MUSICAL WELLINGTON.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 444, 1 March 1909, Page 8

MUSICAL WELLINGTON.

CHORAL SOCIETY'S MEETING. CONGRATULATIONS AND REFLECTIONS. Is 'Wellington a musical city? The question, was discusscd from several aspects at tho annual mooting of tho Choral Socicty, held in St. John's Schoolroom 011 Friday night. For tho most part, members of tho socicty wero not disposed to complain of lack of musical appreciation during the year just ended, for its annual report and, balance-sheet, which liavo been already published, were considered very satisfactory oil tho whole. . The Socloty's Mission. Tho president (Mr, J. G. W. Aitken) opened the meeting, which was attended by about GO members, with a short spcecll )ii which lie congratulated tho socicty 011 its excellent work during the year. Tho society had been providing music of a kind to meet tho highest of human instincts, and that wag a work deserving of tlio thanks of.the community. Ho moved tho adoption of tho report and balance-sheet. The Mayor (tho Hon. T. W. Hislop), who is a vice-president of tho society, seconded the motion. A member of a deputation which had waited 011 him had remarked 011 tho frivolous character of music generally performed, but 110 charge of'that kind could bo laid against tho society; They wero endeavouring to cultivate in tho community a tasto for tho higher classes of music, and they were fortunate in baring such a canablo musician as Mr. Maughan Barnett as their guido in this direction. Mr. A. L. Herdman, M.P., who is also a vice-president, congratulated tho society on surmounting *its earlier financial difficulties, and having now a credit balanco of £G 18s. Id. _ Ho thought that thoso who sot out to cultivate musical art were conferring a great benefit on the community, and it was very satisfactory to know that tho society had dono splendid work. Li Mr. Maughan Barnett tliey had a great civic asset, who ho hoped would remain Jong in Wellington. Wantod: 1000' Subscribers. Mr. W. Fraser, M.P. (vice-president): thought that in a city as largo as Wellington 250 honorary members were not enough. Flo considered that the number of su6scril>crs to tho society should be at least a thousand. Nou-musical people, who were spending largo sums on their children's musical education, could afford to assist a society whoso concerts would givo joy to their children. Sir. R. T. Caldow said ho would like to soo tho list of members doubled. • Tho Rev. Dr. Gibb (vice-president)heartily endorsed the cnconiums passed on tho society's work, and on Mr. Maughan Barnett. During his travels abroad ho had attended many concerts on a larger scale , than thoso which ho had heard given by tho . society, but none that he had dijoyod more.' . Dr. Gibb then uttered tho misgiving which is sometimes felt, that Wellington may not . be a very musical centro. Tho society, 110 said, suffered the disadvantage of those who aimed at cultivating the' highest faculties of ( tho .soul in this city, where tho aesthetic ( side of tilings, it was sometimes said, was not much heeded, and tho main passion was ] to make money. Ho did not know whether i people libelled tho city when they said theso , things, but it t was clear to him that every agency that aimed at developing the higher ' life of the community had a hard task before it..

Breakdowns and Christy Minstrels. If tho society would introduco a fevt breakdowns into their concerts,' and have somo Christy minstrels nnd kincmatograpli pictures, there might bo moro chanco of getting "bumper" houses. He was not completely in earnest in those remarks, but it was a fact that societies like tho Choral Society had to overcomo what was more than an inertia, and was, indeed, a reluctance on tho part of tho public to respond to the appeals which they mado to peoplo'a higher faculties. Ho advised'.the society, however, to persevere, with their good work, ill spite of some discouragement. A similar criticism of th'o Wellington public was contained in a letter received from llr. A. S. Biss, 'another vice-presidbnt,' : in a letter which' ho sent regretting his in? ability' to attend: ""I 1 am afraid," lie wrote, "all societies such as yours suffer in Wellington'through all our citizens being busy men, with littlo time to enjoy tho pleasures that are offered us by such performances as you givo. Something, must be dono, I admit, to shako peoplo out of this state of living. In Wellington, more than in any other city, tho people seem to ail their energies to business. This, in time, robs us •of tho sympathy, that should sup-, port cordially our ■ musical and similar so* cieties." ! In Defence of Wellington. I. Mr.' J. llaughan Barnett, conductor ofthe society, said .he considered their financial report a remarkable 0110. Within six months they'had taken from tho public of Wellington something under £900. He had always felt that the Wellington public, if it realised that really good work was being dono in an enthusiastic way, would support such work generously. Ho thought that tho state of affairs in regard to music in this city was far from discouraging. • One must bear in mind that this was a young country, and a general interest in musical and artistic matters came late. During last year some very distinguished musicians had visited Wellington, and most of them had expressed to him their surpriso at tho appreciation' and discernment shown by audienccs at their concerts. One of them had expressed great surpriso that there were so many signs of interest, in music. Ho thought that attention should bo drawn to the great' advance of activity in local musical circles. There was no town, ho thought, at' Home, of similar size to Wellington, where more was going on in regard to musical matters than in Wellington. With respect to tho work of tho society, they would not expect him to'say that it was perfect, but the hard work of members was having its effect, and without doubt tho chorus work was making distinct progress. That was noticeable chiefly in their unaccompanied singing. Ho must * express his gratification at the way in which tho ' society had dono their work last year in that, department. Ho also expressed his appreciation of' the work dono by tho orchestra and soloists. Tho officers of tho society wero all reelected, except the committee, which is now as follows: —Messrs. It, T. Caldow, F. B. Young, E. R. Mowbray, and I'. S.' Pope. Mr. S. G. Hamilton would have declined renewal of the post of hon. secretary, but was not allowed.