CIVIC MUSIC COUNCIL

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25134, 15 March 1947, Page 3

CIVIC MUSIC COUNCIL

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SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PROPOSED

J he ... Chr ‘stchurch Music Festival Committee last evening decided to con-XhnX-k to torm a ChristCivlc . Music Council, embracing all musical activities, and after consideration of a draft constitution ana rules it was recommended that the inaugural meeting should be asked to adopt them as the basis for future work and for the formation of a civic symphony orchestra. The proposed aims of the new body were as follows: To secure, by co-operation with Cl . Vl ®. an d other authorities and organisations, the fullest measure of public recognition and support of all forms ot musical activity and to encourage tne active interest and participation of me community in all forms of music making.

(2)i To foster and promote the study, practice, and performance of musical works and, in particular, of choral, or ?£\ es ™ a l’ an d operatic works. to) To promote co-operation between musical organisations with a Vl ®w to co-ordinating their activities while at the same time preserving their identities, traditions, and autonomy.

(4) To promote combined musical festivals.

(5) To co-operate with organisations having similar objects throughout New Zealand and with the National Broadcasting Service and the New Zealand Government.

The draft constitution provides for the City Coupcil having three representatives, in addition to the Mayor, and for the affiliation of musical, civic, administrative, educational, cultural, and commercial organisations supporting the objects of the council. Provision is made for active and associate membership and for subscribers, each group having one representative on the council.

Suggested functions of the council are to convene meetings or arrange ior a standing committee of representatives of musical societies with a view to arranging by mutual consent the dates of their concerts so as to avoid undue clashing with each other’s concerts dr with other functions; to conduct on behalf of affiliated musical organisations with the Christchurch City Council, the National Broadcasting Service, the New Zealand Government, or other authorities concerning any matter affecting the welfare of musical organisations or the conduct of their, affairs; to sponsor, upon such terms as the council may think fit, the visit to or appearance in Christchurch of any mugical body or of anv artist or performer; to estab. 1 ish. a library of music and arrange for the borrowing or purchase of. music and for lending it with or without charge to musical organisations or for the importation of music or of musical instruments and their resale; to establish and administer trust funds for the advancement of music or for any. scholarship for the benefit of any student of music; to promote musical or other functions to assist any affiliated musical organisation or for any charitable or civic purpose, or for the benefit of any person deemed deserving of the council’s assistance; to advocate the erection of a Town Hall and take steps to secure for the use of musical organisations in Christchurch a Town Hall and other improved civic and public amenities. Clauses of the draft constitution concerning the establishment, direction, and control of a civic symphony orchestra give the council power to determine its size, composition, and tne terms of appointment of members, to appoint a conductor as a full-time or part-time salaried officer, to fix the basis of payment to members, and to enter contracts with the National Broadcasting Service, with affiliated musical organisations, and others for the service of the orchestra. The promotion and organisation of music festivals is given an important place in the work of the council.