MUSICAL OPINIONS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1930, Page 15

MUSICAL OPINIONS

Two correspondents write criticising passagos in Mr. L. D. Austin's article on mus. ical matters. "B Major" thinks it somewhat difficult to understand Mr. Austin's taste. "When he deliberately disparages the 'Italian Symphony' of Mendejssohu it is time for common-sense to step in and curb such erroneous exuberance. I am pretty sure that any musician who has played in the symphony, as well as those who have not, will agree that Mr. Austin is entirely wrong in his estimation of this beautiful work, with its entrancing cascades of melody, its vivid contrasts, and dazzling contrapuntal invention. For one I cannot take anyone seriously who writes disparagingly of this symphony, forgetting the splendid -sense of exhilaration invariably created by the first movement, and the rhythmical delights of the .saltarella —that exhausing Italian dance which gives the symphony its distinctive, name. Mr. Austin's attitude in writing of music seems to follow that of Sir Oracle, 'When I open my mouth let no dog bark,' but when he is so egregiously in error, as in his estimation of the Italian Symphony and Freidmann's 'Slavonic Khapsody,' it is time to reason and correct."

"Sunday Night Musician" takes exception to the statements made regarding organ reeitais. "The acoustic properties of the Town Hall renders the organ absolutely ineffectual unless packed. The organ played by an artist of Bernard Page's musical intelligence is never ineffectual; any unbiased person must admit' that who listens to him, 'Sunday is the night all real music-lovers stay at home.' Mr. Austin is mistaken. Sunday is the night some musicians stay at home. 'Mr. Page's programmes are not sufficiently eclectic to compete with the band concerts.' Mr. Austin, who. evidently stays at home, too, appears unable to understand the difference between the use and abuse of instrumentsi To take an extreme example, there is no reason why a band should not, as it often does, play dance music of every sort, but there is every reason why it should not be played on an organ. If an orchestral concert were given every week in Wellington, what -would the size of the audience be? The audience every week at the organ recitals would number almost, if. not exactly, the same number that would attend once a month at a concert, just, as a concert once a week would average the number who attend the recitals. A band is a form of music by itself. It has a primitive appeal that attracts people who would be incapable of sitting, through ■ a programme, of music in any other form."