APATHY IN MUSIC

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 47, 19 November 1926, Page 12

APATHY IN MUSIC

MR. ALFRED HILL BACK IN SYDNEY PLEA FOR ORCHESTRA AND GRAND OPERA “This is the last of the civilised countries to be without a permanent orchestra, supported by the people, ami a permanent grand opera. After visiting other countries, these remarkable tacts become of striking significance.”—Mr. Altred Hill. Just returned from England and America, with his wife (says a Sydney paper), Mr. Alfred Hill said he failed to understand why in a city such as Sydney, where the people regarded themselves as much advanced musically, there should not be an adequate symphony orchestra. “We have an orchestra, certainly,” he said, "but it is paid for by the Government; we have no guarantors, no subscribers; in other words. the citizens as a whole do not adequately support an orchestra, and so assist the culture which is necessary in such an important progressive community. 1 don’t know how our musically-inclined citizens put up with such a state of things.” added Mr Hill, “because they must be starving musically. They don’t get enough of it.” “Certainly,” said Mr. Hill. “We should have permanent grand opera. And a curious phase of this deprivation is that we have the material with us, always available. We ought to have an outlet for the ambition and talent of our singers, and what better outlet is there than grand opera, which would absorb a large amount of it? Why should our young people have to go to other countries? ■ “Australia has the best climate, it is the best place to live in, and in which to earn a livelihood. Moreover, there is not the tremendous competition that one notices in other parts of the world. There should be enormous scope for the singer and the player here in the cities and the small towns.” Mr. Hill added that he had spoken to many artists in the Old Country, who did not like to come to Australia, preferring to live even on the "bread and butter line” rather than risk coming, because they had imbibed the opinion that we had no culture of the higher kind so necessary for the life of the artist.

Mr. Hill had remarkably interesting musical experiences in the big cities of America and in London, where he made arrangements with the chief publishers for the publication of much of his music.

Mr, Hill, writing to his brother, Mr. E. J. Hill, Wellington, says he may be coming over to Wellington at Christmas time. Whilst at Home and in America he made arrangements with publishers to publish much of his music and songs, particularly his Maori songs. In England lie also made ten records of his own orchestral music, conducted by himself, including the Lake music from “Hinemoa,” Tangi (Maori Rhapsody). "Waiata Poi” (orchestral version), and “Waiata Maori” (dramatic song) "Pokarekare” and other songs are being published as a special album of Maori songs.