SILENT CITY ORGAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 224, 21 September 1935, Page 8

SILENT CITY ORGAN.

STATEMENT BY ORGANISTS.

(To tho Editor.}

We note with pleasure the letters you have published re the neglect of our city organ, Your correspondent "G.R.E." is to he commended on Lis interest in the subject, and we feel his remarks call for some reply i n order that the position may be clearly understood. In 1932 we were appointed as lionomry city organists, and between May and November of that year presented a total of six recitals, two by each organist. In addition organ solos were given at each of the municipal choir concerts. The attendance at those recitals, while admittedly small compared with the capacity of the Town Hall, was better than that Mr. Barnett enjoyed during the years immediately preceding his retirement, and also much better than the attendance at the hand concerts. In co-operation with the band we have for three years presented a Christmas carol concert, and the large audiences present at these special concerts provided funds sufflcient to easily wipe out any deficiency which may have resulted from the organ recitals. We felt that, given the opportunity, the recitals could be made both popular and selfsupporting; however, the council then in power apparently considered the monetary aspect more important than the aesthetic, and since 1932 there have been no further recitals other than the yearly band-organ carol concerts. For the last of •these, given in December, 1934] in the absence of any Municipal Choir—now defunct —we organised an efficient carol choir with the assistance of personal friends anxious to help the cause of municipal music. Your correspondent will realise from this that our "light-hoe' not been hidden"—it has been extinguished. It should.be said that the organ was given to the city by Sir llenry Brett at a cost of -approximately £8000, and that it was— and still is—a condition of the gift that a number of free recitals should be given each year. The annual maintenance costs about £200, and this is necessary whether the organ is used or not. We hear many encouraging reports of the musical revival in England and elsewhere, and we trust the interest displayed by your correspondents is an indication of an awakening in the same direction in our own otherwise favoured city. Perhaps if the matter is brought before the present Mayor and council something may yet be done, as suggested by your correspondents. EDWARD S. CRASTON, TREVOR SPARLING, ARTHUR E. WILSON", Honorary City Organists.