WELLINGTON MUSICAL UNION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1122, 9 May 1911, Page 2

WELLINGTON MUSICAL UNION.

♦ ANNUAL ME-ETING. FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES. ] The annual meeting of fiio Wellington ' Musical Virion was.held in St. Andrew's Schoolroom last night, Mr. Geo. Shirtcliffe j presiding over a large attendance of mem- ! bers. In taking the chair, Mr. Shirlcliffo re- ' marked that there had been some mention of the union being unable to carry on, but a cessation of operations would l)e greatly to be deplored. For his own part he had sufficient confidence in the public of Wellington to believo that if they were approached with a fair statement of the position they would put the , finances, of the- unicn in a condition that • would ensure a continuation of its work. , The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. In moving the adoption' of the report, the chairman said that lie could have wished that tho balance-sheet hail shown,a more satisfactory position than it did. The year had ended with a credit cash balance of £'11 45., but when tho liabilities were set against this there was really a deficit of about i;O4. Last '. year, however, thorn had also bccu v a deficit, and when this was taken into consideration there was really only an actual loss on the year's working of about .£lO. This result, however, had only been achieved through the generosity and liberality of their conductor -.Mr. Bobert Parker), who had only accepted half his honorarium. (Applause.) Une or two thoughts had occurred to him (the speaker) as possible means of putting life into the union, and ho emphasised the necessity that existed for wiping out the present'liability. One of the best means to this end would bo to increase the num- • her of subscribers to, say, 210. He hoped, at all events, that a strong effort would bo made to carry on. Outlived Its Usefulness? Mr. C. I. Dast-nt, who seconded the motion, remarked that at present (ho union could not obtain a large enough subscription list to ensure (he success of the performances beforehand, and could not obtain largo enough audiences to make them pay. The result was that the more concerts they had tho more losses they inad'-r. They had been steadily losing for the past two years. He regretted that there had been no new subscribers this year. It was not fair to expect . people to take positions on the ; committee, and be hampered by such cramped finances. The great difficulty in. procuring new members for the society seemed to him to tend in the direction of showing that the union had outlived its period of popularity, if not its usefulness. Unless he heard something which ho had not already heard, he would vote for the society going into liquidation, if ; the point were raised. ... Mr. Forsyth spoke in a more optimistic strain, and Messrs. Warren, Inniss, Lewis, Clayton. Bock, and Robt. Parker also spoke. The last-mentioned speaker was of opinion that the proposed rcduc- ( Hon in the number of concerts was a , good idea! While ho would be sorry to see the union cense operations, still, if it had really done its duty and outlived its period of usefulness, he would say "Let it go." He could not, however, acquit the members of sluggishness. If a little more energy had been displayed, he felt sure that the society would now have been in a flourishing condition, and there would have been no talk of depressed finances. Replying to some of the criticisms that had been passed by other i speakers regarding the continual use of J the same soloists, Mr. Parker safd that £ the union had tried to mako use of all l tho new soloists which it could find, but t soloists did'not grow on every hedge, in. f New Zealand, and, consequently, it was It

necessary to ring (he changes occasionally... '~ Annual Report. " The report laht before'the meeting ex. prcsssd>'regret at the loss (by removal to England): of. the president,- Jlr, J. W. .Toyijt, M.A;, whoso keen • personal interest in.: tho, work had contributed so much to its success in.recent years. ..The,season which'has just closed has been rendered . memorable by tho ; performance—for the first time in New" Zealand—of the "St. Matthew Passion" music, by John Sebastian Bach.. In spite of the solemnity and severity of its style, and the unfaniiliarity (to most of the audience) of its musical idiom, this great work made a deep impression on many who heard.it, and especially on those who were privileged to take part in it. The work was'repeated on- Tuesday in Passion AVeek, April 11, not as a subscription concert, but as a public performance eminently suitable to the season, and, musically, it was_ a conspicuous success. While expressing warm appreciation of the work of the soloists who took part in the first performance, the committee felt it imperative' to specially acknowledge the generous and efficient help of Dr. Kington Fyffe in the very exacting tenor music of the work, also tho services of Miss Gladys Watkins, who sang the soprano solos, and of Mrs. E. D. Cacheinaillc, who spout so much time and trouble in rehearsing the difficult music with the soloists. To Mr. A. W. Vino, F.R.C.0., the cordial thanks of the union are extended for his masterly performance of the important organ part. The other concerts of the season included: (1) Coleridge-Taylor's "Song of Hiawatha," given in its complete form; and (2) Handel's "Aci.s and Galatea," which, with sonic unaccompanied part-songs and . a few' orchestral pieces, formed an attractive programme. In accordance with usual custom, "The Messiah" was given in December, to close the work of the year. . The soloists who took part in tho various works performed during the

season were:—"Hiawatha," Mrs. M. Hudson, .Mr. (J. H. Stephens, and Mr. Barry Coney; "Acis and Galatea," Jlr*. F P ■Wilson, Jlr. E. J. Hill, and Mr. John I'rouse; "The Passion" (St. Matthew), Miss Gladys Watkins, Miss May Driscoll. Dr. Fyffe, Mr. C. Clarkson, Mr. F. V. Waters, and Mr. F. Layccek; ".Messiah," Miss Eita Lyons, Miss May .Driscoll, Mr. C. H. Stephens, and Mr. James A. Doherty. It is proposed for the future to give three subscription concerts annually instead of four as hitherto, and to give subscribers three tickets (instead of two) for each performance. This, it is hoped, will conduce to economy in expenditure, and to efficiency in performance, the preparation of four important works each year haying proved a heavv strain on all concerned. The first subscription concert of the present season will be given in May, when Dvorak's picturesque Bohemian work, "The Spectre's Bride," will form tli<v programme. The second concert will include a new cantata, "Th« AVeddin? of Shon Maclean," bv Hubert Bath, whose work has been recently produced at the Queen's Hall, London', with almost phenomenal success. Handel's ".Messiah" will be given as usual in December. The committee records its appreciation of the valuable work done bv the conductor, Mr. Robert Parker, anil us generous action in waving his claim to one-half of his honorarium for the past year. Mention is. also made of (he committees indebtedness to Mr. F. V Waters, honorary deputy-conductor. , . The Finances. The receipts for the year amounted to JMM ISs. 5d., including .6263 !)s. Gd. from members' subscriptions, and JJHfi 2=. from the concerts. The expenditure totalled £m Us. sd. Kent of Town Hall and practice-room absorbed ,£123 .fls. 10d. The other principal items are: Conductor, .£SO; soloists, .ESG 25.; orchestra (professional assistance), ,£75 3s. Assets total ~3-' IBs. ail., while the liabilities amount to JCI23 ss. lOd. No Disbandment! Mr. F. V. Waters moved that the union continue its operations during the coming year. Speaking to the motion, Mr. Waters expressed himself in favour of increasing the subscription of working! members, aiid of making a strenuous ■ effort to gain the balance, without in- j creasing the membership of the choir. New members should only be looked for < when there wore places t-o fill. In the past, they had admitted too many mem- I bers without suflicient' guarantee of th'.ir industry and ability to carry out their : part of the work. The motion, after being seconded, was I withdrawn, and Mr, E. D. Cachcmoille | then moved that the union disband. This i was seconded by Mr. Warren, but was ! defeated to aa ovcvwholmins majority, .

A motion, to recommend the incoming committee to consider the question of limiting the concerts to subscribers only was defeated. Jt was decided to suggest to performing members that, they should double their subscriptions for tho ensuing year. Officers Elected, The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patrons, his Excellency the Governor, Lord Islington, and the Eight Hon. the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph U. Ward, K.C.M.G.; president, Mr. George. Shirtclill'c; vice-presidents, his Grace ArchBishop Redwood, the liev. T. 11. Sprolt, his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G.), his Honour Mr. Justice Cooper, Mr. AV. G. Riddell, S.M., his AVorship the Mayor (Mr. T. M. ANilford, M.P.), the Hon. George Fowlds, M.P., Dr. A. lv. Newman, Messrs. I'. M. 15. Fisher, M.P., A. L. Hcrdman, M.P., J. P. Luke, M.P., D. M'Larcn, M.P., R. A. Wright, M.P., J. G. AV. Aitken, H. lieauchamp, E. D. Dean, William Oill, R. C. Hamerton, C. 13. Morison, .1. A. Plimmer, John Duncan, H. C. 'lewsev, J. 13. Coates, D. J. Nathan, A. H. Mills; Lxccutive Committee, Miss Archer, Mtfdames E. D. Caehemaille, C. D. Mlntosh, Messrs: B. C. Caehemaille, U I. Daseiit, T. Forsyth, T. K. Thomson, F. V. AVaters, — Gordon; musical director, Mr. Robert Parker; lion, pianists, Mrs. L. C Caehemaille, Mrs. ¥.. D. Cacliemailk; hon. treasurer, Mr. AV. R. Bock;, lion, librarian, Mr. C. D. Mill;; lion, assistant librarian, Mr. Cameron; lion, orchestral librarian, Mr. K. S. Farmer; lion, auditor, Mr. J. AV. Jack; hon. secretary. Mr. A. M. Lewis.