MIDDAY MELODY

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 22, 20 October 1944, Page 6

MIDDAY MELODY

Luncheon Hour Concerts

For nearly four years past music has been fostered in war-blasted Iroudon by concerts given during the luncheon hour at the National Art Gallery, Trafalgar Square, for the most part under the direction of the famous pianist, Dame Myra Hess, whose name is revered 1 not only for her musical achievements, but for her courage in persisting in organizing these concerts at a time when London was going through one of its worst periods of the war. A somewhat similar experiment is to be initiated in Wellington today. . . This is the scheme of entertaining people with chamber music between 12.30 and 1.30 p.m. each Friday. Such an experiment is not new in New Zealand, though it is to Wellington. Auckland and Christchurch huve both brought off something of the kind, and recently Dunedin began tlie vogue. The idea is that most people, witli an hour for luncheon, have about 40 minutes to spare. Such precious lime might well be spent listening to good music; indeed, the educative value of sueh concerts may very easily prove to be considerable to those who really wish to be musically educated, part from’ the artistic pleasure derivable from really good music delightfully played. At least this is guaranteed, for the performers today will be Miss, Dorothy Davies (piano), Miss Marie Vandewart (’cello), anil Miss Erica Schorss (violin). They are to play, among other numbers, Schubert's Trio in B flat (Opus 99). A charge of one shilling is being made for seats, all profits to go toward a fund for the purchase of a pianoforte for the Central Library hall.