CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC REPLY TO CRITICISM. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 35, 11 February 1908, Page 3

CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC REPLY TO CRITICISM. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — I thank Mr Robert Parker for his kind reference to tho remarks I made at the meeting of the senate when presenting the report of the Music Committee Mr. Parker's approval of a Conecrvatorium of Musio for New Zealanc did hot surprise me. He bas too largo a view of musical ajl, anil of its proper placo in national lifo to ally him«elt witn any foilish or interesied opinions on this matter. He knows how little there is al play in this country contributing to the artistic development of the young. For the moment ito not let us quarrel about a name. There aro schools anc'j academies' of drc-fcuttiiijr in New Zealand. There aro dancing academies, there are colleges of instruction in many useful and useless tilings. I used the word Conservatorium, not neretfarily importing the models ol the continental schools, but as denoting a comprehensive teaching power, exciting an influence in ono establishment. Why is this proposal premature, as in Mr. ii J arker'e> opinion it is? At what fi'age in the musical development of this Dominion will it be seasonable? In \lr. Parkers opinion, after the children m the publio schools have been taught to sing properly, arid after a subsidised orchestra has given concerts throughout the Dominion. May i bo permitted to express the opinion that children at schools, rnnnot collectively bo taught to nng properly. If they could, 1 believe that there are to few teachers in this Dominion who know anything about tho teaching of singing and yoieo production, rhat the idea ol teaching a multitude of children to sing properly is Utopian. It can have no boaring whatever upon tho need of a conservatorium, nor upon the purposes that such an institution would properly servo. Apart from the training ol tho ear, and training in an appreciation of musical interval^ I believe that morn harm than good is done to tho voices of children by attempting to teach them to sing when young. A permanent orchestra properly equipped and capably conducted would be a gieat boon to the Dominion. Its concerts would be a delightful entertainment. It would mako the usual concee&ionu to the public ta«to that all turn organisations dependent upon public support ha\e to make. It would have no teaching or educational responsibility. It would dolighfc without informing, and be a joy to mere dilletanteidm. It would have intermittent influence. A light disappearing juet when ono most wanted guidance. I have not too much confidence in tho public support that even such an institution would obtain, particularly if it sought to lead public tasto rather than to gratify it. How many arlic.ts ha\e passed through New Zealand of late years ignored, unattended, and unhonoured by the public, becauEo of their fidelity to their own high etiiiu'aru of art and .of their disdain of popular ta«te. But, perhaps, there has been ot lato years such a' quickening and awakening of national musical life, mcli an ardent cultivation (as Mr. Parker cays) 'in thoupands of homes in Now Zealand of tho music of Bach and Mozart and .Beethoven, of Schubert and Schumann and the rc3t of the glorious company" that those enthusiasts have not felt disposed to leave their friends for ono evening to hoar Carreno play "Appasionnta," of neethoven or Marie Hall play "Max Erucli Concerto, or Professor Heermann play a Jiocthovcn Sonata, or Watkin Mills sing Handol, or Andrew Blffrk ship; anything, tfut why hine not the teachers themselves gone to : hoar Iheso artists? Is there so much home cultivation of music m Wellinglbn that there is no place there for an orchestral society. Of all tho towns in New Zealand) of any sizeit is the only one that has no such society no society whatever of amateurs of mu«ic. cultivating in orchestra the great things of Ueethovon and tho others of- the "glorious company In the days of my boyhood lubbish did not hold sway. Those wero S ,° cc * ore '"«• domination of musical CO jj y ' Mot "er Goosp was not then a goddess. Sho was ineicly a "prop" in a Christmas pantomime. In those dajs l remember there was a very good orch^fc- • Ira in Wellington. The wood, wind, and norns there wcro the onvy of ' New Zealand Their musical library, started over JO years ago, is now tho best in Nfew Zealand, lor eomo years no hand has opeaed us portfolios. Its he 'i x lll l ' lei «« unhonourod arid unsung. Mr. Paiker knows the fato of chamber miinc concerts in Wellington and elsewbero ji. Now Zealand. Can ho bo heard to euy that the musical puleo of New Zealand beats more strongly now than it did 25 years ago. I deny that it does. I fpeak particularly of ChriEtciuircn, where, 25 years ago, tho string quartet v/as abundantly cultivated by amateurs and where; the old Orchestral Society adhered aimoEt religiously to the classics " In spite of the splendid work of my fnends, Mr. V. M. Wallace, Mr. a. M. Lund, and others in Chris tchuroh, during the past 20 years, I learn that L ni'istchurch is the poorest supporter of any town in New Zealand of first-rato vifiting artists. Marie Hall played to an audience of 60 in Iho Canterbury Hall ! 1 venture to think that all the activity and eneigy of the teachers of music in New Zealand will not make tho people moro musical, unless some stronger impulse is given to the art than has been given to it in the past. Tho thousands oF children -who have passed musical examinations, I regrot to ray, have not impressed upon musical tasto in 'the Dominion any elevating elements. I think il is because Micro lias been no institution "■conserving" tnlcnr., encouraging" small achievement (o fulfil itself, stimulating the desire in even "gold medallists" to go on and become intimate with the thoughts of Ihe "glorious company" and compelling teachers to realiso that tho highest achievement of their pupils in any musio examinations available in New Zealand is but a mcain of approach to Iho great works of the Masters. I again urge that thero is no sufficient training school in Now Zealand for teachers of music. Ido not regard results achieved by candidates in the Associated Board of Trinity College examinations, or oven the special commendation of visiting examiners, as grounds for the assertion that the work tho toachers do in New Zealand "could hardly bo improved by any scheme of musical education." I assert that there is no means of musical education in New Zealand. The chief function of a conservatorium would be its educative- faculty in all the branches of music There is no teacher or combination of teachers or institution in New Zealand attempting eueh a purpose. I admit that there are some wcellent teachers in the Dominion. My point, however, is that tho leaching as a. whole has proved inadequate for, and improductive of, musical cultivation. This is a consideration of national importance. It therefore is a matter which tho Senate of the University regards as within its charter and within its objects. If, incidentally, the resolutions of tho senate "leach musicians their business," then so much the better for tho musicians. I did refer to the resolutions of the recent conference of musicians as being tho lei>s entitled to respect because of thn absence of many prominent muticianb in New Zealand. I am aware from correspondence I have in my hands that tho Musicians' Bill and tho activity of its promoters were Iho direct result of the resolution of last ycai's cession of the Fcnafe, "that it was cfceiij.ble that a cons-ervatorium should bo established in New Zealand." I believe that tho aims and province of such an institution have been misconceived by most of tho professional musicians. 'in my opinion there n no occasion for alarm that a conscnntorium would be a competitor of the teachera. Such a conservatoriura as v contemplated would ba utterly u^a-

I(>3 if it« jiriin'ipal <md its professors* weic not as capable of c-ondurting uxjimnalion-> sis arc the gentlemen i\!io lia^c eonio to iSew Zealand ippreaentincf the Associated Board or Tnnity College Tho foiiiier would bo fo far romo\cd by tlieir fprcial work in tho confervatoriuin from the young; people who would bo oandi dnicf, in Xpw Zealand, that no exception could properly be taken to them as examiners. What is really tho objection to examination by fuch examine!,? I havfs nol heard a fingle ground of objection Is it feared rhnt lhe Rtandard 0 i would be too high? Incidentally therewould be sa\ed, as Sir Robert Slout has pointer! out, at loast £2bQO a year. This would b» a constantly inu easing Bum and would be an encouraging support for a conservatorium. Was it the prospect of securing this sum rhat prompted the clause in Iho Bill giving to the registered teachers in New Zealand tho sole conduct of examinations? That clim-o is a laughing rrjoinpr to IhoEG teachers, supporter* of the liill, who have lately said that "no examinations condurtud by oxamincis in New ■ Zealand could be \-ati->iactoiy to the teacher? "' 1 fancy Thar ii what I heard Mr Parker ccv at tho presentation of certificates of the Associated Board by Madame Clara Butt. . ' Mr Parker says that if I had been proscnt at the Conference I would admit "that good work (not- all of it in our own sulfi»h interests) was done at that conference." Tho reported proceedings, howover, dhow thai nothing: wa» ditcustccl there but the Musicians' Bill. The teachers do not socm lo have been quite a happy family even on that mbject. The conservatorium was mentioned with approval by Mr. Maughan Barnctt, tho president. Ag a question, it was ignored by the con- , ferrtici;. That is a pity. It is surely a moro important matttf* than the regislra.ifiCJi Ci'j teachers of , ir'j i^ic. I conclude by repeating that tho conference was not representative of Iho best persons connected with teaching in New Zealand. lam convinced that its view* and that the reported opinions of some nt tho teachers wero tinged with a fcclfish but not- unnatural desire for self preservation, and that the people of New Zealand will not be governed by tho^o u'cw*. I must thank Mr Robert 'Parker for giving me an opportunity of expressing mytulf on this impoitant question, and niu^t conclude by congratulating the Vv r cllington Incorporated Society of Musicians on tho lact that its represent athe members at ihe conference, all but ono, voted against the projected Bill, and more warmly becausu its most prominent and esteemed members, including llr Robert Paiker, are m favour of the establishment of a coiisen atorium. — I am, ere , LOUIS COHEN. "Wansanui, 6th February, 190 S. P.S. — Since writing tue n'oovc I have seen Mr. Parkerfs letter in yoxir issue oi tho sth inst. I am awaro that the teachers could boycott the mu-ieal examinations ot a ('onsen atorium in New Zealand, as they have flioso of tho University of Adelaide. If they did they would bo a band of trauo unionist?. \Ye would fco ' liicm on Labour Day fcramo'-t iv iho procession, waving Limners with th<3 devico "For Art's Sake." Wo hear of the Associated Board and Trinity College ("ending cxamineis to Au&tialin not for purpose:., of gain but a» laitsionaiies of wjjat w pure and exalted in musical a'-t. If, in tho presence of capable examiners in Now Zealand examining in the name of the University Of New Zealand, iheso English institutions persisted in holding examinations in competition with them, thine would longer, bo any suspicion that those English institutions wore merely *>xploilinK tho colonies for the purposes of gain, but the suspicion would brconv an appalling fact. Tho actual figure of proiit made out of these examinations is not worth tlifecuzsinjr.. The profit ia eonsidciablo even allowing for the pi-ino:'!y expenditure of travel as suggested by Mr Parker, namely £1000, incurred by tho visiting examiners in two months in New Zealand. But why did Mi Parker, in Ins Itdtc-r in your paper of Ist February, ray "Tho Associated Boaid, in its most successful year, has drawn from this colony 'loss than, ±JBOO, and out of this amount it lias to pay tho Ealary of tho examiner, and tarious incidental expenses in Loudon''""' It is now admitted that over £1601) was drawn la.^t year from the colony in fuce, by lhe Associated Board alone.