MUSIC IN GISBORNE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2375, 16 December 1908, Page 2

MUSIC IN GISBORNE.

NECESSITY FOR A REVJV^

WANT OF PUBLIC A CIATION. (By “Tamihajv" . “ ',/ lovo of musThe appreciation ‘k>nerations been ic has for so English-speaking a privilege °* ally grown into’ race that it nas now accepted as our natures ai' of our Yet a raatei r P 3 t h a t j n } ieront ] ove j n the breast nearly every, person the duality o/' r A Ppreciatlo:nL varies considerable. There are many degrees of appreci' tlon and .each person loves and according to his individual a ud education. Some appreciate the rythmical strains of waltz u/oasure ; others.prefer the merry reI train. Some fancy the captivating music of opera, while some again are devoted to the grand harmonies of. oratorio. But, no matter in which degree, the appreciation as there. But while that is the most important point there is yet something further to be desired. It has for years past been a complaint of visiting impressarios, and of those with ia high musical taste, that the public of New Zealand displays very slight inclination to patronise a concert or performance of considerable musical merit, whilst the third-rate dramatic shows of the “blood and thunder” order are rush-' ed. That this is undoubtedly so there can be no gainsaying, and this is as much in evidence in Gisborne as elsewhere. The writer has, on numerous occasions, seen high-quality artists appearing in the Dominion and performing before poor houses all along the line. A notable instance in Gisborne was the recital given, last year, by Madame Carreno, one of the world’s leading pianists, at which the attendance was most miserable and discouraging to so great an artist. Mention might be made, too, of the poor support given to the Harmonic Society’s recent performance of Gaul’s “Holy City,” at which there were present less than 150 people. True, the latter was a performance that could have been considerably improved upon, yet one would’ liave thought that the very laudable intention of the Society in placing foefope the public vocal concerted music of some merit would have met with more adequate response. In any case the excuse of an inferior performance cannot be accepted as regards Madame Carreno, and one is reluctantly forced to the conclusion that the general degree of musical appreciation in Gisborne is, at its highest, far short of what it should be. “But why?” the reader asks, “should this be so?” A very pertinent question, and one not so easy to answer. Yet an explanation there must be. To the writer’s jmi.nd the explanation lies an the two words—environment, and education. We have assumed that there is in all people a natural love of music. The point then is liow can that love he so cultivated as to produce an admiration of the best in melody or harmony. Environment is the starting point. The child whjch is born and brought up in an ‘‘atmosphere of good music speedily learns to appreciate such and similarly the child that has nothing better ‘to listen to than the strains of an aocordeon or mouth-organ can imagine no better music. Given equal opportunities to hear good music in after-life, however, there is no reason why the second child should not acquire as keen an appreciation as the first child, and, therein lies the value o f ieduatidm 1 Education in mush as j n mos t : other things jungly a mater of time— ; at first djtSsteful, but with the initial (S'ge'ohce passed, a thing that entwines itself into one’s nature, making the work of. the world’s greatest composers a perfect pleasure and the trashy, catcli-time music so much in vogue something worse than torture. There .are few parents but who would wish to see the musical inclinations of their little ones turned in the direction -that would induce the most gratitude- to themselves and the greatest pleasure to the children as they grow up, and they can achieve this very desirable end by making the home environment refined in music as in other things. The “one-two-tliree vamp,” the paltry cake-wialk, and the sickly sentimental ditties, whilst affording, perhaps, temporary pleasure, . are all more or iess objectionable features to be well avoided. As to education, the child, if it is to be taught music, should be-placed with ia competent teacher. I say competent advisedly, for it is not every person who hangs out a brass plate that has the peculiar and none too common faculty of bong, able to thoroughly and successfully inculcate the young idea in the rudiments of harmonics. Encouragement should be given to the study and practice of music of the better class, and every opportunity should be allowed the pupil of hearing and gaining hints from the methods of recognised high-class artists, who, from time to time, visit the town. Commencing with the child, and laying as .a basis a sound musical education, the natural result will be that, with the effluxion of time, the musical standard of the community will be brought to a higher and more gratifying stage. It must not be forgotton, however, that the various musical societies have a responsiblity that should not be shirked. It is their privilige rto put before the public music of a pleasing character, but it is also their duty to assist in the elevation of the prevailing standard. In this connection the Orchestral Society is doing fine work .that will ultimately bear good fruit. So much cannot quite be said for • the Harmonic Society, yet its efforts are still worthy, of encouragement. The difficulty of obtaining good voices is tan almost insuperable difficulty, but, nevertheless.

'it is quit© possible to do something still better with the material at hand. The same remarks practically apply to Gisborne church choirs, and it is a matter for regret that tile class of sacred music sung in the churches is little better than mediocre. The introduction of one or two pipe-organs would be of material assistance and it is more than likely that the recent establishment of >an efficient orchestra jn one of the churches will be productive of speedy improvement. There is an urgent necessity for a musical revival in Gisborne, hut until the general public can be awakened to a full sense of their ..responsibility to the generations to come, as well as to themselves, so long will the musical standard of Gisborno be an object for pity and regret.