IN A YOUNGER BRITAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1056, 21 August 1930, Page 14

IN A YOUNGER BRITAIN

N.Z. MUSIC DESCRIBED MR. IMPETT’S TOUR “Far removed from the world centres of musical palpitation and cherishing only the faintest hopes of ever seeing the approach of the orchestral armies of Toscanini, Furtwangler, or Wood, the Dominion of New Zealand yet contrives to keep abreast of the times in its development of talent. Much sound work, in fact, is being registered by masters, English and Italian, in the four thriving centres of this young and tranquil country;” writes Mr. Walter Impett, the Auckland musician, now travelling in England, in “The Daily Telegraph.” My present visit to England after a long absence has enabled me not only to compare notes, but fees and methods. The outcome of close observation is the firm conviction that the New Zealand student who loves music for its own sake can embark on the course of musical instruction in his own land with a capable and careful tutor at a third the cost of the same tuition in London. It may be that some of these excellent teachers have taken up their residence in New Zealand primarily to escape the rigours of climate; the fact remains that the knowledge imparted, especially in the early stages, is almost as perfect as it could be. Add to this that an elegantly furnished home for a professional man in this fair Dominion is available, complete with sunbalcony, garage, and half an acre of garden for less than £IG a month! New Zealand’s appetite for serious music is fed fairly constantly by the visits of overseas artists of renown, and usually these appearances are so arranged that no two “importations” hold sway in the same city at the same time. Here, too, perhaps, lies the secret of the rising standard of musical taste to be foun- among the people. Much store is set by the promised performance, and a discerning public are not slow to appreciate the virtues of an artist. Enthusiasm for an event of this kind in the largest city, Auckland, with a highly-educated population numbering nearly 250,000, is, for instance, always likely to run high, for the concert-goer in the Antipodes has the extra satisfaction of knowing that some impresario at work at this end has been occupied lone before in sifting the good from the bad before committing his precious choice to a five weeks’ sea voyage from Tilbury or Naples. FAMOUS ARTISTS The custom, established years ago. of presenting each artist for a season of five or six concerts in one town is still adhered to. Best seats cost eight shillings to ten in modern town halls, accommodating 3,000. I can recall, through the years, flattering, yet critical, receptions being accorded Kreisler, Galli-Curci, Friedman, Daisy Kennedy, Moiseiwitsch, Backhaus, Hislop, Clara Butt, Heifetz, McCormack, Giannini, Dal Monte, Paderewski, Harry Dearth, Kirkby Lunn, and Melba, to mention but a few. Where these individual performances were concerned I believe that in some cases the box-office receipts have been remarkable. Larger orchestral and choral organisations, with one eye on the baton and another on the scenic beauties, occasionally strive to do the same thing. I think John Philip Sousa, Dr. Henry Coward, and the “Besses o’ the Barn” Band are the only examples of those who have ever recorded a net result. New Zealanders, then, deprived for most part of the opportunity of hearing world-famous orchestras and choral unions, turn instinctively to their own municipal music, as well as programmes given by local musical societies, which, under resident British conductors, are perhaps the country’s loftiest effort in emulating the Homeland. Choirs, well-trained and with a score of programmes ready for any occasion, can be met with in all the larger centres. Even native melodies of the Maori race, with their fascinating lilt, form part of the repertoire, and, re-arranged by Alfred Hill, the gifted Wellington composer, are now being utilised in solo and chorus work of various kinds. Boston Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary next year. According to announcement, Sir George Henschel, who was the orchestra’s first conductor, has been invited to be present as guest conductor.