A MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18422, 1 July 1925, Page 8

A MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA.

MUSICAL PEOPLE PESSIMISTIC. SOME INTERESTING VIEWS. "The people of Christchurcli aro all right as long as thero is nothing to pay. But when it is a matter that touches their pockets, tho atmosphere changes. They arc all for good music, orchestral and vocal, but when it comes to paying for it wo are met by a brick wall." That was tho statement made by a gentleman prominent in musical circles to a representative of "Tho Press" yesterday afternoon.

Tho conductor of tho Municipal Band, Mr J. Noble, submitted a report (which was printed exclusively in -'Tho Press") to tho band's annual meeting on Monday night, in which ho TCierred to tho desirableness of forming a municipal orchestra. He stated that a time was coming when there was no rensun why thero should noii bo a municipal orchestra incorporated with the band, and much depended on tho practical interest shown by tho Council and tho citizens. Tho combination would be self-supporting if given a proper start, and would be a pleasu.ro and an asset to tho city. "With a view to testing the general opinion among the musical }>eoplo of the city as to tho success likely to attend "such a venture as the establishing of a municipal orchestra, the reporter interviewed several prominent local musical people, and in each case received a disheartening verdict. Tho general opinion was that tho Christchurch public was always ready to attend a really good concert, orchestral or vocal, but that was as far as it went. When it camo to paying for the value received, there was, however, a distinct lack of enthusiasm. Ono man said that thero was talk of forming a municipal orchestra every time a visiting combination came to "the citv. "When the New South "Wales Orchestra was in Christchurcli the opinion was expressed that Christchurcli should certainly have somo organisation of a similar nature, and also after tho Exhibition. Tho conductor of the New South "Wales Orchestra, M. Henri Verbrugghen, stated when hero that. Christchurcli should have a means of inculcating tlie> higher musical atmosphere It was talked of in a desultory fashion for a while, bub was soon dropped. Christchurcli was better off than any other centre in the Dominion in its picture show orchestras. Theso orchestras presented excellent programmes, excellently played, and there was no doubt that the audiences appreciated them. But at the same timo, although it was unfortunate »to have to say it, the audiences, in tho major-1 ity, had to be given tho extra excitement of the picture that was being j screened actually to enjoy the music. Speaking solely from a musical point j of view, the picturo was a sort of j embellishment to the music, ana without it little interest would be taken in the work of the orchestra, said another musician. And then, as far n.s a municipal orchestra was concerned, practically all the ftrst-cluss mentalists were absorbed by the pictuie theatres, and so wero tied up every night in the week. To get the class of player necessary to such a venture, the comb'inat'ion would have to bo subsidised liberally, otherwise it would never bo a paying, or at the least, a self-supporting proposition. 'lf started, tho orchestra would go for a few months and then the crash would como. They would not bo able to keep going unless the public-spiritedness of tha local people advanced very much. '■Look what happened to the famous New South Wales .Orchestra," said another musician.' "As soon as the Government removed its subsidy it went out of active existence. It would bo the same here. I don't think an orchestra here would .have many months of life. Christchurcli people are keen to got the 'good stuff,' but they won't pay for it. _ The Christchurch Orchestral Society is an example. Although that Society presented excellent programmes, it found it a difficult matter to secure sufficient subscribers." In ."Wellington people came forward and gave big grants towards such an institution, but it would bo impossible to get them to do it here.

"Christchurch people attended Kreisler's concerts in very large numbers," remarked the reporter. ''Yea, that's all very well," was the answer; "but a good deal of the trouble is caused bv the lack of honour given to local performers. It is very much like the prophet." Another man, closely in touch with the musical pulse of the city said that a nine© the size of Christ"lnirch should certainly be able to support a municipal orchestra. The people were well educated musically and had many an opportunity of hearing txoe'lent programmes at the picture theatres, but they lacked the necessary generosity to give such a venture as a municipal orchestra a start, and keep it going. Many of the smaller cities of America had picture orchestras of 75 performers, and in addition _to this there was a pipe organ on which solos were played, and at other times it accompanied the orchestra. And all this was contained in citiss not so very much larger than Christchurch. If they could go in for such extensive musical operations, surely Christchurch could support its own orchestra. A combination of about thirty players would be quite sufficient under the lead of a good conductor. The professional players outside the local picture orche'stras would, quite rightly, expect to bo paid for their cervic-i, and thus itwould be/necessary for the City Council to come forward with a substantial grant towards the upkeep of the orchestra, and for the pub'ic generally to r:ive their patronage and aid. A certain musical body was recently formed in Christchurch and 885 circulars hiwl been sent out to likely people, asking for their assistance as subscribers. In response to those circulars onlv SO replied. That was an astonishing state of affairs, and as Ion;? as tint • »ntinued there_ wo"ld be very little hope for a municipal orchestra. One gentleman in the music trade sucro-ested a.s a side isiv.e that a portion of e= the municipal concert chamber should be set aside for suitable .teaching rooms—sav. a couple of dozen of them— containing good instruments, and let at a good rent. Teachers found a great difficulty in finding central rooms for the tuition of their pupils, and such a sehem -, he was sure, would pay and at the same time bo of great i.encfit to both teacher and pupil. Rooms of that nature would be taken up inpidlv. He concluded by saying that the idea of getting something fcr nothing seemed to be very strong in Christ church, and he gave an instance of a certain building being packed to ths doors on the occasion of a Sunday night concert given in aid of a very worthy cause. The total takings for the evening were under £[). As long as the public was so. guarded as'to its pocket, all thoughts of municipal orchestras must be dismissed. Other people to whom the reporter spoke held views similar to those already expressed, and the outlook for the municipal orchestra would *eeni to be a very poor one.