ORCHESTRAL MUSIC.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19475, 9 May 1925, Page 10

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC.

OONSERVATORIUM DIRECTOR’S DIFFICULTIES.

(From Opr Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, May 1. The Conservatorium of Music, the picturesque temple of musical art which stands alongside Government House grounds in* Macquarie street —and which, brfore it was rebuilt some years ago, played its part in life as the aristocratic stables for the gubernatorial horses—is again in the ■ limelight. When, for instance, the director (Mr Arundel Orchard) wants to produce, say, Bach’s Mass in B minor, or some other complex work, he cannot undertake the job with any confidence because of his inability to secure even a rehearsal with complete and well-equipped forces, orchestral as well as choral. - ' He finds it increasingly difficult to secure good orchestral players, who are snapped up eagerly by the theatres and leading picture shows. In order to solve the problem, Dir Orchard is appealing for a few players as leaders in the wood-wind, and brass sections of the Conservatorium Orchestra, and for a subsidy to meet the outlay, the sum required being probably £3OOO a year. Mr Orchard now has to go cap in hand to theatre managers to obtain the help of professional players in an orchestral production, but even in those circumstances he cannot secure a satisfactory orchestral ensemble, for the players with whom he is rehearsing are changing at every rehearsal. Like Mr Yerbruggnen, Mr Orchard is finding- that the post of director of the Conservatorium is not altogether a bed of roses. Without* a fullyequipped orchestra, of course, such music as the symphonies and other great works must remain a sealed book to students, and the music-loving public suffer also. Things wore easier for Mr Orchard when mechanical musical instruments were more generally in use in thq picture shows, but most of them have now fallen into line with the theatres and are engaging first-class orchestras. Even in the leading suburbs excellent orahestral music is now served up with the pictures. The position also affects bodies like the Philharmonic Society. Mr Orchard, with an assured orchestra, has in his mind educational matinees for the schools, but this, of course, is out of the questioij at present. The leading orchestral players of Sydney, with (hat human failing common to most of us. are now going to the most profitable jobs—those in the theatres and picture shows, and if tho State wants them for its Conservatorium it will have to pay them to sacrifice outside engagements.