Local Recordings

New Zealand Listener, Volume 15, Issue 388, 29 November 1946, Page 11

Local Recordings

A RECENT performance of records by the Wellington Watersiders’ Silver Band suggests that the NZBS might well. make more use of tecords by New Zealand artists. The recordings of the band, made presumably in this country, were excellent; if this standard is possible in recordings of instruments, no insuperable difficulty should be experienced in getting records made of vocal soloists,

choirs, and instrumental combinations, It is annoying for a Dunedin listener to have to read programmes containing recitals by northern artists, knowing full well that an attempt to pick up those Stations will lead only to exasperation over bad reception. Records would enable anyone in any part of the Dominion to hear any performance, without the expense of transporting the performer all over the country. Only the best performers need be chosen, but each could make a selection of records, which could be interchanged by the various stations toeprovide relief from hearing the same local artists too frequently. It would also cut out those performances which we now hear by local artists who really are not quite up to broadcasting standards. In particular, works by New Zealand composers could be recorded, and a library of such compositions kept in the NZBS studios; such encouragement for our own composers would stimulate interest in composition among music students and interested audiences.