestras ( if this continues. Surely there are j students who could take up a second study—an orehc-strarinstrument.'-Many wonid start well equipped musically, and it would entail only ihe learning ot the technique of the instrument" se-Irc-etcd. The symphonies composed hy tlie great masters were lor the orchestra. "and this complex body gave them scope, for their greatest compositions. The world's masterpieces are seldom heard in New Zealand for the reason I have given above. There are many capable musicians in New Zealand who would prove themselves equally capable conductors, but the instrumentalists have vet to be trained, so that good complete orchestras can be formed.'' "You have in Christchurch," said Dr. Ilaigh in conclusion, "on? branch of music which is on a-level with the best of its kind in England. I refer to your Cathedral service. It is a model of which Church music should be."