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New Zealand Listener, Volume 11, Issue 278, 20 October 1944, Page 17

Sir,-"Materfamilias" in "a recent issue had a crack at our local artists and at the NBS Orchestra in particular. They cannot be compared with the greatest soloists and orchestras in the world, he writes, and therefore he frankly and selfishly prefers records. "Materfamilias" will permit me a little remark: How can he really enjoy and understand good music performed by his beloved masters if at the same time he works? Listening to music is an art, too,.and I cannot imagine a real

music-lover knocking, drilling, shouting -and listening. Now as for me I never. dreamt of comparing our local artists with the greatest soloists in the world. I am sure that none of them does. That’s just "Materfamilias’" sophistry, As for classical music, "Materfamilias" should know that the NBS Orchestra occupies only one hour, as compared with 10 to 12 hours of recorded classical music. But that is not the point. The importance of the NBS Orchestra and the NBS Quartet lies in a quite different field. If "Materfamilias" had followed the programmes carefully, he should have discovered by now that the NBS Orchestra has played some delightful arrange- . ments and original compositions hitherto

unknown or very seldom heard. Take for instance: Suite by Zimbalist, serenade by Rachmaninoff, concerto by Jarzebski (first performance of an old Polish master), not to speak of the revival of old classics by Geminiani, Corelli, Boyce, Handel, Bach, etc. The performances are doubtless of high musical standard and preferable to tinned music, because they are pioneer work in the best sense of that word, and a great stimulus to our musical youth. The crowded halls of the last chamber music concerts prove that the audience is very keen to hear music performed by local artists, and is tired of tinned music. But then "Materfamilias" never coes to concerts. and onlv listens to

music "while he works.’-

MUSICUS

(Wellington).