Young Person's Guide to the National Orchestra

New Zealand Listener, Volume 34, Issue 877, 25 May 1956, Page 16

Young Person's Guide to the National Orchestra

HE series of programmes designed for the winter term introduces James Robertson to Schools Broadcasts audiences for the first time. He appears as a resplendent musical ring-master ready to guide young audiences through his celebrated show-piece, the orchestra. There have been many guides to the orchestra before, but seldom one so light-hearted or so well adapted to the needs and interests of New Zealand children. Leaders of the various sections of the orchestra talk about their instruments with the conductor. The instruments enjoy the limelight and reveal sides of their natures that we had not. suspected. They do-not forget to show what happens when they are not properly played. "T remember the time when my youngest sister started on her flute," says Mr. Robertson. "Mr. Hopkinson, can you make the noise she did?’ Mr. Hopkinson's attempt brings a distressed cry of recognition from. the conductor. "Mr. Booth, what ‘sort of sound do people make who are just starting on the oboe?" "No sound at all," replies Mr. Booth. The sessions are models of clarity and wit, technicalities are cut to a minimum, and the children will learn some unusual things-that the best cymbals used to come from Turkey; that the side-drummer has affectionate names for his cifferent strokes such as flam, drag, daddy and mammy; and that the first violin. besides leading the orchestra, has another important function. If the conductor falls down dead at a concert, he has to drop his violin,

seize the baton and conduct the piece as if nothing. had. happened. (James Robertson: I hope a Ra

it. won't happen. Vincent .Aspey: So do I, Mr. Robertson.) After showing their paces the instruments in each. session combine for a comic duet. The bassoon and doublebassoon make us feel there is little hope for the Gcrun-

ken sailor, and the trombone and tuba are extremely comical. Each instrument shows its range and when it comes to the tuba’s*turn the listener. may well hold its breath. He climbs steadily upwards from note to note, kept going by enormous gasps of air, until just as he seems about to fall, phew, he makes it and lands on the top. When it is time for the percussion, they add tam-tams, wood-blocks, rattles and whips to the more familiar souncs, and perform their own concert piece "The Limited," invented for the occasion. It will be surprising if there are not a great number of adults listening as well as children. Altogether, there are eleven programmes, and they will be broadcast every Monday afternoon, starting on May 29. They are written for children between the ages of ten and thirteen, with the duets arranged by James Robertson, and the production supervised by Don Allan.