"BREAKFAST SYMPHONY"

New Zealand Listener, Volume 29, Issue 742, 2 October 1953, Page 5

"BREAKFAST SYMPHONY"

Sir,-I am one of the many Auckland listeners who have felt considerable chagrin at the sudden disappearance from 1YA’s morning programme of a precious quarter of an hour of classical music, namely, the Breakfast Symphony, and feel that too strong protest cannot be made at its unannounced withdrawal. The early morning programme has now deteriorated entirely, and is little better than a hotch-potch, and might as well come from one of the Commerciai stations where noise and_ so-called "popular" music hold entire sway. Cannot something be done to elevate the principal New Zealand broadcasting stations to a standard nearer that set by the ‘BBC? One has only to speak to a newcomer from England or a New Zealander returning from England and discuss radio here in this country, to find that it is considered to be extremely poor entertainment indeed. I know it is so, as I am a New Zealand resident returned from England and also have recent comparisons to make. Having written the above in a spirit of criticism of things as they exist here, it is only right that I- should make some small contribution towards constructive policy, and I must first say that as a musician who plays a stringed instrument I have an ear to judge, and am also keenly interested in the betterment of musical entertainment on the air and the improvement of programmes generally. The Breakfast Symphony was an oasis and a solace amidst the predominant jangle which pervades the morning programmes, for the very

simple reason that it was a set period given over to a particular type of music and could be anticipated by the listener, and I think this aspect needs much more study by broadcasting authorities than it ever gets when programmes are arranged. Types of music should be listened to for a longer period than a paltry three to five minutes-at least 20 to 30 minutes should be given to any particular department of music-orchestra, solo instruments (piano, violin, etc.), cham-_ ber music, and the like, in order that one’s. enjoyment (and education) could be catered for in some good measure before an entirely different subjéct is thrust upon . one’s hearing ("to give balance" as we were recently informed by the local YA). There is no doubt the Breakfast Symphony should be reinstated, and indeed. extended to at least a half hour from 7 20 to 8.0 am. and on each day in the

week.

WINIFRED

MOORE

(Auckland).

(Abridged. ~Ed.)