Gisborne Music Lover Sets an Example

New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 471, 2 July 1948, Page 14

Gisborne Music Lover Sets an Example

| Written tor "The Listener" by ||

M. PRUDENCE

GREGORY

OMELESS for about eight months, a newly-formed branch of the British Music Society searched Gisborne in vain for accommodation. One hall was not available on suitable evenings, another private home had _ two pianos but not enough seating accommodation, the vocal group’s efforts were drowned whenever rain fell on the tin roof of its meeting place. ... That was*two years ago. At the ‘end of May this year, the Queensland State

String Quartet play- | ed to Gisborne Brit- | ish Music Society | members in a per- | fect, miniature audi-

torium, complete with acoustically treated walls which reduce the reverberation period as much as possible for a place of that capacity, a rare atmosphere indeed for visiting performers in New Zealand. Behind the arrangements for this celebrated group to visit Gisborne lies a tale of one man’s enthusiasm for music-one man’s vision of a home for musicians where they could practise at odd hours, where they could perform | under the best conditions possible and listen to the music of others in comfort. He is H. F. Wise, president of the Gisborne branch of the society, who decided to build a music-room when no suitable premises were available. His work, his time, and his money have produced the perfect setting for chamber music where 150 people can sit in theatre seats, in a centrally heated room, and listen to the best talent available. Everything Laid On There is fluorescent lighting to reduce glare, grand and upright pianos, and a complete system for producing music from any source, whether over the air from records, or from films. ‘This has been made possible by the installation of a talkie projector on which films of famous orchestras are shown in different groups, and an amplifying system.

In two years, the society has placed itself in the debt of musically-minded people in Gisborne to a remarkable degree. Through its ability to offer visiting musicians a place in which to perform withqut having to hire an _ e~pensive opera house, the society has bri ught to Gisborne in the past two years artists who include Lili Kraus, once as a soloist and once with Robert Pikler, the Ernest Jenner trio, Dora and Gerhard Willner (two recitals), Max Gilbert, viola player from the Boyd Neel. String Orchestra, Christina Young and Tessa Birnie, Stewart Hi vey, the Auckland

baritone, Mr. and Mrs. Lionel Harris, Wellington. In additign, the Queensland State Quartet,

as mentioned, has just given a recital and Webster Booth and Anne Ziegler will give a performance next month under the society’s auspices. To the city dweller who takes the appearance in his home town of any celebrity visiting New Zealand as a matter of course, this may not seem like the musical:feast it is in Gisborne. However, because Gisborne has been often left.out of celebrities’ itineraries as a result of its poor communications, it has suffered severely in the past in its endeavours to provide those interested in the arts with stimulating recitals and opportunities for hearing the best performers in New Zealand. Standard of Music Improved The distinct hiatus between the standard of promising local musicians and the finished products of the musical world who all too rarely visited the town has now been minimised, and those who are studying music with a view to becoming performers and those who like to listen to the best in music, find through the British Music Society their way ‘opened to music of much the same standard as that prevailing in the cities. The music room is not for the sole use of visiting performers, of course. (continued on next page)

(continued from previous page) and ‘because all members of the society -nearly 250 at the end of the last financial year-can use the room and the pianos there whenever they wish tc practise, music in Gisborne is becoming better. Performers at all sorts of entertainments are improving, because they can practise beforehand with their accompanists or fellow players in the music room free of distraction and under the best possible conditions. During the lunch-hour one might find a trio rehearsing for the next instrumental group night, or a two-piano duet in the early stages of rehearsal. The

society’s string orchestra which has become a feature’ in the town, might be playing under its conductor in the late evening when members have left their various occupations; one is likely to find a women’s choir busy preparing songs for a group night, a solitary pianist practising in complete solitude, or a singer and accompanist having a_ preliminary run-through before a coming performance. Thus, concerted performances each Wednesday when alternating meetings of the vocal, piano, instrumental and recorded groups of the society are held, are always well rehearsed, because it is so easy to "slip up to the music room for half-an-hour." Similarly, because most musicallyminded people in Gisborne: belong to the society, the standard of musical items presented at various places outside its room has shown a marked. improvement during the past year or so.

For the records group, which is concerned with hearing records made by good performers, conditions could scarcely be bettered in the music room for clear reception and reproduction. Each group, too, usually includes in its programme a sound film on some aspect of music. Philanthropy finds an outlet in many ways: some people build fountains and similar edifices, others donate parks or wrought iron gates to their towns and borough, but Mr. Wise’s vision of a music room, and his splendid gesture in building it are examples of philanthropy with a purpose which are all: too seldom seen in this country. nee nn a pe een ee a a ee en ee a