“MUSICAL SNOBBERY.”

Evening Star, Issue 22146, 28 September 1935, Page 16

“MUSICAL SNOBBERY.”

An interesting discussion, somewhat amusingly expressed, has occurred in. Auckland over the cify organ. This instrument was given to the city by Sir Henry Brett at a cost of approximately £B,OOO, and it was a condition of the gift that a number of free recitals should be given each year. In 1932 three honorary city organists— Messrs E. S. Craston, Trevor Sparling, and A. G. Wilson —were appointed. During that year they presented a total of six recitals —two by each organist. In addition organ solos were played at each of the municipal choir contests. The attendances were small at the recitals, but the honorary organists felt that, given the opportunity, they could be made both popular and self-supporting. The council then in power apparently considered the monetary aspect more important than the aesthetic, and since 1932 there have been no farther recitals other than the yearly band-organ carol concerts. These facts are set out in a letter to the ‘ Auckland ‘Star,’ bearing on the subject signed by the honorary organists. The journal asked if the three musicians mentioned had called themselves Poulishirtoff, Dontnowich, and Prznski would the organ have remained mute. The answer is given by Mr W- T. Anderton, a member of the City Council’s Finance Committee. In his opinion it would not. He asserted that Sir Henry Wood was ignored until he published some of his compositions under an assumed Russian name. Then the unknown “ Russian ” composer was hailed as a genius. Mr Anderton declared that this form of snobbery is as strong in Auckland as it is in England, and said that if Auckland’s organists adopted foreign names and charged as much for admission to their recitals as visiting foreign musicians did for their concerts, they would have full houses. The suggestion behind Mr Anderton’s remarks is that familiarity breeds, if not contempt, at least indifference, . for he went on to say as a further illustration that the people of Auckland would rave over picture post cards of Switzerland or the Riviera, . while ignoring the beauties of their own country. In a more subdued statement another councillor declared that there was no demand 'for organ music in Auckland, otherwise the council would be obliged to supply it. There is some truth in Mr Anderton’s general statement, but it is not confined to his city. It is a British characteristic, and is by no means limited to music; The people of theN Empire, unlike those of other countries, have little patriotism in this way, and will quite as readily buy goods of foreign make as articles produced by British concerns. There is something to, be said on both sides, for freedom of trade and closer international relations are being urged to-day, but Britain found the army of Continental waiters in London when the war broke out decidedly embarrassing. The preference for foreign musicians no doubt has its roots in the fact that the Continent has produced, both as composers and performers, musicians whose reputation is world-wide and enduring.