Community Singing

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 6, 23 August 1929, Page 4

Community Singing

Christchurch Suggestion MEDTING of the 8YA Musical and Dramatic Committee was held on August 7. There were present: Mr. W. H. Dixon (Royal Musical Society), Mr. T. W. Dent (Orchestral Societiy), Mr. G. L. Donaldson (Operatic Society), Mr. M. Richards (Harmonic Society), Mr. A. C. Bretherton (Repertory Theatre), Mr. A. Brewins (Competitions Society), Mr. Geo. Manning (W.E.A.), Mr. L. Slade (station director, 3YA), Mr. ©. 8S. Booth (Broadcasting Company).

There was a useful round-table talk concerning broadcasting and its relation to the work of ,the various musi eal societies. During the discussion the chairman, Mr. W. H. Dixon said that for a long time during the war he was musical organiser for community singing among the soldiers, and that after the war a scheme was devised by the British Broadcasting Company for broadcasting community singing with some wonderfully successful results, At the first performance in London the conductor, before an audience of 10,000, spoke into the microphone asking the people in their homes to join in, and thousands and thousands of listeners carried it on. ; Mr. .Dixon said that he would like to start this in New Zealand, with the singing of national songs of New Zealand. He hoped that it might be the means of stirring creative artists into composing songs of their own country, and for this purpose he intends writing to Alfred Hill asking for Maori songs and legends. Cea ae nc eeeeneereapeeeencmneenae