MUSICAL CRITICS.

Thames Star, Issue XI, 21 June 1880, Page 2

MUSICAL CRITICS.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.)

Sib,—One of the most amusing meet ings I hare re. d of for some time was that of the Board of Governors of t!i< High Sch<d, Thames, held a few days ago. The discussion that to k place over tbe quest io i of music t.ad singing is real'y calculated ?o excite the risible faorUipi of yon>• numerous readers. Di K'lgou", sneaking on the ques ion, said " he consider « me old notation system infinitely preferable to the tn?ic sol fa method." Ido not know how long the galIra t m lico hus developed into a musical autlioii.y, but the statement coming from him was horougb'v acquiesced in by l.'s colleagues (who did not know atiytUng about the maif-r at o !). The old notation system may be a better one for ad vane i pupils, but of this I hare a doubt, or why do the pbilhermomc societies in England not adopt it P Net rly ;11 music.! societies use the sol fa system, and that method is also used in the practising of clinch choi's. To musicians the sol fa system is not useful, as they c;n read vocal music by sight, but Jo beginners it is c.> easy meihoa of impaling vocal knowb'Jge. The advantages in its fa yon- nre more experienced by the music misters, inasmuch that they find it an easier method of driving music into wooden heaus. Di* Kiigo.ti' also said that for propi :.et/s sake it wou'd be belter'to nave a r lea id dale teacher. What on <>: h'-doss he meat? Surely he c?anot have rif nded to cast innuendoes oa Mr B. Owatx? The High School is now at'anted by about 20 pupi's, end two music t acbers a *c thought neoess. <y <r) develt p i i hem a supposed (ante for the Gea'le A»! THs iistu:uion wi!! pro< bably mn the-colony :V.5 fiebt to f.i extent of £1000 per ; a jum, for the sole pj of bendibtag some score or two ofyoungsie s, who wou'd probably be far better off at the Government scho )ls, r ad who have not the " lent to thoroughly benefit b.7 the liigli ?r education afforded. Sn ely t. 's is a pec a" ■a: place, with such enrieat music;.! critics, notions of pro- 'j priei/y, and a bigU school, oveiflow'ng with Greek and La. la — -v I

"Ttirapous ;logical, Mi vo?a :t> magic. 1, F..c aai :oaom c■"■., Soletci or cour'c J, But ii' you Wf aL it, v^-ey won't make a r? lu> •on on ti L'ng a qvmai ty." fis (ac " Sorcerer v explaias.—l am, &■•., John Wuijcikgxo^ WiLis; Ttraru, Juao SOtli, 1880.