HAMILTON CHORAL SOCIETY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2639, 11 June 1889, Page 2

HAMILTON CHORAL SOCIETY.

TO THE EDITOR Silt, —Referring to your critique on the concert of Wednesday last, I would like to make iv few remarks. Your critic "Norma" concludes by saying:—" Wβ trust there will be further performances by the Society, as they will always be acceptable, but an effort'should be made to give it greater numerical strength and improve iU energy in the direction we have pointed out," (meaning the addition of instrumentalists). With regard to the concerts'being acceptable, I am afraid, considering the almost nominal charge of Is, that the small audience on Wednesday night proves, that they are so to a very small portion of the community. A great many of those who profess to be, and who ought to be, most interested in trying to raise the very low standard of music in Hamilton were conspicuous by their absence from both platform and hall. It is impossible to keep a Society of this sort in existence without the active sympathy of the public, and I think that most of your readers will agree with me that an audience of 117 is a poor recognition of the value of such a Society as ours in promoting the musical taste and knowledge of the community. As regards increase of strength I can safely say that it is owing to no want of energy either on my part, or that of the committee, but is entirely owing to the deplorable indifference of the so-called musical people f Hamilton. The difficulty of forming an orchestra is owing to a similar cause, namely the want of real interest in music for its own sake, and not for the sake of a public performance. Apologising for these few remarks by saying that it is a subject on which I feel strongly, I remain, dear Sir, yours &c. H. CONNKLI,, Conductor Hamilton Choral Society.