MUNICIPAL MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 79, 3 April 1914, Page 3

MUNICIPAL MUSIC

COUNCILLOR FULLER'S MOTION MORE POPULAR ITEMS WANTED. The long-dela.yed motion of which notice wae given some time ago by Councillor Fuller in reiereuce to popular mum by tho City Organist materialised, in a discussion at the City Council last evening. Tho wording was :—: — "That the City Organist be instructed, to report as to the advisability (a) of including in his programme operatic / music huch as 'Maritana' and operas akin in merit, or (b) of devoting onu recital monthly to v. programme ;irrangod oa more popular lines than at present.' 1 Councillor Fuller quoted newspaper reports from the Sydney press about i.he popularity of Mr. Trueman's> (Jl»3 City Organist of Sydney) rendering ot "Mai'i* tana' 1 and "La Boheme" on tho civic instrument in the Sydney Town Hall. The Wellington City • Organist, than Whom it would be hard to find a better i musician, might very well consider what his confrere did in Sydney. It was no use saying that "Maritana" was unsuitable to the organ. The council was inclined to treat the motion with hilarity, and was roundly rebuked by the speaker, who contended I thero waft merit in the motion. Councillor Fuller went into the theory jof music and 'ts financial results in the shape of organ recitals, comparing the 1 results of Sydney and Wellington. He did not think that the recitals were I drawing large enough audiences. He spoke of Wagner as likely to prove an attractive- item in the programme. He thought, Mr. Page might very well make his selections a little more popular and give delight by his music to a bigger public than he did at present. (Hear, hear.) Councillor M'Kenzie, in seconding the motion, agreed that the people should be educated up to high-class music. The scope of the recitals should be enlarged to include the- wider public. Councillor Fletcher thought Councillor Fuller had been rather injudicious in his remarks. Mr. Page was an artist m music, and ho should be the judge. Councillor M'Kenzie: It's a question of what the public wants. i Councilldi Fletcher said they ought to leave it to Mr. Page. The motion that the question be now put'was carried by 8 votes to 5. The motion on being put produced tho following division : — Ayes : Councillor Fuller, Hindmarsh. M'Kenzie, Thompson, and Wright. Noes : The Mayor, and Councillors Buddie. Fitzgerald, Fletcher, Godber, Hislop, and Luckie.