THE EXHIBITION ORCHESTRA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 6, 9 January 1899, Page 2

THE EXHIBITION ORCHESTRA.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I crave a small tpaee of your valuable paper to thank you for "your sub-leader on Saturday last, and the publishing of letters r: Exhibition Orchestra. But, so far, nobody spems 11 look at the subject from a chorister's point of view. Probably you are aware the first thihg done toward the musical programme was to build up a choir; all the members haa to pass examination, therefore the selection committee obtained all the choristers at their own test for voice, etc." The next thing was orchestra,* and last, but not least, the organ. Now, it is quite clear the Executive cannot put on oratorio music without the choir, but could possibly dispense with" the. orchestra or the organ. Now, if itcosts too much to employ the orches- ; tra, or No. 2 combination, why not try I the No. 3 blend, viz., organ, so long |as a competent man presides at the I instrument who will ncl drown the soloists and everything else. As a member of the choir, I'd like to state that it was in consequence of 'Moses iv Egypt' being selected as one of the works to be performed that I became a candidate. I must say the choir has been treated with scant courtesy. I-any have bought copies, which are almost useless now the choir is dismissed. L would like to point out the way the. choir war, treated. We had to attend many rehearsals for each work, and now for the extreme liberality of the Executive, they simply gave a pass to admit to Exhibition on the day of the performance only. Now, most of the members have the day time taken up in business and cannot visit the Exhibition then, and in the evening they have to prepare for the performance am 1 get to the concert hall in time for the concert, and by the time the performance >•-- over the Exhibition is closed. LI?"' the Executive offered season ticlu' to choristers, at not more than hull price, I am sure they would not only have profited, but have recognised thai body even in a small way.—l am, etc.. DISGUSTED CHORISTER.