ORCHESTRAL DSICORDS. The "Post" Finds a Scapegoat.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 73, 23 November 1901, Page 8

ORCHESTRAL DSICORDS. The "Post" Finds a Scapegoat.

THAT unfoitunate body, the Wellington Orchestral Society, is once nioie befoie the public in an undignified attitude Its Obtensible mission is to practice harmony and elevate the tastes of the people But discord has been its piedommant characteristic from the outset, and the frequent internal dissensions to which it has invited the attention of he public have been anything but elevating Of late matteis appear to have been going fioni bad to woise Several months ago Mr. Maughan Bamett lesigned his position as conductor, and thiough the daily pi ess the public were soon made aware that another disagreement had taken place At the annal meeting of the Society on Saturday night they had the whole trouble out, and put m a pretty fair night's washing • * * The Society now summons up coinage to confess that the conductor s resignation -was accepted because the Committee was unable to comply "with his demands for (1) a more legular attendance at rehearsals, and (2) a guarantee of fixed remuneration It has also revealed how thoroughly out of accord its own members have been for a long time, and the wonder now is, not that there is a rift within the lute, but that its music did not become mute long ago. • * * The Committee, in its report, declares it is impossible to guarantee a regular attendance at rehearsals, and it proceeds to make a most invidious distinction by saying, with a note of sympathy in its voice, that experienced performeis on horns, double bass, 'cello, viola, etc ," cannot be induced to see the necessity of attending every rehearsal. Of course, the inference is obvious Fiddlers, flautists, cornettists, etc not being 'experienced performeis, piesumably, stand in a lower category, and rehearsals are held mainly for their behoof and improvement Nearly everyone bewailed the bad attendance at reheaisals. Mr Harland said it was most discoui aging, and he had had just about enough of it , » • Mi M Manthel introduced another cause of trouble There was such a want of good feeling amongst members of the orchestra that some of them were hardly civil enough to say "Good evening ' to the others. And the Chairman (Mr. Otto Schwartz) admitted there was something in. Mr. Manthel's complaint Yet, in face of a state of affairs like that, the ' Post has the effronteiy to step up to the footlights and scold the public m a vixenish manner • • • All the blame is laid at their doois They aie told they have no sympathy with those who are striving to keep alive a taste for good music. They are dull, insensate to aesthetic impulses, apathetic, and are fast making Wellington a by-word. Their indifference to good music "amounts to positive Philistinism " All this.

and much more to the same effect, is charged against the people of Wellington, and the " Post " grieves deeply on their account. * • • Fudge and balderdash ! The people of Wellington are just as refined in their tastes, as prompt to appreciate good music, and as ready to spend their money freely on it, as any community in this or the other colonies. If proof is needed there is abundance of it. Look back to the splendid success of the Musical Festival, which Mr. Eobert Parker carried through some years ago. Or, if that is too distant a survey, what about the Musgrove Opera Cos. season, M. Gerardy's 'cello recitals, and the performance at very short notice of the Royal Marine Band ? Did the public on these occasions not attest most conclusively their love of good music, and their willingness to pay liberally for it ? • • • If the Orchestral Society wants public support it must first deserve it. Hitherto, it has quarrelled with nearly all its conductors. Mr. Trimnell was obliged to give it up. Mr. Alfred Hill brought it to its highest pitch of efficiciency, but it was ungrateful and the ripe talents which he placed at its disposal and which it utterly failed to appreciate are now gladly welcomed by the best professional musicians of Sydney. Finally, Mr. Maughan P>arnett has tried his hand and has been forced to lay down the baton in disgust. There is no use trying to excuse the Orchestral Society by blaming an inoffensive public. The fault lies within itself.