Tribute to conductor
Tribute was paid to Mr Robert Field-Dodgson, head of music at Christ’s College and conductor of the Royal Christchurch Musical Society, at a Rotary luncheon at the Winter Garden. About 160 members of the Christchurch Rotary Club and their wives heard Mr Field-Dodgson lead the society’s choir in three carols. Professor John Ritchie, professor of music at the University of Canterbury, paid tribute to Mr FieldDodgson. He spoke of his abilities as a singer, as a pianist and organist, and as a conductor. “It is as a conductor that
his contribution to Christchurch and New Zealand music has been most important,” Professor Ritchie said. “In the field of choral excellence, Bob Field-Dodg-son is an achiever, and we in Christchurch should be grateful for that fact.” Mr Field-Dodgson spoke of the support of some “great men” who had been involved with the Royal Christchurch Musical Society, such as Sir James Hay, whom he said had done more for music and the arts in Christchurch than any other man. “I believe very strongly that music and the arts are twin manifestations of the
spirit of God,” he said. “A performance of ‘Messiah’ should be an act of worship.” Mr Field-Dodgson had words to say on the education system. “I sometimes wonder if we set before our young people the perfections which will extend the boundaries of their experience,” he said. “We should emphasise the importance of art and the arts in every part of our lives. “It would be a very great pity if New Zealanders ’worship the mean and cultivate the mediocre’,” he said.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19831215.2.112
Bibliographic details
Press, 15 December 1983, Page 25
Word Count
266Tribute to conductor Press, 15 December 1983, Page 25
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.