CLUBS AND MUSIC

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 189, 12 May 1928, Page 19

CLUBS AND MUSIC

EMINENT SINGER’S IMPRESSIONS

Speaking to a newspaper reporter in Dunedin, Mr. Fraser Gauge, the singer, said: "It never struck me until I arrived in Dunedin that there were so many women’s clubs in the Dominion, and I understand that there is every likelihood of further advance in this direction. The women’s clubs in America wield a tremendous power and exert, perhaps, the greatest influence in keeping alive the highest, standards in music in America, quite apart from their political, social, and other activities. I understand that there are something like 3200 clubs in the United States, and that number is growing. Many of them have great memberships, some very small. I came across one interesting case once where a woman said that she was president of a women’s club out in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This club consisted of three members, and met once a week to discuss political, social, and scientific problems. The three members, who lived at long distances from each other, held musical evenings and discussed many phases of art. Thus they kept their intelligence alive and themselves ahead of the larger movements in the great outside world. That is one little instance of the value of these clubs. Many of the clubs possess their own. halls. One in which I was privileged to sing was in Louisville, Kentucky. This hall seated some 1800 people, and regular concerts, musical and lecture courses were conducted there for the members. At times they were able to open the rooms during concerts for the advantage of the outside public in addition to their own membership. They arc also able to let the hall for various public uses, but the principal thing is that these clubs are keeping alive a great interest in true music that no mechanical musical appliances or other outside influences can destroy. The standard of music demanded by these women's clubs is of the highest, and they are endeavouring to lead the public to an understanding of the very best in music, spending large sums of money in doing so. They believe that true music is of the greatest cultural value, and only the best will satisfy.” Mr. Gauge said that he could see no reason in the world that would prevent the women’s clubs of New Zealand from carrying out similar schemes. To provide a definite basis to work on Mr. Gauge suggested the following programme-:—Piano recital, song recital, lecture, dramatic recital, song recital, lecture, string quartet, with a recital by an international artist at such time as would be convenient. This programme could be enlarged or lessened as funds permitted. If thirty such clubs, more or less, carried out these courses during the year distinct opportunities for advancing musical and art standards in New Zealand would be offering. At the same time it would create more possibilities of bringing one artist of the highest standing out per year to the Dominion and the Southern Hemisphere while in his or her prime.