Musical Blitz

New Zealand Listener, Volume 12, Issue 300, 23 March 1945, Page 8

Musical Blitz

STATION 1YA held high revels in honour of Bach on March 7 in a programme composed of concertos played by Fischer and Schnabel, and the Peasant Cantata given from the studio by the Combined Services Orchestra and Choir (under the direction of A.E.W.S.). Messrs. Schnabel and Fischer have little else to do but practise their Bach, and we expect technical perfection from them; more human interest surrounded the work of the group under the command of Corporal J. A, Blitz, who had put their hard-earned leisure to turning their swords into very creditable ploughshares. The Cantata swung along with a great deal of spirit, the singers somewhat more at their ease than the orchestra. Its pardonable lack of polish gave

an air of startling sincerity to the sentiments expressed by the peasants in welcoming their lord and lady. I hope they will sing it again some day, adapting the words to an occasion worthy of such celebrating-a visit by Mr. and Mrs. Churchill perhaps. I enjoyed this surprising bloom that has grown out of our military organisation, and hope it will not wither in the approaching peace.

OME speculation as to the effect of musical undertakings on army discipline, and vice versa, has filled the civilian mind since this performance. Somebody, apparently (but who?), suggests, music, and a search is made for the conductor’s baton, which turns up in the corporal’s knapsack. The field-marshal then submits to a stiff audition and is

allowed to creep into the second violins, Does the. corporal salute before bawling him out for playing with a flat E string? Some of the possibilities seem rather subversive. On the other hand.

musicians have cause for alarm, for high-ranking officers with a taste for music are in the enviable position of the Kings, Dukes and Margraves of old, who kept musicians hopping around in their service. From America recently came a pretty story of how, when the Griller String Quartet joined the Air Force, they were called before their commanding officer on their first night in camp, introduced to an eminent pianist and "requested" to play the Brahms quintet. So far so good-this pianist really was eminent; but if the c.o, himself had been a painful amateur pianist anxious for a chance of throwing around those exciting chords in good company, what then? Another hazard of war, but to the musician perhaps the worst.