NEW ZEALAND MUSIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 447, 31 August 1928, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND MUSIC

STANDARD IMPROVING, SAYS FESTIVAL JUDGE PLEA FOR ENGLISH SONGS That the standard of vocal appreciation was slowly improving in the Dominion, was the opinion voiced by Mr. C. W. Kerry, of Wellington, the well-known judge of music, who is now acting in that capacity at the Auckland Festival. At the same time Mr. Kerry was of opinion that the works of the leading English composers—men like Ireland, Elgar, Cyril Scott, Bridge and Roger Quilter, were not sung enough. Good music has got to be heard several times before it is appreciated, said Mr. Kerry, and for that reason there was a tendency on the part of. public singers to sing numbers which they knew would take. In this connection he thought that musical societies could do a great deal of good by insisting that their soloists sang good numbers, and also advance the claims of the better-class English ballads. This would help to educate the public up to a point where they would appreciate good songs. Then there would be no need for singers to be advised “to sing them muck.” He also thought that singers were apt to under-estimate the intelligence of their audiences and try and siqg down to them. It was a very pgor Compliment to audiences, and often it was resented. There were many goed songs by modern English composers which we rarely ever hear in New Zealand, he said. Referring to the standard of singing in New Zealand, Mr. Kerry informed a Sun representative that the principal faults he noticed at the various competitions ho judged at were due to the fact that insufficient attention had been paid to the production of - good ton**. It was also obvious that many singers were content to vocalise their numbers without making any serious effort to provide interpretation. He continually had .to impress upon students the necessity of getting behind the songs, and making each number sta*» l out as a serious interpretation. VALUE OF FESTIVALS In most parts of New Zealand the singing in the men’s classes was bfclcw tbat of the women’s. Two years • ago, when he last judged at Auckland, the singing in the men’s classes was far from good, but although a great deal of improvement could still be looked for, he was pleased this year to note some advance. Another indication of the improved standard of appreciation was to be seen in the better class of music played and sung in the “own selection” classes. Some years ago this had been a bad feature of competitions, and adverse comment by the judges on numbers selected by the competitors was very frequent, remarked Mr. Kerry. It was no doubt largely due to the influence of that comment and the lower markings received for objectionable selftions that had so much to do with the general improvement. Mr. Kerry was firmly of the opinion that festivals were doing a great de;i! of good in improving the general standard of music. One had only to note the very high standard and the number of entrants in the juvenile classes. In a few years time, said Mr. Kerry, this would be reflected in a better standard of adult singing.