THE MUSICAL AGE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1930, Page 2

THE MUSICAL AGE

The musical 'world is going through a trying ordeal at present which in the end will no doubt make the standard of music on a higher basis. The advent, of tile playei' piano, the gramophone and wireless music ' -has found widespread popularity and pessimists have deprecated the piano as obsolete, and the expenditure for the instrument and tuition, superfluous. Seeing, that music can now be bought ready made, like any other wares, no justification can be claimed for these rank and sweeping denunciations. As a b-Qme-inaker the piano stands out alone and the loss lo intimate family life would be nothing short of calamity. Imagine all the ambition of the musically gifted nourished and fostered in untold thousands of homes, the rivalries that led to distinction within and .beyond the family circle would be buried and we remain behind as languid listeners. Instead of having a free choice from the treasures of music we would be at the mercy of the big producing companies and -their ''limited repertoire. The gramophone is a most formidable rival of the piano on account of its permanent records, and this belies the assertion that the piano is “played out,” as the piano is indispensable for accompaniment and without it home singing, would be doomed. The utility of the piano' transcends by far rts subordinate functions, there is no better medium than the piano for the higher g l- ade, insight and discrimination! of certain types of music. In no other way could talent in children Jbe discovered than .'by the revelations of the key board or strings? Endless are the regrets in after-life of those who failed to grasp tlieir ohanc-e of a musical education in youth, and it is then they are aware of missing one of the roads of life’s happiness. Tlie piano is so associated with great music that to loose it for the sake of any artfiicial appliances might be disaster to the art and greater than we can forsee.