UNIVERSITY MUSIC RECITALS BEGIN

Press, Volume C, Issue 29458, 9 March 1961, Page 16

UNIVERSITY MUSIC RECITALS BEGIN

The University of Canterbury music department intends this year to broaden the interest of its free lunchhour recitals and evening concerts so that, apart from the regular audiences which come mainly from the university community and .he adult public, senior students in post-primary schools will attend.

Professor Vernon Griffiths said yesterday that he believed young people of this age group should be encouraged to hear varied programmes and the series would be arranged accordingly.

The lunch-time series will open today with the Christchurch Wind Quintet in a programme of music by Mozart. Milhaud and Ibert. The first of the evening concerts will be on Saturday with a performance introducing the university's new fullsize de Blaise two-manual harpsichord. Among the programmes of special interest to be given during the year are a concert of original compositions by the New Zealand composer. Anthony Elton; another . in which Mr Foster Browne, the Cathedral Choristers Bnd Dr. Michael Toovey will take part; a repeat performance of Professor lan Parrott's opera. ' Once Upon a Time”; at least one recital by Mr Vincent Aspey (leader of the National orchestra); and a snort festival of music by Joseph Holbrooke in which wind players from the National Orchestra, the University Trio and Mr Maurice Till will take part.

Since the formation of its permanent chamber music nsemble of profesoinal musicians—David Stone (violin), Elizabeth Cook (viola). Thomas Rogers (’cello), and Maurice Till (piano)—the University had been able to enrich the programmes by the inclusion of string and piano trios, piano quartets, string duos, and works for

individual string instruments with piano. Professor Griffiths said. In addition, Maurice Till had appeared as solo pianist. These players were adding constantly to their repertoire so that audiences at the university concerts heard music not frequently performed on the public concert platform.

Other members of the university musical staff would take part in the series —John Ritchie as conductor and Michael Toovey as harpsichordist and pianist. Other outstanding professional musicians from outside the university would be engaged for performances.