MANNER OF SPEAKING
— (COMPARISON is odious, but sometimes so instructive as to be necessary. As, for example, with the contrasting styles in which Vernon Griffiths and Stanley Oliver spoke about Edward Elgar to commemorate his centenary. Dr Griffiths gave us facts, and dates, and quoted favourable opinions from a large number of writers, but I can’t recall that he expressed any real opinion of his own about Elgar’s music. When I listen to a talk it is to hear the .speaker’s own opinion, not the opinions of others, however eminent. The result was higgledy-piggledy, and gave no sort of picture of Elgar at all. This Mr Oliver did the following night, by being wholly personal .and informal in his approach. His talk was not mugged up for the occasion. It was the result of years of working with choirs on Elgar’s works. He was critical and appreciative, funny and serious in turn, and brought out very clearly Elgar’s virtures and faults as a choral composer. (Since Mr Oliver evidently prefers his orchestral writing to his choral, except for The Dream of Gerontius and a few shorter pieces, it’s a pity he wasn’t let loose on those as well.) This was radio talking at its very best.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19570621.2.34.1
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 932, 21 June 1957, Page 20
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206MANNER OF SPEAKING New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 932, 21 June 1957, Page 20
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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