MAKING A MUSICAL PUBLIC.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4458, 25 August 1922, Page 3

MAKING A MUSICAL PUBLIC.

FAMOUS COMPOSERS’ VIEWS. MR. GOOSSENS ON ADVERTISING. Celebrated conductors, pianists, lingers, and critics took part in a debate on “A Musical Public and How toEn courage It" at the opening of the British Music Society’s conference at Aeolian New Bond Street, W. There was an interesting clash of opinions between two of the leadin English conductors, Dr. Adrian Bouit ahd Mr Eugene Goossens. Dr Boult thought that at symphony concerts too much modern music was given, and the making of a programme ought to be based “not, on what we believe to be good, but on what we know to be good.” Making a plea for the classics, he said he had found that Beethoven’s C minor symphony was the most popular of all compositions. Mr Goossens did not agree with the principle of “banking on certainties,” since variety was the spice of life. Neglect of effective advertisement was one reason Mr Goossens gave for thin audiences at important concerts. ADVERTISE MORE. “If I had meney'T'wouliTfpilaster London frpm Hyde Park tp Billingsgate tn advertise my concerts- W-j ought not to be ashamed of publicity. I would not mind, to attract the public, going out at 2 in the morning and sticking bills on all the dust-bins!” The only way to encourage most people, certainly the unfortunate ones, to go to concerts would be to establish a refreshment tent at the Queen’s Hall and include it in the price of the ticket.

Dr, Boult said that London concerts are net in a healthy state at present. Personally he preferred empty seats to "paper.” He believed in the repetition of works of music—hue performance was not enough to give anyone a fair chance to appreciate ; and he recommended the Continental system of the public rehearsal of symphony concerts.

The audience was moved, when Dr. Boult declared, “The Government give the art of painting financial help —-they only tax music.” Mr Percy Scholes said that to make the country musical the gramophone should'be more, widely used. So far only seven bij eight sonatas had bee.i recorded complete, whereas they wanted at least 40 or 50.