HAYDN'S TOY SYMPHONY

New Zealand Listener, Volume 34, Issue 870, 6 April 1956, Page 5

HAYDN'S TOY SYMPHONY

Sir.-Like A. Harman, of Christchurch, I am a member of the younger concert- ~going publie, but I do not agree with him in his view "that the criticisms of Mr. Robertson and of the Tey Symphony by the National Orchestra have been going on for long enough." I am sure that Mr. Robertson appreciates the criticisms and is a regular reader of them, and can find in them some idea of what the public wants at concerts, As Roger Sutton states (March 23), matters of orchestral policy and standards of playing become an important public issue." So why shouldn't the public put forth ideas and criticisms as they see fit?

Originally, I beg to differ, the Toy Symphony was net meant to be treated: as a joke. So why should it now? It is the same as spoiling a lovely opera, Carmen in question, and turning it into a jazzy film, and giving a different approach to the public of Bizet’s music, Surely Bizet would turn in his grave if he heard the way in which his music has been treated. Bizet meant it to be the way he wrote it. The same applies in some respect to Haydn’s music, Why should the Toy Symphony be turned into much the same thing? I thoroughly enjoy the symphony under normal circumstances, but not when played to an audience, the majority of whose members have come along evidently to have a good laugh at some well-known personality. I agree there should be comedy in music (but not at the expense of the music), as well as in art or ballet, But one does not find on going into an art gallery people roaring with laughter at something that strikes them as particularly funny. Why should the music-lover who goes to an orchestral concert, purely to hear good music, be subject to the raucous laughter of peovle who come along for the "act" and not the music? And why should people have "to be led up the path" to appreciate serious TheY won't suddenly become interested any more because a few laughs have been thrown in, just the same as one doesn’t appreciate art more because an attractive frame has been placed around a beautiful painting. One won't appreciate music any more if certain "props" are used to make it more interesting. I like my music well enough without frills such as those at the Toy Symphony performance.

M.

McKENZIE

(Auckland),