PLACE OF MUSIC IN LIFE

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26221, 19 September 1950, Page 5

PLACE OF MUSIC IN LIFE

MIRROR OF NATIONAL CULTURE

“One of the most forcible instruments for training, arousing an<’ governing the spirit of man,” was how a great English statesmen had described music, said Dr. Vernon Griffiths, professor oi music at Canterbury University College, speaking to the Christchurch Businessmen’s Club yesterday. Though some thought music a thing that was so intangible it could have no vital meaning. Professor Griffiths said, it was in fact the expression of culture. There was no really bad music, he said. The depraved and sordid style of American music was in a sense sincere and definitely reflected the culture that produced it. Its origin lay in the d'readful past of slavery. “Music whether we want it to or not reflects social trends ' and* the minds of the people as well as any mirror could reflect my audience,” said Professor Griffiths.

Some people thought culture was the product of leisure, education, or money, but it has none of these. Culture was the product of life and work. I'hat music was the expression of culture and enshrined the people’s spirit was fully realised by the great composers, who wnen they sougnt to write popular music soaked their minds in che national music of their race. Songs of Happy Folk

The folk songs that came from the age before the industrial revolution as tar back as the fourteenth century, .ame from a people who were close to ..he soil and were happy living in accordance with their vocation and doing what they wanted to. The songs tola of harmony between man ana master. They were an expressions through music of people’s joy of living. An American historian, speaking of the men who haa built the great churches and cathedrals of the past, had said that at the end of a day it was with reluctant dragging steps that they moved away irom their toil. That was a comparison with today, when for so many there were no reluctant steps or reluctant hearing of the final horn, because they had no vocation.

Dr. Griffiths emphasised, however, that music was also a regenerative force, and if this music oi the past could be brought to-day to the schools, rural areas and industry, siowiy but surely a new spirit would come into the community. “If we can oniy get in schools, rural areas, and industry—not small groups of super intelligent people—but the whole people singing -hese works, led by an expert group, vhe spirit of humanity in music will opeak to them again and will inspire people with a great spirit of vocation,” jaid Professor Griffiths.

The world was in a terrible njess to-aay. So many things that man needed if he was to live a full ana satisfactory left were missing, and it was these things of the inner spirit of man whicn music could give. He noped, therefore, that none of those listening would go away feeling that what he had said had nothing to do with him.