AUCKLAND WELCOME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 288, 5 December 1935, Page 15

AUCKLAND WELCOME.

SOCIETY OF MUSICIANS. MR. AND MRS. PERCY GRAINGER. Yesterday afternoon an • enjoyable reception was given by the president, council and professional members of the Auckland Society of Musicians in Milne and Choycc's balcony room in honour of Mr. Percy Grainger, composerpianist, and Mrs, Grainger. Mr. and Mrs. Eric Waters were also guests of honour. The newly-electud president of the society, Mr. Varley Hudson, extended a cordial welcome to the guests.

After afternoon tea had been served, Mr. Grainger gave a short address. This visit, he said, had confirmed the impression he had gained on his two previous visits to this country of the tremendous intellectual keenness of the New Zealanders and ho compared the Dominion in this respect with Scandinavia and Holland rather than with Germany, where the approach to music is one of warmth and heartiness rather than one of intellectual appreciation. He also mentioned that the splendid museums in the Dominion and the New Zealand passion for preserving the many lovely things in the country had inspired him to undertake the establishment of a musical museum in Melbourne in order to show what gifted people owe to each other. "New Zealand," Mr. Grainger continued, "should be one of the small countries that bulks large in art. There is a very close connection between beauty in art and the natural beauty of scenery and I am anxiously waiting for tho appearance of New Zealand compositions." The speaker also stressed the 'importance of purity in music. This quality, he said, was very obvious in the 12th and 13th centuries in England and France and was often found among people who were surrounded by beautiful scenery, such as the Irish, the Scotch and the Scandinavians.

"It has been a relief to me on this tour," said Mr. Grainger in conclusion, to find my compositions so well prepared. Naturally there are different types of talent and of musical achievement, but when a composer's works are well prepared he can learn where the defects in his composition lie and what is the actual sound of what he has written. The skill or New_ Zealand musicians is exceptionally high and I have formed a deep admiration for their musical achievement." Mr. Grainger concluded by paying a warm tribute to Mr. Colin Muston for the excellent work he had done.