MUSICAL AND ELOCUTIONARY COMPETITIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 278, 24 November 1898, Page 2

MUSICAL AND ELOCUTIONARY COMPETITIONS.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—lt is with considerable regret that I, read in this evening's 'Star' a letter signed 'Amateur.' This individual mercifully omits to add either" 'Musician' or 'Elocutionist' to his norn de plume, thus exempting a very large and deservedly popular class of people from the ignominy which is attached to him as the writer of such an ungentlemanly effusion. It is my present privilege (and I am proud of it) tOxbe in the ranks of what this boor calls the 'objectionable element,' or in other words the professional musicians, and having an experience of 15 years as an amateur I have rubbed against a very large number of professional musicians, from whom I have received nothing but courtesy, kindly hints, and many interesting musical reminiscences. No doubt in the musical as in every profession there exist the black sheep, and perhaps this 'amateur anything,' whosa company Is only congenial to this class, has not been privileged to meet any of the many men of brains and refinement who are enabled by their talents to materially add to the pleasures of this life and combine entertainment for others with financial advantage to themselves. It would be manifestly unfair to class the average amateur musician with the professional in a competition; at the same time I have known many exceedingly ' clever amateurs, and can instance a French horn player now resident in .the colony who would hold :his ow.n against ! ninety-nine out of a hundred of the best English professional performers on that difficult instrument. Trusting- that this young person will in future be more chary in his expressions about a class of which he evidently knows nothing-.—l am, etc., ,-■ . ■ P. G. RAIiCI.IFFE. November 22, IS9B.- J