CITY'S NEED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 219, 16 September 1938, Page 11

CITY'S NEED.

CONDUCTOR'S OPINION. SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. ORGANISATION PROBLEM. "I was simply amaKed when I heard that this fine city, with a population approaching a quarter of a million, did not possess a symphony orchestra." The speaker was Mr. Mack G. Davie, the conductor of the "Hollywood Hotel" Kevue Company, which sailed for Australia yesterday. Mr. Davis is a widely experienced musician who 4ias acted at times as guest conductor of the Little Symphony Orchestra of Pittsburgh. For two years he was house conductor for WOR, -the New York coaet-to-coaet radio station, and was also musical director for B. F. Keith's New York Theatres for four years. In addition, he is a musician with an extensive knowledge of the instruments of the orchestra, being able to play seven or eight of them, both in the string and woodwind departments.

With hie wide experience of orchestras in U.S.A., his suggestions as to the ways and means of organising symphony orchestras are well worth attention, especially in view of the somewhat disturbing fact that, although we are expecting a visit from a distinguished conductor in the pereon of Dr. Malcolm Sargent during the centennial celebrations, at present we have no orchestra for him to conduct! In these circumstances it is somewhat reassuring to know that Mr. Davis considers, from knowledge he has gleaned of the capabilities of our players in the three weeks he hae been here, that Auckland possesses abundant material for a first-class orchestral combination. The main question is how to organise and, most important, finance such an organisation. In hie native land the public-spirited women of the community are responsible for the organisation and maintenance of the numerous symphony orchestras, and here are Mr. Davis' suggestions: "What you should do here is to induce the members of your excellent} women's (Subs, etc., to interest them?rVes in this most important matter. Then, is there not such a thing as 'civic pride' existing in this city? I understand that for some years your municipal authorities have maintained an excellent military band.

"The thought hae struck me that the brass section of such an orchestra, augmented, might be employed for -playing music in the parks, etc. Another idea is that guarantors, or, what in the States we call 'preferred subscribers,' might be induced to give financial support. Surely it should not be difficult to secure 100 jruarantors, or even more. Should any subscriber not be sufficiently interested in good music to attend, he might pass on his tickets to young students and thus give them the opportunity to hear the world's finest music. These are merely suggestions for consideration.

"To return to my opening Mr. Davis went on to say, "I wouli like to emphasise that the success of such an enterprise lies mainly in the capable hands of the public-spirited women of Auckland. Tf they give a lead. I feel -nre that the men of Auckland will follow." Mr. Davis confided his remarks by sayinjr: "Of course, in such a movement it is a 'sine qua non' that, to use a Rotariart expression, 'service must come before self,' and petty jealousies must absolutely be non-existant for, as all true music-lovers well realiee. the cause of musk is greater than the individual."