CIVIC MUSIC COUNCIL

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27824, 24 November 1955, Page 3

CIVIC MUSIC COUNCIL

NINE YEARS OF ACTIVITY

“A WELL ESTABLISHED ORGANISATION”

“The first years of any organisation are its crucial years and this period of testing usually determines the resulting degree of permanence an organisation might experience,” says the ninth report of the Christchurch Civic Music Council to be presented at the annual meeting on Friday. This council has survived the difficult years of its history and as it enters its tenth year it does so as a well-established organisation with a creditable record of usefulness over the years. It enjoys the confidence of all the major musical bodies in Christchurch and throughout Canterbury. “That in itself is an achievement, for musical people are not the easiest in the world to weld into a united body,” the report says. In some respects, the council Is unique in that its close links with the Christchurch City Council establish it as a semi-official organisation with a recognised status. The report, which has been prepared by the chairman (Mr J. L. Hay) says: “This relationship of a voluntary organisation, working in close co-operation with the civic authority and receiving recognition and financial support, is a good demonstration of the functioning of our democratic way of life, a relationship that indeed could find expression in other fields of endeavour. The work of the music council itself, placing as it does considerable responsibilities on those who hold office, furnishes another example of that voluntary effort directed to a purposeful end that goes on unobtrusively in many organisations in the city/’ Membership Figures

The music council has 15 active affiliated organisations with 24 representatives; 12 associated organisations with 15 representatives and two coopted members. The council has been actively associated with 11 provincial towns’ musical societies and five community choirs, during the last year.

The general service which the council has given to music and to the community has increased steadily. A register of musical entertainments has been kept and advice has been given to prevent overlapping and undue congestion of local concerts. It has assisted recognised organisations in charity concerts with the free loan of pianos, the collecting and supplying of information about music and musical activities and has lent music free of charge, to affiliated musical societies.

The council’s library of music has been substantially expanded this year and now contains more than 9400 pieces of music comprising more than 500 separate titles. A large number of single copies that conductors may find helpful for perusal before purchasing works for their choirs, is available. There are 114 titles with 30 or more copies of each available for loan to societies.