CITY ORCHESTRA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 916, 8 September 1910, Page 8

CITY ORCHESTRA.

PUBLIC MEETING OF piTIZENSi : ; 'THE SCHEJIE APPROVED;."•..'.'.' '. ' Last evening a public ■ meetibg'.: of those interestedin : _the:'iE<)rmation-.of-''a-Municipal Orchestra ifor-'Wellington was .lield. in the. Council Chamber of' 'the' Town. Hall, iiiidor the presidency, of the Mayor 0.% M. Wilford/,M,P : .). Tho meeting .comprised about two hua:dred and- fifty 1 : ; ladies. : and -gentlemen, ■including City' Councillois, -members of Parliament;-Aand;'.people' prominent' in local 'musical/circles!!..- >-:.'■'■ '■'■■• ■,■'

i. Apologies for npn-atten(]ance.were received from Messrs:. : A. li. Myiirs,'M;P.,; 1. _A. Trips; A; E.fPearcc, M.P., A. A: Corrigan,'Jirs. Dean, Rev/ UivOibb, and Mr..Harold■ DeaUuhamp.. ;■•.. -Ihe- iMayorj in. bpening the. proceed-, ings/ said ; the council had considered diat-as the matter.iwas:of impbrtanco to-the.citizens— inasinueh as.it was pro-' |>osed that,.the ■a'owii:-Hall should be U3ed by ais:.orcliestra;.and alsoiipuch--. ing .the,'.'duties tp be 'carried out'by tl<o' «ity ; an . opportunity' should be.gi/eri,'to-those:in layour of . the :• scheme; to. 'ventilate their /views,'. : and also • that. those, .who opposed tho .scheniu' should: bo heard. ■:':. ''■; ; : ,' '. XMaughan;.BarUett .pointed ; v out 'the extreme trarenes's. with- which ,'th ; ey had 'beard" thev;performance;, iri "recent years of a Beethoven Symphony, or'eyen : a. movement-from' puo of: those works 7 -lhe opportunities _affordetlthe\ Welling:ton;.public :'of ; hearing /good 'orchestral music for some '-'years'.past; had'been. .decidedly';.few and ;far: between, : and: he , ,waa; of opinipri"; tli'afc the absence of continued activity : in: this' branch:;pf r mrisi6 must -.constitute a 'hindrance to. .tie ■musical progress of the. community. In Ms- opinion, the' time .had ■■. come when, ■in-the 'interests'of : the-people, ■{ and 'of: the; hohour?,of -the: city,: : some.- steps should; be''.taken'to put: ah'end-to 'this /state , .of.;affairs;' which' was-.not". 'quite" creditable to!: 1 the - Empire- City, :■: After, referring, to} tho ' ■'eicollcnt:: provision' "made respect-;with th'te/ aid:.;of r thivjJßpyal? .Courts /and' - the ;State ./Goveriimentsf—andr'by.'.mauy "of the English"' municipalities,; the ./speaker proceeded I 'to', say 'that, at present" tho' Wellington" 'City, /Council-,-'subsidised. ■brass; bands .and; or'gati '. recitals; / ■ Why should:. they /not/'extend their musical scheme , fpr'/tHb/Jjenefit; bi: : .tho''cjtizens ? : (Applause.): ■'■■'■;: As/regarded: sibilitrj,'-.-es-;tent^'of;-Vpperatipni;-''-,-and^artistic:V'-andi results,'; the ouly • methocL likely, to ./be satisfactory, the' ■'■establish-. ment-.-of -a .'Municipal!.'Orchestra. :/>' In ; the., matter i of:, the .support: tb/V be ■ ex--', pected,' he/.had/entire .::.pbnndence::' in' fthe:_\VelUn^onV---publip.''!\^Tlie'':;average F attendance/'at;;the''organ.; recitals'.Had; totalled, between .four".hundred and: five : hundred, while if even-only.'' 'fifty ' / bad 1 , attended, tiie'resultiypuld have justified ;the' holding: bf /-these\' recitals;/ ; ; Eyen; 'on Hhphfinancial/.iside, receiptß' had'.amouittd-;toV'£92o;':,and ; ;stnb ..ex-] penditure'.sto, i £750,; ; "w.hi1e .the . drawing' .poTver ■, of L .;these recitals., could.;not .'he. ' compared with,/fchat-of -■ orchestral music..;The' proposed./lprchestra, should;,consist of'.tho'.'bestfp'rofessiohal.:and .'/amateur; ■ musiciansv/aydilablei'/.those^to.^.perform. at not more//than:twelve/organ'recitals, in twelve' months,.commencing'on,- say;. ; October'i'l; !the..intervals.' tb. .be.regulated: : at-the ;;'discretibiv. : , of-/the..' ..conductor.;: charges;fe/be/6d; aha;cls.j : .aiicl(2s.'; ;; fbr; :reserved.s.eats^and'thp'iuse 1 of the Tpwji. Hall to:be.free,is at .'the- : prespn.t.'ptgaii. "befVav. City Council, /enterprise'.'pure, and. :intend .toVseek/'aiiy: iucrease , in. his; own; Salary for acting^as, conduqtbr : , during :;thp-.'twelve- : nionths.'- : /The /expenses; over'and l above- those/.in-;-,cbnsist : ;icliiefly. 0 of / fees:i for ./ot and. : a extra]/attend-" : ancbi and Advertising., would .be. ; 'ileceß-/ ;sary.V ; ,The<ASTOellington:;;/Orchestral . Society had- generously offered; : the loan ■ of its musical-i library valid ■• band .stands,. iand he. estimated the i cost.V'pf each , per-. ; formanee Vat'.ari;'average';bf ' ; .d827 ; : oveiv 4he'yustfaliTeciJ;als-/l,:;' : lh , '.':prder''."thatvitHe ! : ■/council.'-should not..'riin..auy risk; he/'bad.; pbtai'ned;'Jguarantees;'^ : seventy ■". imd ■■ citizens,: ! amouhting ;tqv£Sß9;rwhich'; would;i^be'l : mb_re.;:thani;Siiifficient- : to; 'cbyerrany" ad- 1 : ditibnai; -Iqss'.V: \The;;. : Wellington/Society ■■ '■of?Mus'ibians^.had!:p : as?^Va'U-iie'solutipii. ..af.support./and'the; Chorai"Sbciety-:hiid-'guaranteed tweniy.'. : Parker : and:'most of vthe. -city,' organistß ihad; promised;/their /■■suppbrt;:vand'ibe^ : ,come 'guarantors,s,.and>the-project 'had inetwith.^th'E^ : .appro.val:pf.' : a'number;6f;' i-prbfessional 'i'-Mandy^r'semi-p^feseipiiaii. Cmusicians;«On/ilw\ptheriviiand;C;prb-' ..tests' l)a'd/bi€n ; 'r /mitteesV6f-\tha-;'Munear.'pmpn' : 'andiPrp-'. that .under/thb ? suggested' arrangements. : iii/regard \to /the' Municipal ;'i Orchestra : 'riorinterference/.with'/v'the'y^ j,concerts; br ;efficiehc^vgfithese,;ib6dies ! .could'-. arise,.'/"andi he■ failed..to! .see, : -how. /its'.existence/'could/be' uetrimental'./tb any. y'ojfcher .musical;; 'body;:- (Applause;) '| Under this;s'chemoi the:; l citizens'''./would j be: aff brded/.'f r/equehf. ppportunities' : ,' of J ihearing/'the/.best; orchestral : . nrusic; :; !in T .| terpreted byJtlie'best b'rchestraLplayers gain .by; being: able to, engage.' for■■.their, concerts-niemhers of ;'sucli aii ; brchfest'ra,V' the'possibility, of / becoming■'!;■ members'' bf. : : such/ , : iah,.orchestra; sbmp of■. the, yojing ; studeiits tb,: study: in- . : strumentsv/suitable; /;:lpcal woiild/have ;an-'-p'pportuiiitjf. : bf ihearing" and/ ponducting "their/owii 'compositions'/ (where , sucli were'found suitable) ing artiste/.would VthenVselves i-bf-.tho'/senMcesl;;of-'{;the '.'.brchestra; '.thus'' .enabling;citizensl:3;o;.vhear'imany':';wo i rks \ra;'■'their^'original. ■.fprm.-p-and.f'tne.'scKeiiie; ,hadMiational; tie's■ in/the, inop'ritive afforded: to.-. ,; other cities.to follow.the; eiample ■off 'Wellirigtpu.; (Applause;);.-He.u'b'egged'-"to* ■niove: ;-.■:•";'.■-:;,■■.;■';•■■■• ; r/ "Tliatithis•meeting: of/citizens s is:';pf: ■opinion. /that.. : /the//time.•has./'aVrivedofor: the\ establishment. of,:a./' Municipal.; Ory ; bhestra, .and .it';'desires.:/'his.. the'Mayor-to : inform.."the/Oity^'..Coiiiic'il of the meeting's approvalof; the scheme submitted ■by.;.the',.bity.'prgariist:!{.:V.'.■•'.■'.!.■.■■.;■ -.: M.r;;Roberf ParkerjV'cbndubtor. A 6f : ,the'. ■Musical - Union; .considered-it ■: alege t-p /bo/allowed to/.second-the hition.j The/dearthcv" orchestral/inusic' in /the cityV-was, a scandal'tb: the ;cpniinunit,v.-; or -thirty '-years i ago they had, a; quantity; ,o'f most /delightful-orchestral 'music; and: the/trend oni - ; musical .sentiment /now-/ aday's ' wasvin:- the : orchestral tion.;. ■ His j position ,:in ".regard,- to';;this" matter was.; a/ little/delicate as-he,, felt .that, iii;a way, he was;:acting:/in. bpnosition ,to ' friends' whb/'had.'becii both,: loyal ■and" generous; to : hirii,",but : lie /felt'/ so 'strongly .in /'favouring-' this' movement' of- •Barnett v thitt'./he.idebai2d;.it i : ne- : cessary. to stand 'tlrere-.-'and'-say 1 what" he. had. to say.: -. (Applausb:);. The 'more good mxisic they had the more it/stinui-' lated good niusic in: : every!'shape : .iir.d form. l ; (Applause;) V ;■:, ; :i ■■■(■;, ■■■K . ' .. .'; i Dr.. Kingtbn Tiffej' in suppbrtingtlie yesolutiori; did. not think there/was any iiecqssity for such a: meeting;.; as/.-thr). ■ City:. Council .■ had ; been , .guaranteed' against any loss wsiatevef./; r . •/. ;- ....-/.■ -. ! Mr. A:/L.Z.llerdman,/ M.-P.; as a c.iti-■ zen .keenly;int<!restod,;in;:thp.;/wolfaro of.'the' city,' thought that , the. scheme submitted by '.Mr. /Burnett ought to be/, seized ■ upon " with, avidity/by; all ("people' who wei-o: anxious .to see'".'the"civic/lifb/ of .-Wellington". improved,/'/; (Ap'plausp:)' Here; they, had an opportunity o.f.'sup- 1, ' porting' : ;a. proposal : .w.hich;-%jild/'cbst; the city' iiothin'g,- biit-v.'would '/.yield - ati: immense'amount/of siniTilppleasiiroV-ille considered .it..wise';to.-iiavc/sumiiioned the meeting, ;'arid. siven those who., opposed, an;opportunity of:stating , their grievances. (Applause.) ■'.-.' ;.-;' /: ; .'. : Mr. :Forsyth, on behalf of ".the Musical Union,:: explained-the grounds ."of their objections/ and a after teariug'llr.' .

Barnei't's' proposal,' ; expressed .I'hiniseif.., - 'in favour of it'. 1 '•'.'.■ He .:: believed that "'a. ; combination of. forces. ~wouia -■ be;;benefi-v - cial both: , to ■ orchestral-iand chprats'siih V.: : 'cieties.. ..'. (Applause.) > y : ii^':U^'rx : :'- f;V Ctouncillor-.'.GrJ^'Shirtclifife;'/spolt6V'iß'f--Vhie the/result- pf'ttio. niee'tjiig. .' 'Jjis only'flbiectipn had. been ieariDgVtKat>V ■a'.municipal, orchestra would 'bo- detri»;: : ' mental to the', existing- ' cieties, but,- that:■ lla'd - been ■': •.removed;-':' '•-: ■ (Applause.) /-.< ■■ '■''■ : . V' T' , ■'■',:■'-. ■ ■ '■■" : : C-"■ - 1 -.' , '-;-< O. on-.behalf-'pf ;his, society,;;; 'withdreiv'.his: oppositionto the scheme,!;:! amidst'applause,.; vV.-.-V/ ?. ;; L .;:<''H : V*v / 3Ji\ Manthel aesired/tlie.secretary of-\-the Professional Orchestra, to ■ explain, ' !<;he v attitu(le"qfliai' body. ■■^Stf:^.::-^ /Mr,.;, Woodward,': the secretary.;" aliu'd- },X ed -to, /requested their .conductor, i Mr. %'' ;liloy ,'. .to;.spoap: for.vhim 'fas ■he, /was a• '■ better. " ;■-.•/;,/;■;.;.>;-; "v/^ife'i ;•'; '' 'Miy-Bloy. declined.to..:do so .tis'ihe had.,-. ■ not protested ■'.against ;the Municipal Or--\ ; 'chestraV'.'ilvd't'le' reasons' urged'ijy" ihij ."■ v i > rofes<i''-)i ; irx , rc?ics'li , a j we're'..'jiot; 'Oivthdrcontrary,:. Jie.Svas'highly .'in/ fit-';':.'' , ■ the- : : -Wondiyani,:tii'>n;:expla;;ied^^'th9- :;! :fears -entertained-.by his ■'orchestra .and/ ■ ;oppo r sitK)n;f;,:- :; '^:\v<i.y ; ■ j ' ; :)''-'V 'v/ r ) _ Th'e ■'resolution Ywasythen; p 1 ■ and ! - : car?: ■'■i ;rif d viiii'ilUiiiibu'Uj'.'..-;:'-- "■«." = r^;^vl -';'": ;tK;■.':Th^^H!iyor.:rexpressed'■•. his; :pereqnal \:'.;, opinioiv:taat!'the;ri|:Kfc ,; coHr.se v liad ; .bMii : :X: ■ adopted. -.bjr.:.tlie.j. council' \Jn -'■■cohvenmg' ■■!■ .'that meeting as it had'resulted'in ing both sides'Hogetheri smcwtlnng'ioVer';j :.the' : difficulty .thatv: had .•..exieie'4*^'aiid&- : : ■ Everybody.'' was!• satisfied; ■ 'ed.: that/it , ; was" ; a ; "cburse^thatiishpuld : i'=' Tno'ro' frequently'.be'■■ adppted'.jri: niatterij '<■ '. : I in'■'which' M the'. citizens:: were /concerned;'; '■'. 1 (Applause.) ~-. .;.;;.,■;i:>.r:, : ;i,';i;.-,'.-;,'>'■;•!'•■'',.v?'.U-; ; j>;:'- ''. t On ,lthe .motion..,of-:Counciilor.VFietcher .a;Vo%,6fv.^anfa: : iTas ; :matip , n"^te'. ; 3ir:;'(Haughair'"Barne^ l "i'aii4 ! ;>>! at t'U.e instance .fpf-:.Cpun.cillpr : M'Lareii'ij la. similai ■'ackhow}edgmen;ft:;\yas,':acc6rd-,-.*. led', ■;' Society,' : for the iloari..of .tlibir library,*and! uf A'. 's'trument" stands. ]^\:{^i ::^'^';-:-'^':^v^