Composers seek more N.Z. music exposure

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33938, 3 September 1975, Page 9

Composers seek more N.Z. music exposure

(N.Z. Press Association) HAMILTON,. September 1. ; Should the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council demand more exposure of New Zealand music?

This was one of the questions discussed by 40 New Zealand composers who met in Hamilton for their first national conference. Several of the composers thought the council should ask orchestras, instrumentalists and other performers who received grants to include a certain amount of New Zealand composition in their repertoire. But an Arts Council member at the conference, Mr Derek Firth, said that it had no right to stipulate the programme of local and visiting musicians.

“If the council insisted on local compositions being

performed it would be denying the artistic freedom of the people. It had no right to do this.”

Several of the composers expressed disappointment that taxpayers’ money should be given to orestras such as the Symphonia of Auckland which had not played a New Zealand composition at one of its subscription concerts during the last five years. Mr Firth said that the Symphonia and several other groups might have decided against using Naw Zealand work because it was not the sort of music people would go to hear.

“But I must admit I’m disappointed to hear the Symphonia has denied exposure of some of our local work. J can assure the conference that the council will make some effort to amend this situation.”

During a seminar on the promotion of new Zealand music the composers dis-

cussed several ways of attracting public support. Among the suggestions put forward, were: Visiting chamber music groups, soloists and vocalists should be sent some examples of New Zealand compositions and asked to include a piece in their concerts. Radio New Zealand, which played a great deal of local work, should be encouraged to gove repeat performances of new work because the public needed to hear a piece at least three times fully to understand and appreciate it. Conductors should be asked to look for New Zealand music to include in conI cert programmes. 'Concert audiences could be encouraged to look upon local compositions as being “exciting’ —not I inferior.