POPULAR MUSIC ADVOCATED

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21387, 1 February 1935, Page 6

POPULAR MUSIC ADVOCATED

DISCUSSION BY ROYAL MUSICAL SOCIETY PUBLIC'S DESIRE FOR ENTERTAINMENT The advisability of concerts of lighter music and a reduction in the prices for admission was advocated at the annual meeting of the Royal Christchurch Musical Society held last evening. It was argued that the public at present desired entertainment rather than education, the comparatively low prices lor other entertainments proving a strong limiting factor to the number attending the society's concerts. One concert of the type advocated is included in the programme drawn up for the coming season. Mr T. A. Cloudesley, introducing the subject, said that evolution in musical taste was proceeding in a direction which he personally did not think for the best. He advocated that the society should not give so much of what might be termed "the big stuff," one work taking up the whole programme. It happened in some instances tnat such a work was repeated the following year, though he knew that the cost of music was a contributory reason for this. Modified approval of the suggestion was expressed by Mr _A. G. Thompson, conductor of the society. "As a traditional society," he said, 'we stand to do music not done by any other musical society. There is included in this year's programme a mixed concert of the kind advanced by Mr Cloudesley, but the name and tradition of this society will force us to keep to the larger types of music. This year, in addition to the concert mentioned, we intend to give the popular 'Hiawatha,'

and for the third concert one of two pieces of an intermediate type. Work for the Community "The society," continued Mr Thompson, "will celebrate this year the seventy-fifth anniversary of its foundation. The size of our audiences has been disappointing, but that must not be allowed to influence us too much. We must remember that we have a musical work to do for the community. Several factors have militated against our success in the past, but they, I hope, are passing away. The spirit of the society, since I have been conductor, has been most harmonious." Mr T. Andrews strongly favoured concerts of a popular type and a reduction of the prices to Is or Is 6d. He stated that the Harmonic Society, by giving a concert of this kind, had filled the house for two nights. He himself had attended the Royal Musical Society's performance of "Belshazzar," and it was pitiful to see the small number present. If there was a shortage of money guarantors should be sought, and the assistance of the Ladies' Auxiliary again invoked. In closing the discussion, the chairman. the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, M.L.C., said that he was certain the new committee had taken in the re- ! marks of the various speakers.