RESTRICTIONS ON MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 224, 22 September 1925, Page 6

RESTRICTIONS ON MUSIC.

The dispute that has arisen over the supplying of pianos to the Town Hall is unfortunate. Not being able to furnish its soloist with the piano he desires, the Bohemian Orchestra has decided to remove the Beethoven Concerto from its programme. In the interests of musical education it is very desirable that such works should be played regularly. The musical world, however, will not blame the society for dropping the item. A contract is a contract, it is true, and the agency that entered into it is entitled to protect its interests. It is.not receiving any direct return from the contract. At the same time it may be laid down as undesirable that any restriction on the choice of instrument should be placed upon a soloist who undertakes such a work as this. The justice of giving soloists free choice is seen in the exception that is made in favour of visiting players. A musician of Mr. Towsey's reputation deserves just as much consideration as a visitor. For his own sake, and in the interests of interpretation, he should not be required to play on an. instrument that does not satisfy him. Whatever developments occur in this dispute, we hope the outcome will be an arrangement by which local players are given a reasonable amouii. of frf _dom of choice.