SUNDAY MUSIC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 236, 17 October 1901, Page 2

SUNDAY MUSIC.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,-- Your correspondent " Hon'sty " gives it as his opinion tbat if tbe band cannot play sacred music they had better stay at home. This raisis the question of, What constitutes sicredness in munc ? A'mos l '. every Sunday a number of persons (I won'e call call it a band), armed with most discordant instrumantp, amuse tHemselvts in our streets. These people play all soits of tunes, nigger minstrel music, and other equally sacred airs, and sing hymns or something of the bind to ttpse tupes, to tbe torture and annoyance of all within hearing who are afllicted with musical-ears. Yet "Honesty'' does not find any fault with this kind of Sunday entertainment, If the singing of certain words in a loud and offensive nasil twaogy tone to a tune, not otherwise sacred, played by a number of instruments quite independent of each other as to pitch, and handled by persons utterly ignorant of the rudiments of music, convert an otherwise nonsacred tune into sacred music, I must say I prefer mu>ic that is not so converted, and I think the majority of the inhati'antsof New Plymouth, and particularly of the Central Ward, are of my way of thinking. I also thiuk that a large majority of the inhabitants of New Plymouth will agree with me in thinking that all good music well performed is fit for a Sunday open-air concert, and that if the street entcrainiueni is no", to ba interfered with our pleasant, but too rare, Sunday af f ernoDns in the Recreation Grounds should also be allowed to proceed without interference, It is quite ensy for those who don't like this way of spsnding a Sunday afternoon to stay away. I may say that I consider no better or more harmless way of spending an hour or two could be devised, and I think now that we have two gcod bands in New Plymouth, if it is not too severe a tax upon the good natured bandsmec, the two bands might arrange to p'ay alternately on Sunday afternoons -taring the summer, eo that on all fine Sundays those of the public who are lov i'/i of music might sperd a few I happy hours on the only day in the week availab'e for most of them, I think such an arrangement would go further to popularise the bands than anything e'se they could do. I wau|cl like to point qqfc tq the public thq-t Lymds cannqt ha run without funds, and J think there are a considerable number of people who do not subscribe to either band who could well »H'o d to do so, and in the interest of the town should assist in that way, as gcod bands go a long way towards making a plaoe p'e*sar)t for visitors, ag well as residents, In conclusion, for the imformation of " Honesty " and others: It is tbe custom in London at the present time to provide band music for the publio

in al! the parks of that city on fine Sunday afternoons, and the boon is greatly appreciated by thousands of all classes who attend.—l am, etc., A. 0. Fookbs.