THE MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15775, 16 December 1916, Page 6

THE MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

lO TILE EDITOR OF "THK ntF.SS." Sir, —I (lid not enter into the movement which i= extending throughout the British Empire, of encouraging native-born composers, without preparing for an attack from the enemy. I knew that opposition was actually organised against the Festival. I 'also know the quarter in which tbe_ opposition existed. I sought criticism. Honest criticism is a valuable help to any new movement. But you did not criticise; you gave mc abuse find misrepresentation. our sarcasm read just like German "bate." You tried to present tjic to the public a.s a conceited young man, with an enlarged head, seeking for public praise. You never made a bigger mistake. The reason why so many of my -works were included in the first Festival is that works of other composers were not ready in time, and I had to fill, the space. These other works will be performed ne,\t yeir. You will pardon mc for suggesting that my opinion on the standard of the music of "Life" is just as worthy of respect as that ol your critic. If we had had. the services of, say, a ''municipal"' orchestra, "with the members accustomed to playing together, it -would have made a deeo impression. The members of the Festival orchestra, are worthy of all praise in consenting to play under my baton. I cannot claim to be a 'greatly experienced orchestral conductor. You must remember the New Zealand-born musician is only just coming into his own: opportunities in the past have lareolv denied him. T would like to make it known that a large measure of tlie success of the Festival chorus is due to Mr Sidney Williamson's work nt the commencement of the rehearsals, and also that his co-operation, as well as that of Mr Biiriz and Mr Zimmerman. i« an object lesson tn certain other jnembc.rs of the profession who ignored the invitation t<-) associate in the movement.—Your,-, etc.. ARTHUR LILLY. 4o Manchester street. December loth. fWe need hardly say to those who read the criticisms that nothing ap- i proaehing "abuse" or "misrepresentation" appeared in any of them. Our critic is not alone in the view that what professed to be a New Zealand Festival for the production of the works of nativeborn musicians should have been so- largely taken up -with the productions of the chief promoter. His explanation that the works of the other composers "were not ready m time" seems to confirm the idea that- the arrangements were made "br : 'x voung man in a hurry.' : — Ed. "The Press."]