“MUSIC IS FLOURISHING”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 117, 11 February 1936, Page 8

“MUSIC IS FLOURISHING”

Dr. Bainton, director of the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music, has returned to Sydney from a visit to New Zealand with a definite impression in his mind that music in this country is flourishing—this in spite of the fact that it does not enjoy the Government, municipal and university support it receives in Australia. He could have added, or the support from private patrons which in other countries has done so much for the advancement of music and the stimulation and encouragement of musical genius. Music in New Zealand is flourishing mainly in the sense that the number of its students is increasing remarkably each year. Teachers of standing have few idle spells between pupils in their studios, and most of them are making good incomes. There is no doubt about the increased desire on the part of young people to learn to sing, or to play one kind of musical instrument or another, and the fact must be admitted that this widespread love of music is largely attributable to the influence, first, of the gramophone, and latterly of radio. On the other hand it cannot be said that our choral societies, choirs and orchestras are able to flourish satisfactory balance-sheets. Theirs is indeed uphill work, and few of them end their season with more than balanced budgets. It may be wondered whether this recent urge to learn on the part of so many people is not due to a reaction from too much listening. The desire to do, to imitate or create, is instinctive, and may be seen manifested every day in child life. At all events, whatever the reason, it is. at least encouraging to think that with all this learning there is being created a musical asset which in the future may provide a valuable foundation for our national culture.