MUSIC FOR THE MANY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2538, 12 August 1915, Page 6

MUSIC FOR THE MANY

AND THE CITY ORGANIST SOME SUGGESTIONS [Br SriTiDß.] Once more the City Council has been iu travail over tho unsatisfactory attendances at the recitals given weekly by the City. Organist (Mr. Bernard Page), and a small sub-committee has been set up to consult with Mr. Pageas to ways and means of popularising the recitals—quite a laudable and proper action under the circumstances. It was claimed by Cr. M. P. Luckio that there had been quite a good attendance at the recital prior to the meeting, but when it was. pointed out what the receipts were that iiight—about a fourth of what the ordinary person would have to pay in rent for tlio uso of the hall (without the organ), that councillor's contention was hardly a lucky one. In the first place, let it be conceded that Mr. Page is one of the finest organists in Australasia—probably he is better equipped technically and temperamentally than any other. He is yet a young man, with all t'lio beautiful ideals of youth, studying and seeking only to play that • which is transcendent in music. From a musician's point of view his programmes are models—most carefully selected and tastefully arranged, nor does he omit to place iu proper juxtaposition orchestral music, and that which has been written exclusively for the organ, so that from a musical standpoult Mr. Page's programmes are impeccable. The great trouble to Mr. Page lies in the tact that the publio are not all musicians, and for the very life of them they cannot in tho mass be mado to realise the technical beauty of a Bach fugue. The deft interweaving of the master's rolliug melodies may entrance the ear of the skilled musician, whilst it only mystifies and bores the big majority,_ a statement which may cause the artistic soul of Mr. Page to shudder, but is none tlio less tho plain brutal truth. I do not wish to bo misunderstood in this matter. Bach's music has a special nobility in. its appeal—everything he has written indicates a master mind that has found its ptopar vehicle of expression. Whilst this is incontrovertibly so, there are many occasions when forte passages in a Bach fugue have reached the ear in a confused blaie of sound. This is not due to Mr Page or Bach, but to these "peculiar acoustic properties" common to most empty halls. 1 have often wondered if Mr. Page himself realises tho absolute lack of definition that is created v.'hen ho is engaged in olaymg certain. passages in which the powers of the orft'.n (in point of volume of sound) are being exerted with the aid of the pedal organ. It is not the le.ist surprising that people do not to listen, not exactly to what their inte'iigence cannot comprehend, but what, through tlis racket of tho echo battery, tueir ears cacnot define.

■Then to come back an ages-old argument, tho public do like to hear, on occasions, melodies which arc familiar, aild through associations perhaps make some sentimental.appeal to their understanding. There is something in tho contention that a proportion of the people do not wish to be educated and uplifted musically—that they simply vished to bo entertained. Of course suoh a contention sounds like treason to the musician of high ideals, but there are a great many very intelligent people who feel that way—and stay away from organ recitals.

I can recall a conversation that occurred in the vestibule of the Town Hall not so long ago, in the course of which a gentleman who. confessed that he was very fond of music admitted frankly that his taste did not soar abovo tho music of Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Now that gentleman was ono of the first citizens at the head of his profession in Wellington, and one is almost compelled to ask if such tastes are being considered by the City Organist. If not, then what of tho thousands in Wellington who cannot intellectually be ranked with the , gentleman quoted? There aro occasions when the programmes are diversified by many charming, and graceful pastorales, gavottes, chorales, etc., but do these meet the case. of. those -who crave for melodies they know? Whoso musical memories embrace the melodies embalmed in tho operas of Verdi, Rossini, Balfe, Offenbach, Wallaco, Puccini, Bizet, etc., which embody tho element of a more popular appeal? It may be stated with some element of truth that the grand organ is not for euch music, but that does not say that arrangements of such works, and to go oven further,' arrangements of the betterclass ballads could not be beautifully expressed on the king of instruments. With the audiences showing no tendency to increase, it cannot bo said that it is unreasonable to suggest that Mr. Page might experiment a little mora than he is inclined to do by including popular music, and by that phrase I mean to the simpler, more clearly defined melodies which are moro widely known, and whose appeal is more direct than the contrapuntal glories of such gifted writers as Karg Elert or Cesar Franck. There is no desire on the part of anyone to carp at Mr. Page, but if the receipts fall from £4 to £3, aJid later to £2 nightly, no reasonable person can say that something in the nature .of criticism of'the policy of the City Organist is not justifiable, indeed necessary. The real beauty of the musio of such masters as I have mentioned, as well as that of Beethoven, Guilmant, and Mendelssohn, is at present, not manifest on all occasions,, because of the acoustic properties of the Town Hall. These, properties improve with tho size, of the audience, and when tho hall is full aro almost perfect. That being tha case,, why not make an attempt in some way or other to attract larger audiences, with a leaven of that class of • musio that would fall wolcomo oil the ears of tho many, and by inducing the public to attend convert them gradually to an appreciation of all that is highest and best in music? Great singers and violinists havo been known to make tlheir _ fullest appeal' in singing or playing simple and familiar songs, and have lost nothing in prestige by so doing. Why not experiment in that direction with the organ, by giving a really popular recital in aid of tho "Musical News" Fund for the purchase of mouth-organs for the boys at ths front?