BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL BAND

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26493, 7 August 1951, Page 5

BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL BAND

Sir, —I cannot let “C.F.B.’s” criticism • of the Boys’ High School Band go unchallenged. His criticisms are usually both fair and instructive, but it is grossly unfair that he should have com- : Jared this youthful band, comprised as t is, wholly of boys attending the school, with another school band which performed recently in the Civic Theatre. Evidently “C.F.8.” is not aware that this other “school” band which “played so superbly” was not confined to school pupils, but contained several outside and more experienced players. If “C.F.8.” wishes to compare school bands (which incidentally is in very bad taste), he should be certain of his facts. His criticism sugests that the Boys’ High School Band should not perform in public. This is a terrific slight on both Mr Clifton Cook and the boys themselves; and I am thankful the public does not hold a similar view.—Yours, etc., DON’T BE DISHEARTENED, B.H.S. July 30, 1951. [‘‘The main point on which I find myself in complete agreement with this correspondent is his nom-de-pfrime,” said the critic of the concert, “C.F.8.,” when this letter was referred to him. “Any augmentation of the other band to which I referred amounted to the inclusion of only six old boys of the school who had left either earlier this year or last year. As the average leaving age of that school is much younger than that of most schools, such players can still be regarded as schoolboy players. My remark was not primarily intended as a comparison of the bands—no comparison is possible. I merely wished to point out that I was not expecting an impossible standard. As for the latter part of the letter, it must be remembered that this concert was a widely-advertised public concert, and that this part of the programme was far below that standard which the High School has itself set so well for such concerts. I would again appeal that these boys should be provided with the good instruments which they need and deserve.”]

Sir,—To a man with Mr Cook’s knowledge and capabilities in the musical field, it must be humiliating to be given such a write-up as that by 5 C.F.8.,” which appeared in “The Press” this morning. I realise that the criticism includes Doth good and bad comments, but the comments are such that one might find in an inspector’s criticism of a teacher’s technique; and not in a news write-up on a public concert. I think it hardly likely that “C.F.B.’s” roving musical knowledge will be any match for that of Mr Clifton Cook, who produced this highclass choral concert.—Yours, etc., NOT B.H.S. July 30, 1951.