MUSIC IN AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 162, 11 July 1930, Page 6

MUSIC IN AUCKLAND.

A correspondent eulogises the Auckland Artillery Band as a wonderful combination and regrets the lack of support. But do the citizens of Auckland appreciate music? Recently assisted by the Puccini Musical Society, the band gave the finest concert heard for years, but the result financially was most disappointing. Again the attendance at the Muncipal Band choir or organ concerts, even when they are free, is enough to convince one that the citizens are interested in directions other than music. Did the response to the famoue English violinist, John Dunn, convey the impression that we are entitled to be classed as musical? It was asserted not long since that with the advent of gramophones, wirajess and the "talkies" the public were getting* more critical. The fact is that people, with the world's best artists in the home, do not attend to criticise local performances. The question is repeatedly asked why the Artillery Band did not compete at the last contest. Given public support, as in other centres where the citizens' committees control the financing of their, bands, there is no limit to what could be achieved by this band. POCO POCO ANIMATO.