GERMAN MUSIC

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 9, 6 October 1919, Page 5

GERMAN MUSIC

$ . AT STATE CONSERVATOR!!! CONCERT

PROTEST IN NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT

Sir Thomas Hughes, in the New South Wales Legislative Council, recently moved the adjournment of the House to discuss the State Conservatorium's programme of German music at a recent concert. This music. Sir Thomas Hushes said, was "offensive to a large section of the community at the present time. He referred to the correspondence which had appeared in the "Daily Telegraph" in regard to the matter,-.and registered his individual protest to the blatant manner in which the name of Wagner had been advertised on the programme. It was, he thought, an outrage on the feelings of the soldiers and their relatives in this country. It was said that the performance of Wagner's music was in no way an insult to our national sentiment, but, Sir Thomas Hughes maintained, they knew that "the evil men did lived after them, and that the good was often interred w.ith their bones." He considered it was the duty of the Government to weld the Australian nation into one, and we should avoid anything which would b» hurtful to the patriotism of any section of the coi.pmunity. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Mtz<,ernld, in reply, agreed .that everyone would sympathise ■ with the feelings which prompted Sir Thomas Hughes • to bring the' question forward. He had made out a case for the consideration of the .Minister. (Hear, hear.) The representations would be conveyed to. Cabinet. Sir Thomas Hughco: Have they powor to atop Guch concerts? Mr. Fitzgerald: Yes, I think so. Tho Government is no_t concerned with the concerts; they are' entirely a matter for one Minister. Mr. E. D. Meagher, whilst against an all-German programme, did not see that German composers should bo shut out altogether. He understood Wagner's music was international. While he would not bar a German composer's namo appearing on a programme, he objected to an all-German programme. There was no necessity for it.. Mr. A. W. Meeks believed they had seen enough of German culture and art. "Let us," lip 6aio, "cultivate' our own art." Mr. G. Earp said those soldiers who attended the concert in the Town Hall' had to listen to music many portions of which had been used by tho Germans in their battle-cries. The feeling in the country was with Sir Thomas Hughes in his protest, and he had received mnny letters commenting on the all-German concort. It was not, he said, a question of art, but one of propaganda, and it should lie nipped in the bud. Dr. Nash characterised the programme as extremely bad taste. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Fitzgerald: Theyi might have added tho "Hymn of Hate." That is the only one left oil' the programme. Dr. Nash: That is not my altitude towards my fellow-citizens. The "Hymn of Hate"'unbecame Christians, or decent fighting men. Mr. J. Wib.on hold the vbw that Wagner in his grave, should not be blam'd for the present ill-feeling between the British Empire and Germany. If tho Director of the State Conscrvwlorium wcit a traitor the Government should get riil of him. '' Sir Thomas Hughes: Yon have no right to use that. word. Mr. Wilson believed it was absurd to sav that the performance of Wagner's music was portion of a Gentian propaganda. Mr. Sinclair hoped ths matter vould be investigated by the Government. Mr. J. Lane Mullin? said tho merits of Wagner's mii..te- had nothing to do with the matter beforj tho House. It was the pouring out, before an afflicted people, of the laudations of the work of a man who belonged to the nation which brought about so much sorrow that was inopportune. They ,owed it to Mr. Vpi'lnigghen lu choose a most inopportune moment to present it to the people. There was a German element in the pn-'jnunity. V"s il for the delectation of these people that these Grrman cnncor.s wm< boing provided? The mailer having been ventilated, the next business was called on.