MUSIC AND MUSICIANS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2211, 25 July 1914, Page 6

MUSIC AND MUSICIANS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—May tte claim a small , space on a matter of interest to the public? A small coterie of amateur musicians recently attempted to revive the Municipal Orchestra. They formed a conir mittee, went carefully into the matter, and, we believe, placed a fairly wellperfected scheme before the City cil. Whatever the cause or reason, they met with a staggering rejection.by the council. When the committee recovered consciousness they looked round for someone on whom to throw the blame, and without.waiting to think, or form any theory upon tho cause, they fell upon the-broad'back of the Wellington Professional Orchestra, and we received the following impudent letter from Dr. Fyffe:— ■

Sir,—Will you be good enough to ■remove my name from the list of subscribers to : your society?- i do i this as a protest against the way in which you have treated-Mr. , who has the true interests of the best music more at heart than- pe»haps any other man in this city. I heartily congratulate you on the way in which you have killed the ■Municipal Orchestra—an orchestra that could havo done you no harm,, and would have put money in your pockets. You have stopped our scheme and put back orchestral music in Wellington for another ten years, and all because you were afraid of losing a few paltry shil-, lings, which loss would never have eventuated. ' This is quite on a- par with what I should expect of a body, of so-called musicians , who turn: out' their'best be-, cause he has the courage of his opinions.—Believe me,eto.," ■ W.-KINGTON FYFFS, M.D.

In regard to Mr. —-, who declares he has not told' Dr. Fyffe or anyone of any "treatment" by us, we can dismiss him with the assertion that he left us purely because the ,timo necessary to serve us was an encroachment npon his business, and if-this isnot the caso we invite him to come forward.and say so. But our biggest point is this:.Wβ •want the music-lovers of this town to please believe us when we,say that nobody among us has tried, or attempted to influence anyone else to try, to overthrow the Municipal Orchestra scheme. Half of our members liad signified their intention of'joining the new body if asked, and our Mr. Oakes had actually ; organised a complete "brass" .section for them. ' , ... ,

As soon as these disappointed aniateurs . find : that they cannot rule, tho roost, they immediately, without any regard for facts, without a moment's thought for the best players except to insult them, without any knowledge of us and our work, and without a word of argument, sense, or respect, step in and show themselves in their true colours. You may trust the old members of tho W.P.O. for tho ability to weigh up a conductor or musician, for they have played under every theatre . or concert ■ conductor .living or touring in this ■ country, and the fact that they hold fast to Mr. Bloy is significant, and the present orchestra compared with its condition four years ago speaks sufficient volumes for him; and not oven to him can the Municipal Orchestra's committee extend .common courtesy, for one of the committeomen actually warned him not to Tefuse the post of leader for tho now body, and spoke 'warmly of the probable importation of another violinist from Australia, and .of the efforts to secure for him. a good position and footing in the town. Amateur musicians with long tongues are invited on committees to run things. ' Professionals of Mr. Bloy's standing aro approached with blazing effrontery and, apparently, methods of intimidation, ,and your Dr. Fyffcs and similar men are those who accuse us (who work while others talk) of putting back music ■ton years. The public have no jdea ot the- constant buzzing and biting of these musical gnats which the W.P.O. have to contend with, and wo sometimes wonder with Hamlet whether it be nobler in the mind to suffer theslings and arrows,'or retire and leave them the field and see what they can do.—We are, sir, • : COMMITTEE, W.P.0., H. Moschini, Hon. Sec.