MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 914, 6 September 1910, Page 6

MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA.

Sir,—l have all along been so confident that the Municipal Orchestra scheme would get through without difficulty or delay; as.' despite protests, from, other societies, I could not see what there was to stop it, that I have not thought- it necessary to air my views till I was asked. But your correspondent "Punta" has written a very "pointed''letter, which compels me to ask you for a wco space for, reply. That an,orchestra on suoh a basis, will bo a God-send, to music-lovers here everyone must, agree, so that "Punta's" remarks-on that score are not very original. But his slighting language and unwarranted and almost contemtuous terms regarding the Professional Orchestra are in very questionable taste, and certainly do not give much weight to, his. arguments. If tho members :of this.orchestra are suoh a band of nonentities, where was "Punta's" necessity to . mention them. at all? The Professional Orchestra, with all. its faults and its much-discussed misnomer, is a band of honest,. eager, earnest players,' who are anxious to learn, eager to improve, and who have their hearts on eventually attaining: to some recognisable .standard. And w.hilo they show.' that spirit I.'will stand by them. -With .their protest .against the Municipal Orchestra ; I -have no', sympathy, whatever, and they know it. Mr. Barnett and I are quite agreed that the two orchestras', ought easily to exist without clashing.. But when. "Punta". introduces the comparison of organist versus violinist, etc., etc., as qualifying for conductors,; seeing .that this has nothing whatever to.. do with. the Municipal Orchestra question now: at issue,. I am almost -forced to,the conclusion that'this, is:meant for-a slur upon myself. "Punta" may by all moans enjoy his little ideas as .to the, proper ingredients to make up a conductor, but I should like-to inform the public, before they swallow too much "Punta," that the great conductors: at Home and on' the Continent (and elsewhere), are conductors. They .play organ, violin, or: whatnot (the more/the better) incidentally. -But. the reading of a twenty-line score is a trailing./in/.itself, and just as accessible to the orchestral instrumentalist' as to the three-stave organist. Finally, I hail with delight the advent of .'a real first-rate orchestra, and am equally, proud'of my appointment as leader under Mr. Bar.nett. ;. Not because- he is■ an /organist gratia,"Punta," but because I know, him, as a clever and: powerful conductor.—l am, etc., ' '/',:''.-■/ ,:'.,; ..'.. '~ HERBERT BLOT. v