INFLUENCE OF MUSIC.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 223, 9 May 1872, Page 5

INFLUENCE OF MUSIC.

At the last concert of the Dunedia Choral Society Mr Justice Chapman delivered the following remarks :—: — The Committee have requested me to say a few words respecting the past condi tion and prospects of this Society. I am afraid that I shall have to trouble you with a few figures, which are not always pleasant to hear ; b>it when the position of a society like this has to be explained, it is necessary to give them. I will endeavor to be as brief as possible. You are aware this is the fourth concert given by the Choral Society of Dunedin, and that this completes its first year. The Society commenced with eighty performing members. During the course of the year fifteen of them have I gone away or withdrawn, and twentythree have been elected. Therefore the strength of the performing members is rather greater than at the beginning Besides the performing members, there is another class caled honorary members, who pay increased subscriptions At the commencement they mustered seventy, and are now eighty. The average attendance of performing members has been about sixty, which in a society of about eighty is as good as anywhere else. It is necessary I should explain to you how the funds of this Society are distributed. The Choral Society is not a society seeking profit. It is perfectly content if it can pay its own way and give satisfaction to the public. The contributions of the honorary members about pay the ordinary expenses of the Society, and the contributions of the performing members are devoted to acquiring a stock of the very best music, suited to the purposes of the Society. The object of the Society, as you are aware, has been n t merely to encourage the cultivation of the best music among those who take part on the platform, but to encourage a taste for it among the public generally ; and accordingly it has been the endeavor of the Committee and those performing members who have done such excellent service, to present through the Society mn»ic by the very best masteis — what indeed is usually termed classical music. Music of that class has been chosen, and will be selected in future. It is also the object of the committee not to confine their choice tc music usually termed classical (I do not know why), but to introduce the best opeia music to instruct and delight those who usually attend in this Ball. I need hardly say the cultivation of a taßte for works of the best masters- -the cultivation of a taste for the best music is calculated, as the poet says, to s-often manners, and prevent men' becoming morally brutal. More than that— it is not necessary for a man to be a performer in order that his taste may be cultivated, and I think you will find that species of cultivation that stops short of actual performance, is likely to increase the taste and enjoyment of those who so cultivate it, and that it has a tendency to soften men's manners. That tendency cannot operate in every instance. There are some few minds totally incapable of cultivation by any means whatever. But that is no objection to the endeavor put forth by this Society to operate upon the community and spread a" taste for the highest discription of music. We are told that Nero fiddled while Home was burning, but I hope you will agree with me that the cultivation of music will not make these young ladies desirous of burmng their neighbor's houses. Although Nero fiddled while Rome was on fire, a vast number of illustrious examples of persons capable of enjoying and performing music of the highest class might be given. I suppese there is hardly a person in this room who has not heard of Sir William Herschell, father of Sir John Herschell — a man of great astronomical genius. He was the discoverer of the planet Uranus. He had a peculiar faculty for discovery. It is acknowledged that no astronomer ever existed so endowed by nature with physical capacity for observation as Dr Herschell. Besides he was a profound mathematician : so that he not oaly had capacity to observe, but of turning his observations to account. Not only did he see Uranus, but he calculated its coarse. Perhaps some of you will be surprised to learn that Sir William Herschell was originally an organist. Iv early life music was his means of obtaining a living, and astronomy his amusement. Afterwards astronomy was bis business, and

music his amusement. You have all heard the name of Jereny Bentham, of whom it may be said no mm hai done more for jurisprudence and law reform th-vn he. S?ir Komilly and Lord Broujjhara acknowledged him their instructor. His wo»ks on those subjects are comprised in some twenty or thirty volumes Jeremy Bentham was a skilful performer on the viol n ; and if von tnrn to his memoirs, you will see it stated, while writing his works, he was. night af'er night accompanying Miss Pratt, daughter of LordCamrlen, on his violin. Most people know ttiat the Wellesley family, of whom the great ' iron Duke" was one, was distinguished for the cultivation of music. His father, Lord Mornington, was a composer of very considerable talent. I am not prepared to say that the Duke of Wellmg f on was a performer, but the last time 1 saw him was at a concert in Exeter Hall, and 1 could not help observing his intense attention to everything that went on, and his enthusiastic applause when anything deserving it took place. I believe Prince Metternich, too, was skilful on some instrument, and I think I have seen it stated in some German work that he gave great encouragement to the art both publicly and privately. Many of you may have beard the overture to " Semiramide," in which there is a certain theme that runs throughout the opera. That theme was suggested by Metternich to Rossini when he was engaged in composing " Semiramide." He said, Why don't you take that air known to us as " Life 1> tvs cherish "? It will make an admirable theme for tlie opera. He did so and accordingly "Life Jet us cherish," slightly altered, goes through the opera. I might enlarge, and tell of men distinguished in various pursuits in life who have n t disdained to cultivate music ; but my time is short, and I will therefore conclude by a brief statement of what I think is due to many persons. We are specially indebted to the labors of Messrs Towsey and West, and Mr Little, the leader. These gentlemen who lead have contiibuted very much to our delight. Those professional persona who have aided the progress of this Society have not received any remuneration — their services are entirely gratuitous. I think those who have listened to music so well arranj ed and rendered in such excellent time — the honorary members of the Society will agree that heir thanks are due to them and to those ladies and gentlemen who contribute their services. Let me again remind you that the society depends entirely on pubic support It seeks no profit, but it cannot be supported without funds Of those present there must be many who are not members. It is really an educa'ional instition — it cultivates taste, and those who have not yet j'tiued the Society cannot do better han become honorary members of it.