CITY ORCHESTRA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 832, 30 July 1910, Page 6

CITY ORCHESTRA.

WHAT MUSICIANS'THINK. MR. PARKER AND THE MUSICAL I' "■ . ' UNION. In view of what transpired at tho City Council meeting on Thursday, evening last with reference to Mr. Barnett's proposal to establish a municipal orchestra, a representative, of Tub Dominion yesterday interviewed Mr. Robert Parker, .Conductor of tho. Wellington Musical Union, with tho idea of sounding local musical opinion on the subject. ■;.'-. Mr. Parker said that'his position in this matter was a somewhat delicate one. The committee of the Musical Union had taken up a certain attitude, and he did not wish it to be publicly understood thai he, as.conductor, was- in opposition to his committee. He quite appreciated Mr. Lewis's position with regard to the matter. Mr. Lewis, as secretary of the union, was practically its managing director-, and apparently had. perceived in this new proposal a further call, on 'the spending power, of the put lie,'and lan extra demand upon the time which the public was asked to devote to' rehearsals. There were '.'commercial" factors in the situation, and he believed that Mr. Lewis was .perfectly sincere in his protest.

- On the other hand, he, Mr. Parker., had. been one. of the guarantors of Mr. Barnett's proposal. His own private opinion was that the scheme was an excellent -one,"well worthy -of support, and his donation to the guarantee fund was a practical testimony of his sympathy, with the proposal. Wellington had had no orchestral: concerts worthy of the name' for several years. The Wellington Orchestral Society—he was speaking as one of'its vice-presi-dents—was in a moribund; condition, and tho advent of a new ■ orchestra, directed by a musician of standing in the community, , would provide ' the means for- the; education' of the public : in orchestral music of''the best class.

~ , A PLAYER'S VIEW.\ An orchestral - instrumentalist, who has-been playing in ."Wellington for over thirty, years, ■ was also' interviewed. ' "I really do' not think Mr.' Lewis can be acquainted with "the .'position. -If he isj.'then his .knowledge of things musical must stand impugned. His reference to the number of concerts given. ■ by other .musical bodies -should surely not he used.' as an argument against tho establishment of a really good orchestra, which Wellington has not at tho present time. Musicians will know what I mean—a band ■ competent to', play, such music as was given us by the' Exhibition -.Orchestra. Not; perhaps, on such a scale—that would be impossible—but as far as our numerical strength and artistic • capacity allowed. -The old Orchestra] Society, did some good work-of a class that is" not. attempted nowadays, but that"body.has only given one concert in the last six or seven years, so it .does ■ not - count in the present argument.- As a 1 matter of fact, the members, of .the society would be delighted to see a municipal orchestra established under Mr. Barnett, -~ arid ; has already decided to lend-,' the.' new organisation its timpani, and any miisic in its very fair' library. ■ Mr. Lewis is also wrong in contending that the establishment of the orchestra Would, make it still more difficult to get players for tho Choral Societies' orchestras. Quito . the reverse would bo the case, .and furthermore, those societies would be able to get players,;'in good form,. instead of , raking together scratch orchestras, and giving thenin"only a couple of rehearsals -iii which' to gain .'a: .thorough knowledge, 'of the ""'work. I am sure that Mr. .Bainett.. would bo only too delighted to make his arrangements so as to aid the societies. Proof that everyone is hot. of the opinio.a of ■Mr. Lewis is the Choral Society's guarantee, and that from Mr. .Parker, conductor, of" the - Musical Union (of which, strangely enough," Mr. Lewis is secretary).., But. the. funniest remark of Mr. Lewis's is where he says, after to' the five musical societies already in existence in ' Wellington, "that the city is more-than well supplied .with music of this character." Which character? Tschaikowsky's V 1512,". ihe "sonatas: and symphonies' of Schumann,. Schubert, tho.'overtures of -Beethoven, '■ the- "Peer-- Gyhfc" suite of 'Grieg, the tori© picture's of Wagner and-Richard Strauss? Who'is already performing such works; or works of a ■ like character, in Wellington?-Mr. Lewis should know that .the inference in s his ■ remark is not a right one—that no musical body is attempting the class of work proposed to be done by, Mr. Barnett'. I hope that Mr. Barnett will not-be discouraged in his great effort, and that he will:have the hearty cooperation of all lovers of good music."