Professor Griffiths Will Retire At End Of Term

Press, Volume C, Issue 29635, 4 October 1961, Page 20

Professor Griffiths Will Retire At End Of Term

Dr. Vernon Griffiths, professor of milsic at the University of Canterbury for the last 20 years, will retire at the end of the present term. Throughout. that period he has been the elder statesman of music in Christchurch but his unique reputation stems from his record as a teacher, composer, and performer of music for all levels of attainment in the community.

“Griff’s secret’ is the common touch,” his colleagues agree. “He has taken music and music-making into schools, firms and factories, country centres and metropolitan communities with a sure understanding of theit needs, ahd his influence extends to every comer of this country and overseas.” Yesterday Professor Griffiths talked about his own philosophy of music and about the tremendous strides made in his lifetime. Philosophy

“Historically music is first of all a community activity, a form of expression for the community, group, or individual,” he said. “It is a regenerative force with power to preserve and express the thoughts of past ages —some of them great. For that reason I believe in nationalism , in music. It should spring from the land and be enjoyed by the rural area, the city, and the nation. It is not for the privileged few. Rather it is a people’s heritage, perhaps hidden and sometimes unknown, but always there to be discovered. “This university is intensely interested in the community from which it springs and which it serves,” said Professor Griffiths. "Musically it aims to vitalise the musical life and thought of groups and individuals, to give generous opportunity for hearing music, to encourage creation of music by composer and performer, and to keep steadily in mind that it serves the great truth that music

demands the highest obtainable standards from all.’*

The university music department had therefore endeavoured to stir up among students and the wider community an active interest in listening to music and an active interest in music-mak-ing in choir, orchestra, chamber music grotlp, and band at recitals and concerts. It had been linked with the adult education department in music leadership schools, designed chiefly for the bene-

fit of rural communities. Always, it had been concerned with how school pupils should be given their birthright of a graded and thorough musical training with continuity and real depth. “Paradox” “It is a paradox of life in a bureaucracy that a great weight of responsibility is thrown on the individual,” said Professor Griffiths. “Musical progress in the schools is still largely in the hands of devoted individuals and small groups,

who want to make the great gift of music to children. They can unlock the door to a fuller life. All should have these opportunities and, as Mr C. Foster Browne advocates so wisely, the unusually gifted should have generous help from an early age to develop their talents to the full. Since the institution of the degree of bachelor of music with honours, composition students had available a course resembling in scope and standards that of the universities of Britain. On going overseas, they could now proceed immediately to a higher degree. The institution of this and the master of arts with honours in the history and literature of music owed much to the late Professor V. E. Galways, of Otago, with whom Professor Griffiths collaborated. Of particular interest to teachers was the innovation By which Canterbury students could how take five of their nine bachelor of arts units in musical subjects, two of them involving keyboard and aural training at two stages. There was also a musical leadership course at bachelor of music level for students with potential to become directors of music in adult education, schools, and community centres. ••Far-sighted”

"One of the most generous and far-sighted things the University Council and Professorial Board ever did was to make possible the appointment of our university trio with part-time lecturer status,” Professor Griffiths said. "Personally I am deeply grateful to David Stone, Elizabeth Cook and Thomas Rogers for the great pioneering work they have done. Then we were able to appoint similarly the distinguished New Zealand pianist, Maurice Till, who has added greatly to the value of our work. Dr. Michael Toovey has capitalised on our new harpsichord. ‘‘My belief is that university music teachers should be creative musicians as composers. conductors, performers and that they should have a full sense of community responsibility,” said Professor Griffiths. "The greater part of my own compositions have been written for and performed by New Zealand groups, adult and youthful.

“In all this my colleague. John Ritchie, has had ideas that are close to mine. He has done a great work for us all,” said Professor Griffiths, “and I am confident that he will continue to do an even greater one.” Professor Griffiths said none of this could have been achieved without the spirit of academic liberality shown by successive university councils, professorial boards, vice-chancellors, and registrars.

“I came to this chair in 1942 knowing well that the developments I envisaged required the co-operation of the public,” said Professor Griffiths. “Memories of stringent times recall many public - spirited individuals and firms who gave us financial help. I trust that all this good will will always remain.”