"DISMISSED MUSICIANS"

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 90, 12 October 1929, Page 8

"DISMISSED MUSICIANS"

WHAT WILL BECOME OF THEM*!

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Under the above heading appeared a most admirable leading article in lasfe Saturday's Dunedin "Evening Star," which appears to me noteworthy, if only because I believe it to be the first 'time that any newspaper has championed tha cause of unemployed musicians in this country. Everybody knows that there are no longer any orchestras in the picture theatres, but does anyone ever pausa to consider what has become of these' musicians, or how they are managing to make a living, now that they have been superseded by mechanical devices which absolutely fail to give musical satisfaction? .

However, co long as the public flocks to the "talkies" the professional musician is likely to kick his heels in unavailing protest: and here, it seems to me, is where the present Government has a goldea opportunity, in pursuance of its policy of providing1 * general employment, to found and ma^itain a New Zealand State Orchestra, or Alternatively to offer a substantial subsidy towards the formation of municipal orchestras in each of the four centres. - . :

It will not be denied, I think, that tha' musicians have deserved well of the community. For years -fsCs't they have ministered faithfully to the pleasures of the people and have contributed -in no small degree to the advancement of musical educatioa and appreciation; and now, at one fell stroke, they find themselves discarded and thrown, on to an unemployed market ryvhich'.- presents an 'impossible aspect. . . • ' - • ■

Musicians are not pick-and-shovel men;' by this I do not imply any disparagement to the army of unskilled manual workers: I am merely stating a fact. The life-: long study of a musical instrument necessarily imposes certain restrictions which, preclude an active participation in more strenuous pursuits: consequently, when a trained musician is suddenly deprived of his profession, he is, in most cases, utterly unable to turn his labour into a strange channel. " ' , .

Quite apart from his own personal loss, the musician is naturally concerned for the future of music in this country. New Zealand has been a pioneer in many educational experiments, always with the object of raising the general standard of culture. The fact that we are primarily an agricultural .people need not deter ua from further ventures into the domain of aesthetics, and, assuredly, the,least si<n of a retrograde intellectual step should b« instantly detected and effectively countered. Without any questoin, the backsliding process has commenced with a vengeance , where music is' concerned. The attempts of the "talkies" to reproduce y% ettorts- of orchestras have dismally tailed,_and are foredoomed to continued failure, and the time is not far distant when not only will the discriminative P.°7 c. r °£ the average listener/become vitiated, but, also, a generation will arise that fcnows nothing whatever of the genuine, man-made music—the beauties or which can never be even remotely imitated by the most perfected Hollywood roboV In Conclusion, ■ Sir, I would like to - suggest that, in view' of the general interest attached to this subject, some editorial comment m the. columns of "The Post'1! would be appropriate and helpful.—l am-

L. D. AUSTIN.