ELOCUTION AND MUSIC.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20105, 8 December 1930, Page 13

ELOCUTION AND MUSIC.

TRINITY EXAMINER'S COMMENTS. GOOD STANDARD MAINTAINED. "The standard of performance was well maintained. There was, of course, a certain amount of poor work, but, as far as I can see, there is no dearth of first-rate teachers in all the larger centres of the South Island, and in many of the smaller centres." So did Dr. C. Edgar Ford summarise his impressions after examining nearly 3000 South Island candidates in music and elocution for tho Trinity College of

Music, London. After a tour lasting several months, Dr. Ford returned to Christchurch on Saturday. Although he has suffered severely with rheumatism and lumbago in the south, he is well pleased with his tour, and expects to return to New Zealand in the same capacity next. year. "One weakness," he added, "is that a good number of candidates concentrate too much on their set pieces, to the exclusion of other parts of the examination, such as ear tests, general knowledge, and sight-reading." Need of Rhythmic Feeling. Dr. Ford emphasised the need of rhythmic feeling and of an understanding of structure among students of music. A principal defect was a lack of rhythm and a failure to realise that music expressed something very definitely. It might be impossible to put into words what it expressed; but that was all the more reason why it should be thoroughly understood as music. '•There were, of course, one or two candidates in whom it was easy to detect the vital spark of music*. In some cases, while the work was good in certain sections, I was unable to grant the certificates I should like to have done, because the candidates failed to prepare themselves adequately in the sections of the syllabus. There was a weakness, too, in the understanding of the structure of music. If it could only be realised that each piece of music

was really a piece of architecture, in which, the various sections all bore real and definite relationships to the whole and to each other." In the performance of music and elocution, there was a threefold aim; to realise the message; to convey that message; and to convey that message convincingly. However perfect technical attainments might be, unless there was intellectual understanding and insight, the interpretation was always bound to lack conviction. The Aim of Elocution. As for the elocution candidates, Dr. Ford heard some really excellent speech in the set readings and recitations, but the viva voce part of the examination revealed in many cases a -"mewhat prions lack of general information, and a considerable lr*- in J " e •"'f pronunciation. This fault was not peculiar to xsew Zealand; it was, in fact, common all over the world, and was due to a mistaken idea of the end and aim of the study of elocution. "Elocution," Dr. Ford emphasised, "should be undertaken with a view to maintaining a high standard of English whenever we read or speak. It is most certainlv not a study to be regarded as an outlet for the egotism of people who are always anxious to appear before tho public." At the same time, the standard of speaking was immeasurably better than in some of the other Colonies, particu-

larly Australia. Dr. Ford dislikes intensely the speech.of the rank and file of Australians, though he feels that tho teaching and the study of elocution, will ultimately improve the standard. He urged that pronunciation and enunciation should be made good, but not affected; and that every spoken sentence should have in it music as well as words. Permanent Orchestra? Dr. Ford finally stressed the desirability of a permanent, professional orchestra iu New Zealand. In South Africa, whore the population was little greater there were two such orchestras. In Isew Zealand he had found no lack of musical talent and appreciation, and he was sure that the orchestra would be widely welcomed. In Dunedin he was particularly impressed with the quality of the women's singing. He heard some of the singers and choirs in his own songs; and, as he said on Saturday, "I could not wish for better. " Dr. Ford gave many recitals and lectures in the southern centres. He has been asked to give organ recitals at the Merivale Church on Wednesday, and at the Municipal Concert Hall next Sunday. On Monday, December 15th, he will leave on his return to England,, spending some time in Australia, where he expects to give further recitals. If his health is good, Dr. Ford hopes to return to New Zealand to examine for the Trinity College next year.