1000 Concerts Since War

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31116, 20 July 1966, Page 6

1000 Concerts Since War

“Pop” music was ever changing but fulfilled a need, a visiting concert violinist and conductor, Mr Henri Temianka, said in Christchurch. Mr Temianka said that when jazz first appeared, it was frowned upon. Now its influence was evident in all modem classical music. A blues sonata by Ravel is included in his repertoire. Mr Temianka believes that every classical musician has a “sacred” obligation to pass on his learning to other peoplo. He is professor of music at California State College at Long Beach. Mr Temianka also writes

much about music and has been commissioned to write a book on music appreciation. He has been associated with the production of six films. Mr Temianka was bom of Polish parents in Scotland in 1906 and was educated in England, Holland and Belgium. He first studied the violin at the age of six, and a year later gave his first public performance at Rotterdam, but his career, he said, did not really start until he was 14. Since World War H he has given more than 1000 concerts as a conductor and violinist and has toured England, Europe, Canada, Japan, South America and the United States.

Mr Temianka’s concert this evening will be the first of 14 he will give in New Zealand before returning to America.