ORCHESTRAL MUSIC IN WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 184, 2 May 1929, Page 6

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC IN WELLINGTON

At various stages of the city’s progress attempthave been made to found a body of instrumentalists capable of adequately presenting symphonic music. But they have been only attempts—laek of players in almost every instance has severely handicapped the presentation of any of the bigger works in the orchestra repertory. Tlie symphony orchestra is divided into four groups—strings, wood-winds, basses, and percussion. Wellington has always possessed a proportion of competent string players. The trouble has been to organise them under one directing mind. Competent amateur performers of the viola aud of the double bass have also been few and far between. The wood-wind group has been in little better case. Certainly fewer players are required for this section, but proficient oboists and bassoonists are rare. In no department of music has New Zealand felt the laek of a conservatorium more than in tlie training of orchestral players. Brass players, thanks to our brass band training grounds, are not so difficult to secure. Really flue horn players are nevertheless comparatively few. The percussion section requires at the most three players, and little over a year is required for a player to acquire absolute proficiency amongst the kettle drums and kindred instruments. Wellington is now to have a real symphony orchestra, with a full body of string players as the foundation. The full strength is 76, practically all instruments being represented. The first concert of the new orchestra is to be devoted to Tschaikowsky, the anniversary of whose birth occurred a few days ago. - Tschaikowsky’s genius lay partly Jn the fact that he could write great music that everyone could enjoy. There was no “highbrowism” about this composer. His greatest music can be appreciated and loved by the simplest of hearts.