ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 138, 25 April 1862, Page 5

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Otago Daily Times.

Sib, —Being an ardent lover of Music, it wa3 with feelings of considerable pleasure that I saw the announcement of the formation in Dunediu of au Association affording opportunity for those of musical tastes to meet for mutual enjoyment of this most delightful of all recreations. Although, unfortunately, my business engagements have hitherto prevented my affording any active co-operation to the Society, I have yet watched its movements with considerable interest. I am sorry, however, to state that, in my opinion, its progress lias not been attended with the success that might have been anticipated, and I ascribe the retarding process to several causes. First —The Society has not received the personal support it was entitled to expect from a community which is now, Ijy no means inconsiderable, for it is surely not to be supposed that the fe\v, say ten or a dozen, gentlemen who meet every Tuesday evening at the Atheiucum, represent the whole musical portion of.the Society of Duuedin. ; Secondly—There has been a want of zealons enthusiasm, if I may so call it, on the part of its promoters. Advertisements are all very well in their place, but it is mainly by an actual personal canvass amongst friends jind acquaintances, that any considerable accession of members can be acquired. . Thirdly—And here I am sure of the sympathy of the present members—The" absence of soprani, -I mean of course, the ladies. There can bo no doubfc that there are a many musical ladies in Dunediu | who weuld gladly identify themselves with such a Society, were tliev in doing so, enablod to act in accir.lance with their natural delicacy and sense of propriety. I would, therefore, suggest that the co operation of one or more gentlemen, whose position and character would at once invest the movement with the requisite ■■ morale be solicited; and doubtless there are those to be found who would gladly afford their aid in this respect. " Again, I would point out that the aim of amateur choral societies, and more particularly those of recent formation, should not be to present mediocre performances at public concerts; for by so doing they only convert what would legitimately have afforded a delightful amusement, into an exhibition painful alike to singers and hearers. When the Society has arrived at anything like a state of proficiency, then occasional concerts might be given with something like reason. Trusting that my remarks may not be without effeotj'in respect to the Dunedin Musical Association, I am, sir, Your obedient servant, A Lovßit ov Music.