THE MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1220, 31 August 1911, Page 3

THE MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA.

POSITION OF GUARANTORS. At Tuesday erenins;'s concert in the Town Hnll, Mr.-.1. Marxian Barnclt, tho originator and conductor of tho llunicip.il Orchestra, announced that there were only two more concerts .to be given to complete the soa?on (i.e., the hvclveraontii (liirin? which-the orchr>>tra has bren in existence),- and he ashed tho public of Wellington to show that they really wanted tho orchestra by their patronage. This armovmcem-ant was not made by Mr. L'arnett with aiiy £sn?e of fear that tho future existence of the body absolutely depended on their snpport during the* rest of the season. As a matter of fact, the attendances liavo been swelling with every coiicertidtu'inp the winter, and Tuesday's audience was the, largest of the year. How the case stands with the orchestra and the public may hero be briefly shied. When the orchestra was formed Mr. Barnett without any ereat effo-rt got guarantees to cover the first year's expenses, so that whatever happened—even if the orchestra played to the empty chairs—the City Council would be nothing out of pocket. This was done chiefly because there was a little opposition to the scheme, and to demonstrate that there was a section of the public sufficiently fond of good orchestral music to dip their hands into their pockets if need be to help to supply what was badly wanted. So successful have the concerts proved that it is doubtful if any portion Df the guarantee will have to be called up, and it is with a. desire to make that, action unnecessary that Mr. Barnett and all supporters of the orchestra would like to see the publfo give all assistance at the two remaining concerts of the year. The concerts have been of the greatest educative value, inasmuch as they have helped music-lovers to keep in tune with many cf tho classical composers, who, owing to tho lack of an orchestra, wo were losing a first-hand acquaintance with. The band has eteadi/y improved, and now probably possesses as ilna a tody of strings as any orchestra in Now Zealand. There are weaknesses-per-fection in an orchestra can never be obtained while progressing on the one-prac-tice-a-week system. Still, for an orchestra a year old, Mr. Barnett's organisation has done wonders, and with a new set of modem low-pitch wood-wind instruments (which would make the organ available on occasions), still better results may bo hoped for.